Polymeric surfactants in cosmetic formulations

One of the earliest polymeric surfactants used is the A-B-A block copolymer of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO,A) and propylene oxide (PPO,B) - Pluronics or Poloxamers. These are not ideal since adsorption by the PPO chain is not strong. 

Recently ORAFTI (Belgium) developed a polymeric surfactant based on inulin (a natural, linear polyfructose molecule produced from chicory roots) [24]. By grafting several alkyl chains on the polyfructose chain a graft copolymer was produced (Fig. 1.22). 

The multipoint anchoring of the polymer chains also ensures strong elastic (en-tropic) repulsion. This provides enhanced steric stabilization. 

Evidence of the high stability of emulsions when using 1NUTEC SP1 has been recently obtained [32] from disjoining pressure measurements between two oil droplets containing adsorbed polymer surfactant both in water and in high electrolyte solu- 

It can be seen from Fig. 1.26 that the force between the hydrophobized glass surfaces containing adsorbed INUTEC SP1 starts to increase at a separation distance of 20 nm which corresponds to an adsorbed layer thickness of 10 nm. The above 

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