Database/Antistatic/Polyquaternium-60
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Polyquaternium-60 natural?

Mostly. Castor-oil ricinoleic acid dominates the repeat unit's mass; triethanolamine, isophorone diisocyanate and the ethyl-sulfate quaternizing group are petrochemical.

INCI namePolyquaternium-60
CAS351425-04-2
FunctionAntistatic · Hair Conditioning
FeedstockBuilt from castor-oil-derived ricinoleic acid linked via triethanolamine…

How we scored it

2x ricinoleic acid (natural, castor oil, ~563 Da) + triethanolamine (petrochemical, ~147 Da) + IPDI (petrochemical, 222 Da) + ethylsulfate quat group (split ~96 Da natural/58 Da petrochemical). Estimated 659/1087 = 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.

Where it comes from

Built from castor-oil-derived ricinoleic acid linked via triethanolamine and isophorone diisocyanate, then quaternised with diethyl sulfate. Repeat-unit stoichiometry is not given, so this is an estimate.

In plain English

A conditioning polymer built mostly from castor oil fatty acid, linked together with synthetic chemicals and given a permanent electric charge. Used in hair care to reduce static and add softness.

CosIng definition: Polyquaternium-60 is the polymeric quaternary ammonium compound prepared by the reaction of TEA-Diricinoleate/IPDI Copolymer with diethyl sulfate

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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. 2POLYQUATERNIUM-60. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3POLYQUATERNIUM-60. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=POLYQUATERNIUM-60