Database/Antistatic/Polyquaternium-10
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Polyquaternium-10 natural?

Mostly. The cellulose backbone is natural and the chloride is a mineral counter-ion. The hydroxyethyl groups from ethylene oxide and the trimethylammonium part of the cationic group are petrochemical.

INCI namePolyquaternium-10
CAS81859-24-7
FunctionAntistatic · Film Forming
FeedstockHydroxyethylcellulose is further modified with glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride. Substitution…

How we scored it

Per anhydroglucose unit: cellulose 162.1 Da natural, plus hydroxyethyl groups at MS 2.0 (88.1 Da, petrochemical), plus a hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride group at DS 0.2 (0.2 x 151.63 = 30.3 Da, of which the chloride share 0.2 x 35.45 = 7.09 Da is natural). Natural 162.1 + 7.09 = 169.19 Da of 280.5 Da, so 169.19/280.5 = 0.60.
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.

How it’s made

Hydroxyethylcellulose alkoxide opens glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride (SN2). Each curved arrow moves one electron pair, and the film ends on the score above.

Where it comes from

Hydroxyethylcellulose is further modified with glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride. Substitution levels vary by grade, so MS 2.0 hydroxyethyl and DS 0.2 cationic were assumed.

In plain English

A conditioning polymer made from plant cellulose modified with synthetic ethylene-oxide and quaternary ammonium groups. It is used in shampoos and conditioners to detangle hair and add softness.

CosIng definition: Cellulose, 2-(2-hydroxy-3-(trimethylammonium)propoxy)ethyl ether, chloride; Cellulose, 2-hydroxyethyl 2-[2-hydroxy-3-(trimethylammonio)propoxy]ethyl 2-hydroxy-3-(trimethylammonio)propyl ether, chloride Cellulose, ether with alpha-[2-hydroxy-3-(trimethylammonio)propyl]-omega-hydroxypoly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), chloride

Natural alternatives with the same function

Acronychia Acidula Fruit Extract 100% natural origin

An extract of lemon aspen, an Australian native fruit, used to condition skin and hair and help hold…

 Alanine 100% natural origin

An amino acid used for skin and hair conditioning, part of skin's natural moisturising factor. Made by fermenting…

 Arginine 100% natural origin

An amino acid found in skin and hair proteins, used for conditioning and moisture-binding. Made by fermenting plant…

 Asparagine 100% natural origin

An amino acid made by fermenting plant sugars, similar to other food-fermentation processes. Helps condition hair and skin…

 Aspartic Acid 100% natural origin

An amino acid used for skin conditioning and moisture retention. Usually produced by fermentation or by an enzyme…

 Capryloyl Hydrolyzed Collagen 100% natural origin

Collagen broken into small protein fragments and attached to caprylic acid, an eight-carbon fatty acid from coconut or…

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. 2POLYQUATERNIUM-10. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3POLYQUATERNIUM-10. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=POLYQUATERNIUM-10