Xanthan Gum

Xanthan Gum is an excellent, sugar based, natural thickener for emulsions and cleansing systems. It is a polysaccharide produced through a bio-fermentation process of Xanthamonas campestris and sucrose or glucose. The result is a powder that readily swells water to enhance stability and viscosity, using small amounts. Because Xanthan Gum creates a gel, with water, it offers a smooth glide to creams and lotions and improves their stability, even acting as an emulsifier, to some degree. Because Xanthan Gum is used at very small amounts it offers an inexpensive solution to keeping your products natural while being very cost effective. When Xanthan Gum is used as a thickener, in face and body wash products, it will thicken, efficiently, without jeopardizing the foam.

One of the few, and better, choices when working with the Lactylates in cleansers. With Xanthan Gum you can thicken these systems without losing the natural appeal. Due to the sugar backbone, Xanthan Gum offers some skin hydration properties.

GUIDELINES

• 0.3 to 2.0%
• separate water phase
• incorporate with high shear mixing*
• use care to not use too much as it will get stringy
• avoid pH systems over 11. because they will turn yellow, excellent for low pH systems
• salt may be used to improve the viscosity response and reduce temperature sensitivity
• hydrate in room temperature water for approximately 15 minutes, then proceed to heating
• for best results start at 0.3% and increase in 0.1% increments to avoid an unpleasant slimy texture.
• visocisty is between (1% solution) 1200 - 1700 cps

SPECIFICATIONS

Appearance:	Light Beige Free Flowing Powder
Odor:	Characteristic,
Solubility:	Water
Storage:	Tightly Sealed, Cool > 75F / Dry
Shelf:	60 Months when Properly Stored / Handled
Charge:	Anionic

*High shear mixing will reduce the tendency of the particles to contact, and stick, to each other. If this happens the result will be that the outside swells and prevents water from getting to the inside resulting in swollen clumps, also referred to as 'fish eyes'. This is, sometimes, irreversible so, care should be taken to use the highest shear possible. If you end up with 'fish eyes' they can sometimes be broken down by using a combination of propeller blade and high shear mixing.