Alphaflow®
Alphaflow® series is a range of cosmetic grade emollients based on Hydrogenated Polydecenes with different viscosities and feels. Alphaflows® provide softness, emolliency and lubricity while forming a non-occlusive film preventing moisture loss. The fully hydrogenated Alphaflows® are inert and safe materials, which do not irritate even the most sensitive skin.
Technical information
Alphaflows® are branched hydrocarbons. They consist of C10 alphaolefins. The reactions between C10 molecules leads to a controlled length of oligomer chains: C20, C30, C40 and C50, which is followed by hydrogenation. The shorter the oligomer chain, the lower the viscosity of the product. The low viscosity Alphaflow® 20, feels very light and silky, whereas the highest viscosity Alphaflow® 50, imparts very luxurious and rich feel. Alphaflow® 30 and 40 have a feel from satiny to smooth comfort.
As Alphaflows® are fully hydrogenated hydrocarbons, they are inert and photostable. Alphaflows® can be used to replace photoreactive esters or mineral oils, which contain a huge number of unwanted compounds. Alphaflows® are stable in a very broad pH range. They are soluble in most non-polar solvents. Alphaflows® are compatible with most ethers, esters, fatty alcohols, saturated and unsaturated triglycerides, mineral hydrocarbons and cyclomethicones, but not with silicone oils.
Properties and application areas
Alphaflows® are versatile materials offering sophisticated textures for most cosmetic applications. As they are silky and non-greasy with good spreadability and dry-out, Alphaflows® can be compared to Vegetable Squalene and Cyclomethicone C6.
As Alphaflows® are branched materials, they have an excellent pigment wetting capacity making them ideal materials for sun care and colour care applications. Alphaflows® are colourless, odourless and tasteless, and hence suitable for lipsticks and lip glosses. As Alphaflows® are non-sensitising materials, they can be used for baby and mother care products, including nipple care products for breast-feeding mothers.