Product description

Lauryl glucoside is a non-ionic sugar surfactant from the alkyl polyglucoside (APG) group. It is produced by condensation (glycosidation) of glucose (usually from corn or wheat starch) with lauryl alcohol (C12, often from coconut/palm sources), resulting in a mixture of lauryl glucosides with different degrees of polymerization.
In cleansing products it is valued as a mild, readily biodegradable surfactant suitable for “sulfate-free” formulations. It has the ability to form a rich foam, improves cleansing performance in combination with other surfactants and is often used as a co-surfactant to increase foam volume and foam stability.
It is most commonly supplied as a viscous liquid/paste with a higher active matter content.

Key benefits

• Non-ionic “sugar” surfactant – suitable for sulfate-free formulations.
• Milder cleansing profile – often better tolerated than strong anionic surfactants (it always depends on the complete system).
• Rich foam and good foam stability, especially in combination with amphoteric surfactants.
• Good compatibility – works with anionic, amphoteric and other non-ionic surfactants.
• Biodegradability – APG surfactants are often preferred in eco-oriented formulations.

Suitable for products such as

• Shampoos and mild hair wash gels (especially “sulfate-free”).
• Shower gels and liquid soaps with a creamy foam.
• Cleansing gels and foams for the face (rinse-off) – with appropriate adjustment of pH and surfactant blend.
• Baby wash products (shampoo/gel) – in mild surfactant systems.
• Bubble bath and products where you want to increase foamability and foam stability.

Use in formulation

• Soluble in: water (typically supplied as a concentrated viscous liquid/paste); not soluble in oils.
• Miscible with: anionic and amphoteric surfactants (e.g. betaines, amphoacetates) – often improves foam and mildness; in pure APG systems the cleansing can be “milder”, therefore performance is fine-tuned by combining surfactants.
• Compatible with: humectants (glycerin, propanediol), polymeric thickeners for surfactant systems and suitable solubilizers for fragrance; clarity and viscosity must be tested in the specific formulation.
• Dosage (approximate): used as the primary or secondary surfactant.
• Technical tip: lauryl glucoside is often highly viscous – for easier incorporation it is advisable to pre-dilute it with part of the water or add it into the already prepared aqueous phase under stirring; when thickening with salt proceed carefully, because APG systems behave differently from classical sulfate bases.

Safety and storage

• Intended for cosmetic use; avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes.
• When working with surfactants, use appropriate protective equipment; avoid aerosol formation and unnecessary foaming during mixing.
• Store in a tightly closed container, in a dry place, away from direct sunlight and sources of heat.
• If the raw material is too thick or cloudy at a lower temperature, gentle warming and mixing will help (without overheating).

Physical properties

• Appearance: viscous liquid to paste; colour from clear to yellowish (depending on the batch supplied).
• Character: non-ionic APG surfactant – often gives rich foam, but the viscosity of finished products depends on the surfactant blend.
• Data such as active matter content, density and exact delivery pH are not available without the accompanying technical data sheet.

FAQ

See also other surfactants available from Handymade.sk.

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