Cetrimonium Chloride 30% (C-TAC)

Cetrimonium Chloride 30% (C-TAC):-

CAS NUMBER: -112-02-7

Cetrimonium Chloride (often abbreviated as C-TAC) is a cationic surfactant and conditioning agent, commonly supplied as a 30% aqueous solution for ease of handling in personal care formulations. It plays a major role in hair conditioners, creams, and rinses.

🔹 Form

• Commercial Form: Clear to slightly yellow liquid, typically supplied as 30% active in water

• Odor: Mild, characteristic

• Solubility: Soluble in water and alcohol

• pH (10% solution): ~6.0–8.0

• Charge type: Cationic (positively charged)

🔹 Key Properties

• Conditioning agent: Strong affinity for negatively charged hair and skin surfaces

• Anti-static effect: Reduces flyaways, frizz, and static buildup in hair

• Detangling: Improves wet and dry combability

• Mild preservative booster: Has antimicrobial activity against certain bacteria and fungi

• Emulsifier/Surfactant: Can stabilize oil-in-water emulsions

• Film-forming: Leaves a smooth, soft feel on hair and skin

🔹 Applications in Personal Care & Cosmetics

✅ Hair Care

• Rinse-off conditioners

• Leave-in conditioners, detangling sprays

• Hair masks and serums

• Anti-frizz products

✅ Skin Care & Bath

• Creams and lotions (as a conditioning emulsifier)

• Antiseptic creams (due to mild antimicrobial action)

✅ Other Uses

• Often used with fatty alcohols (like Cetyl/Stearyl Alcohol) to form creamy, stable conditioners

• Enhances performance of silicones and oils in hair care formulations

🔹 Difference vs. Polyquaternium-10 (PQ-10)

• PQ-10 (powder): Film-forming polymer → mild conditioning, viscosity building

• Cetrimonium Chloride (30% liquid): Surfactant-like → stronger conditioning, detangling, and anti-frizz effect

They are often used together in premium hair conditioners to provide both surface deposition (C-TAC) and film-forming smoothness (PQ-10).