A Study of the Surface Adhesion and Rheology Properties of Cationic Conditioning Polymers

A comparative study was carried out on the surface adhesion and rheology properties of commercial conditioning polymers: cationic guar gum (SOLVAY) and hydroxyethyl cellulose (DOW). In this study, a tailor-made JKR (Johnson, Kendall, and Roberts) instrument was applied to assess the adherence of those cationic polymers at different concentrations. It was found that the concentration, molecular weight, and cationic charge density affected the adhesion performance and rheology properties. The elastic modulus (G') and viscous modulus (G '') of cationic polymers at different concentrations were correlated to their adhesion properties. On the basis of these results, the surface adhesion property can be controlled by using different types of cationic polymers and provide more insight toward better applications in personal care products.