Database/Film Forming/Acrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Acrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer natural?

Mostly not. The long-chain alkyl group is an oleochemical fatty alcohol, but the methacrylic acid backbone that makes up most of the chain is petrochemical. Because the fatty monomer is much heavier than the acid monomer, a 10 mol% loading is a larger share of the mass than of the monomer count.

INCI nameAcrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer
FunctionFilm Forming
FeedstockA C12-22 alkyl group, typically an oleochemical fatty…

How we scored it

Assuming 10 mol% C18 alkyl methacrylate and 90 mol% methacrylic acid, 100 monomer units weigh 10 x 338.58 + 90 x 86.09 = 11133.9 Da. Natural origin is the stearyl-oxy fragment of the alkyl monomer, 10 x 269.49 = 2694.9 Da, so 2694.9/11133.9 = 0.24.
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.

Where it comes from

A C12-22 alkyl group, typically an oleochemical fatty alcohol, is esterified onto methacrylic acid and copolymerised with further acrylic or methacrylic acid monomers. The monomer ratio is not disclosed, so a typical 10 mol% loading of the fatty monomer was assumed.

In plain English

A thickening polymer combining a plant or animal-fat-derived waxy chain with a synthetic acrylic backbone, used to control product texture. Mostly petroleum-derived by weight.

CosIng definition: Copolymer of C12-22 alkyl methacrylate and one or more monomers of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or one of their simple esters

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References

  1. 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
  2. 2ACRYLATES/C12-22 ALKYL METHACRYLATE COPOLYMER. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3ACRYLATES/C12-22 ALKYL METHACRYLATE COPOLYMER. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ACRYLATES/C12-22%20ALKYL%20METHACRYLATE%20COPOLYMER