IHL · Conditioning agents
Polyquaternium-10
- INCI name
- Polyquaternium-10
- CAS number
- 68610-92-4
- EC number
- Polymer — not confirmed on EINECS. We do not publish an unverified number.
- Physical form
- Powder
- Country of origin
- South Korea
- HS code
- 3912.39
- Grade
- Cosmetic
- Shelf life
- 24 months from date of manufacture
Wet-comb improvement at a quarter percent. PQ-10 is the polymer that makes a surfactant system feel conditioning without adding a single point of oil.
| Appearance | White to light-yellow free-flowing powder |
|---|---|
| Odour | Faint |
| Solubility | Water-soluble — hydrates to a clear viscous solution. Insoluble in oils. |
| Melting point | n/a (polymer, decomposes) |
| pH | 5.5–6.5 (1% solution) |
| HLB | n/a (not an emulsifier) |
| Storage | Closed container, dry, room temperature |
| Manufacturing process | Reaction of hydroxyethyl cellulose with glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride. |
Certifications
- Gluten-free
- Non-GMO
- Not animal tested
- Palm-free
- Preservative-free
- Vegan
In full: Vegan · GMO-free · Preservative-free · Palm-free · Gluten-free · Not animal tested
| Application | Use rate |
|---|---|
| Shampoo | 0.2–0.5% |
| Conditioner | 0.5–1.0% |
| Styling gel | 0.5–2% |
| Body wash | 0.2–0.5% |
| Lotion | 0.1–0.5% |
Formulation notes
- Sprinkle into cold water with high shear and let it hydrate for 20–30 minutes before heating. Dumping it in hot will give you fisheyes you cannot recover from.
- Over-dosing PQ-10 builds up. Above about 1% in a rinse-off you start getting the coated, heavy feel that customers describe as product build-up.
- Compatible with anionic surfactants at use level — the coacervate that forms on dilution is the mechanism, not a defect.
Applications
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body wash
- Styling gel
- Leave-in spray
- Shave cream
Not classified as hazardous
Expected not classified under 29 CFR 1910.1200. We hold the incoming lot's manufacturer SDS on file and will not publish an unclassified determination without it. Dust-control measures apply to the powder regardless of classification.
- Transport classification
- Expected not regulated for transport. Confirmed per lot against the manufacturer SDS.
- Allergen statement
- No FDA major food allergen. Cellulose feedstock — not palm, not gluten, not nut.
California Proposition 65
Hydroxyethylcellulose is manufactured using ethylene oxide. Both ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane are Prop 65-listed. We test every lot for residual ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane and publish the results on the lot COA. No competitor in this category does this.
- SDS Safety Data Sheet On request
- TDS Technical Data Sheet On request
- COA Certificate of Analysis On request
- Allergen Allergen statement On request
- GMO GMO statement On request
- BSE/TSE BSE/TSE statement On request
- Vegan Vegan statement On request
- RSPO RSPO certificate On request
We send documents on request. No account, no vendor-qualification fee. Ask for Polyquaternium-10 documents.