Database/Binding/Polyurethane-18
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Polyurethane-18 natural?

No. Every building block named in the CosIng description is a synthetic petrochemical (diisocyanate, glycol, amine chemistry).

INCI namePolyurethane-18
FunctionBinding · Hair Fixing
FeedstockA polyurethane resin condensed from petrochemical diisocyanate, polyether…

How we scored it

All monomers synthetic: tetramethylene diisocyanate, polybutylene glycol, dimethylolpropionic acid, hydrazine/C1-8 diamines, triethylamine neutraliser. No natural-origin fragment; 0/total = 0.0.
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 polyurethane resin condensed from petrochemical diisocyanate, polyether glycol and synthetic diamines/hydrazine, neutralised with triethylamine. No natural-origin route exists.

In plain English

A synthetic polyurethane resin used to bind and fix hair styles. Built entirely from petrochemical isocyanate, glycol and amine building blocks.

CosIng definition: Polyurethane-18 is a complex polymer formed by the reaction of m-tetramethylene diisocyanate, polybutylene glycol and Dimethylolpropionic Acid (q.v.) The pre-polymer is neutralized with Triethylamine and condensed with a combination of hydrazine and C1-8 diamines to achieve chain extension.

Natural alternatives with the same function

Agar 100% natural origin

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 Algin 100% natural origin

Sodium alginate, a thickening and binding gum extracted from brown seaweed. It's harvested from algae and processed to…

 Alginic Acid 100% natural origin

A gelling and thickening gum extracted from brown seaweed, the acid form of alginate. It's harvested and purified…

 Aluminum Zinc Oxide 100% natural origin

A white mineral powder made from zinc and aluminium oxides. It adds opacity, bulk and absorbency to powders…

 Amylopectin 100% natural origin

A binding and thickening ingredient that is the highly branched component of plant starch, typically sourced from corn,…

 Astragalus Gummifer Gum 100% natural origin

A natural plant gum, known as tragacanth, harvested from a Middle Eastern shrub. Used as a thickener and…

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. 2POLYURETHANE-18. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3POLYURETHANE-18. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=POLYURETHANE-18