Database/Binding/Potassium Acrylates Copolymer
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Potassium Acrylates Copolymer natural?

Mostly not. A synthetic acrylic polymer; only the potassium counter-ion counts as natural, and how much of the polymer is neutralised varies by grade.

INCI namePotassium Acrylates Copolymer
FunctionBinding · Film Forming
FeedstockAcrylic monomers polymerised and partly neutralised with potassium…

How we scored it

Copolymer of acrylic or methacrylic acid with their simple esters, partly neutralised with potassium. Taken as one potassium acrylate unit C3H3KO2 110.2 Da per ethyl acrylate unit C5H8O2 100.1 Da: only K+ 39.1 Da is natural (mineral counter-ion) → 0.19. A fully neutralised polymer would reach 0.35, as for Potassium Polyacrylate.
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

Acrylic monomers polymerised and partly neutralised with potassium hydroxide.

In plain English

A synthetic polymer made mostly from petrochemical acrylic-acid building blocks, neutralised with potassium. Used in haircare and skincare to bind ingredients and form a flexible film.

CosIng definition: Potassium Acrylates Copolymer is the potassium salt of a polymer consisting 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. 2POTASSIUM ACRYLATES COPOLYMER. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3POTASSIUM ACRYLATES COPOLYMER. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=POTASSIUM%20ACRYLATES%20COPOLYMER