Detergent (SLES) Hx is a surfactant, a foaming cleaning agent used in products such as shampoo, shower gel, and similar products.

Use

Detergent (SLES) Hx can be used alone or in combination with other surfactants, such as Betaine (CAPB) Hx. It's very simple to use: mix it with the other ingredients in the formula and you're done; no heating is required. If the formula contains substances that do not mix well with water (such as preservatives or perfumes), it may be helpful to mix these with the surfactants first and then add the water.

A combination of surfactants is usually used in a product because each surfactant has different advantages and disadvantages. Detergent (SLES) Hx, for example, foams well and has excellent cleaning properties. Another property is that it thickens when common table salt is added to a solution (the viscosity increases). This is convenient for dosing and also meets the expectations of many shampoo and shower gel users.

As a rule of thumb, use 5 to 35 grams of Detergent (SLES) Hx per 100 grams of finished product. The pH is between 6.0 and 8.0, but it can be used in a wider pH range: 3-11. Therefore, it's usually not necessary to adjust the pH of the shower gel, unless necessary for other reasons, such as preservation.

Properties

Detergent (SLES) Hx is a light yellow to yellow viscous liquid at room temperature. The concentration of surfactant is approximately 30%. The product has a relatively long shelf life: store in a cool, dry, dark place, and in a tightly closed container.

To prevent and limit the growth of mold and bacteria, the solution is preserved with 0,01% Bronopol. This is a very effective preservative, with one drawback: it must not be used with amide-based surfactants, as this can lead to the formation of carcinogenic substances (nitrosamines). We do not sell such surfactants, but they may be available elsewhere. Examples of amide-based surfactants are Cocamide MEA and Cocamide DEA.

In recipes and cosmetics, you'll also encounter the names detergent, foam base, sodium lauryl ether sulfate, and sodium laureth sulfate. These are usually the same substance, and you can use detergent (SLES) Hx in all of these cases.
However, do not confuse it with sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). Although related, the latter is considerably less mild.

Sustainability

Detergent (SLES) Hx (excluding water) is made from approximately 70% plant-based materials, primarily palm and/or coconut oil, 25% natural mineral salts, and the remaining 5% are partially renewable synthetic materials. It contains no animal-based raw materials or derivatives. For this reason, we do not consider Detergent (SLES) Hx a natural substance, although it is occasionally found in "natural" cosmetics. It is relatively biodegradable.

Packaging

The 250 and 1000 ml containers are made of plastic (PET) with a black plastic (PP) cap. The larger containers (5 liters and above) are made of plastic (HDPE) with a black plastic (PP) cap. To open the 5 liter container, you can order a DIN 51 Jerrycan key. This is not suitable for larger containers.

Hazards

Detergent (SLES) Hx is classified as a hazardous substance under REACH/CLP with the following warnings:

DANGER
H315 - Causes skin irritation.
H318 - Causes serious eye damage.
H412 - Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects.

Detergent (SLES) Hx does not normally cause an allergic reaction.

Codes

Article number: 10102
INCI: AQUA, SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE