Database/Antistatic/Quaternium-83
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Quaternium-83 natural?

Mostly. Two hydrogenated-tallow fatty chains and the sulfate ion are natural; the diethylenetriamine-derived ring, N-methyl and O-methyl groups are petrochemical.

INCI nameQuaternium-83
CAS91723-55-6
FunctionAntistatic · Hair Conditioning
FeedstockMade from two equivalents of hydrogenated (fully saturated)…

How we scored it

Same imidazolinium/methosulfate framework as Quaternium-27 but with fully hydrogenated (saturated) tallow chains: ~2 tallow fragments + SO4 natural (~614) vs diethylenetriamine backbone + O-methyl petrochemical (~129); approx 0.83 (no MW given)
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

Made from two equivalents of hydrogenated (fully saturated) tallow fatty acid cyclized onto a synthetic diethylenetriamine backbone, then quaternized with dimethyl sulfate. Saturation improves stability but does not change the feedstock.

In plain English

A conditioning compound made from fully hydrogenated (saturated) tallow fatty acid combined with a ring-shaped nitrogen compound and a methylating agent. Used in hair products to reduce static.

CosIng definition: Imidazolium compounds, 4,5-dihydro-2-(hydrogenated nortallow alkyl)-1-[2-(hydrogenated tallow amido)ethyl]-1-methyl, Me sulfates

Natural alternatives with the same function

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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. 2QUATERNIUM-83. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3QUATERNIUM-83. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=QUATERNIUM-83