Xanthan Gum

Description

Xanthan Gum

Xanthan Gum, unlike other gums,  is very stable under a wide temperatures and pH range.  This Xanthan gum has been manufactured for improved dispersion in room temperature water. However it can benefit your formulation mixing times to mix it with glycerin or propylene glycol prior to adding it into water.  Once the xanthan gum is fully hydrated the resulting solution can be heated if necessary for the inclusion of other ingredients

The viscosity of xanthan gum solutions decreases with higher shear rates; this rheology is called pseudoplasticity. This means that a product subjected to shear, whether from mixing or shaking, the solution will thin out, but once the shear forces are removed, the product will thicken back up.

In practice this means that Xanthan gum makes a product thick enough at rest in the bottle to keep the mixture fairly homogeneous, but the shear forces generated by shaking thins it so it can be easily poured. When it exits the bottle, the shear forces are removed and it thickens back up.

Usage

Sprinkle the xanthan gum powder over the water little by little, whisking vigorously. If your gel gets lumpy, blend until smooth with an electric blender.  Continue to mix periodically until completely hydrated (approx. 15 minutes), mix until smooth.  It can benefit your formulation mixing times to mix it with glycerin or propylene glycol prior to adding it into water

Easily disperses in room temperature water and can be heated once completely hydrated.

 Application

In cosmetics xanthan gum is used to prepare water gels.  Is also used in oil-in-water emulsions to help stabilise the oil droplets against coalescence. It has some skin hydrating properties. Xanthan Gum is an excellent natural source thickener for lotions, creams, liquid soap, shower gels, body washes and shampoos.

One of the most remarkable properties of xanthan gum is its capability of producing a large increase in the viscosity of a liquid by adding a very small quantity of gum, on the order of one percent.

In most products it is used at 0.5 to 1% and can be used in lower concentrations.