Cetrimonium Chloride 30% (CETAC 30%) is a cationic quaternary ammonium compound supplied as an approximately 30–31% active aqueous solution. It is widely used as a hair-conditioning, antistatic, surfactant, emulsifying, and suspending agent in personal-care formulations. CETAC 30% is particularly effective in hair conditioners, cream rinses, hair masks, and detangling products, where it helps improve both wet and dry combability, enhance softness and manageability, and reduce static electricity. Due to its cationic nature, it is primarily used in conditioning formulations and is generally less suitable for systems containing high levels of anionic surfactants. In addition to its conditioning properties, Cetrimonium Chloride can provide surfactant and emulsifying functionality and may help inhibit the growth of certain microorganisms. Its antimicrobial properties can make it useful in selected topical and personal-care applications, subject to applicable regulatory requirements and formulation limits.
Cetrimonium Chloride 30% Product Overview
INCI: Cetrimonium Chloride
CAS No.: 112-02-7
Chemical type: Quaternary ammonium compound / cationic surfactant
Typical active content: ~30%
Appearance: Clear to slightly hazy liquid
Function: Conditioning agent, antistatic agent, surfactant
Benefits
Hair conditioning: Helps hair feel softer, smoother, and easier to comb.
Detangling: Reduces friction between hair fibers, making wet and dry combing easier.
Antistatic: Helps reduce static and flyaway hair.
Softness and manageability: Improves the feel and manageability of damaged, dry, or chemically treated hair.
Emulsification: Can assist with incorporating certain oils and conditioning ingredients into formulations.
Common Applications
Cetrimonium Chloride 30% is commonly used in:
Hair conditioners
Deep-conditioning treatments
Hair masks
Leave-in conditioners
Detangling sprays
Shampoos
Hair creams
Hair treatments
Fabric-care formulations
Typical Use Level
The appropriate concentration depends on the formulation and the supplier's active-content specification. As a starting point, formulators commonly work with low percentages of the 30% solution, particularly in rinse-off hair conditioners. Because cetrimonium chloride is a cationic surfactant, it can be incompatible with some anionic surfactants and should be evaluated carefully when combining it with other surfactants.
