Polyquaternium-96 is a synthetic polymeric quaternary ammonium salt used as a multifunctional cosmetic ingredient, particularly in hair-care and personal-care formulations.
The current COSMILE Europe record identifies Polyquaternium-96 with three principal cosmetic functions: antistatic, film forming and hair conditioning. It is associated with hair-care and nail-care products and belongs to the groups of film-forming agents and hair-care/conditioning ingredients.
Polyquaternium-96 belongs to the broader polyquaternium family of cationic polymers. These polymers contain quaternary ammonium functionality and can interact with negatively charged surfaces such as hair fibres.
This makes Polyquaternium-96 relevant to formulations designed to improve hair feel, manageability, combability, smoothness and static control.
Polyquaternium-96 is a synthetic cationic polymeric cosmetic ingredient.
The CosIng-derived chemical description identifies it as a polymeric quaternary ammonium salt of dimethylaminopropylacrylamide, acrylamide and acrylonitrile, quaternized with methyl chloride.
The quaternary ammonium groups provide the polymer with cationic characteristics. This can promote interaction with negatively charged hair surfaces and support conditioning and film-forming behaviour.
Polyquaternium-96 should be treated as a distinct cosmetic ingredient and should not be confused with Quaternium-96, which is a separate INCI ingredient.
Polyquaternium-96 offers multiple functions that can be useful in hair-care formulations.
Its combination of conditioning, film-forming and antistatic properties makes it suitable for formulation development where several performance benefits are desired from a polymeric ingredient.
Hair conditioning is one of the documented functions of Polyquaternium-96.
Conditioning polymers can improve the sensory characteristics of hair and contribute to:
Polyquaternium-96 can therefore be evaluated in shampoos, conditioners, leave-in products and hair treatments.
Polyquaternium-96 is also identified as a film-forming cosmetic ingredient.
Film-forming polymers can create a continuous polymeric layer over hair or other cosmetic substrates.
In hair-care formulations, film formation may contribute to:
The actual film characteristics depend on polymer grade, concentration and formulation environment.
Polyquaternium-96 is identified as an antistatic ingredient.
Static electricity can make hair difficult to manage, particularly after washing, brushing or exposure to dry environmental conditions.
An antistatic polymer can help reduce electrostatic effects and improve the handling characteristics of hair.
Potential benefits include:
Polyquaternium-96 can be evaluated in conditioning shampoo systems.
The polymer can contribute conditioning, film-forming and antistatic properties while the surfactant system performs the primary cleansing function.
Formulators should evaluate its compatibility with the complete surfactant system and assess the resulting viscosity, clarity, conditioning performance and sensory profile.
Conditioners are an important application area for hair-conditioning polymers.
Polyquaternium-96 can be evaluated in rinse-off conditioner systems where improved softness, combability and manageability are desired.
Potential performance parameters include:
Polyquaternium-96 can also be evaluated in leave-in hair-care formulations.
Potential applications include:
The appropriate grade and concentration should be determined through formulation testing.
Although the current COSMILE function list specifically identifies antistatic, film forming and hair conditioning, film-forming behaviour can be relevant to styling-oriented formulations.
Polyquaternium-96 may therefore be evaluated in formulations where conditioning and surface film formation are required together.
Polyquaternium-96 is also associated with nail-care products in the current COSMILE record.
Its film-forming functionality can be relevant to nail-care formulations where a polymeric film is desired.
The suitability of a particular grade should be confirmed through supplier technical documentation and finished-product testing.
Polyquaternium-96 is a polymeric material and its physical incorporation characteristics depend on the commercial grade.
The supplier's TDS should be followed for the recommended dispersion, dissolution and addition method.
Controlled addition and adequate mixing are important for achieving uniform distribution.
Processing conditions should be selected according to the specific commercial grade.
The final formulation pH should be selected according to the complete cosmetic system.
A universal optimum pH should not be assigned to Polyquaternium-96 without grade-specific technical evidence.
For shampoo and cleansing systems, compatibility with the surfactant system is particularly important.
The formulation should be evaluated for interactions with:
These interactions can influence viscosity, clarity, deposition, conditioning and stability.
Polyquaternium-96 may interact with other polymers, rheology modifiers and conditioning ingredients.
Compatibility testing should therefore be conducted before commercial-scale formulation.
A universal use concentration should not be published without verified commercial-grade technical documentation.
The appropriate concentration should be established according to:
Polyquaternium-96 can be evaluated for:
Polyquaternium-96 can be considered for cosmetic formulations requiring a combination of hair conditioning, film formation and antistatic performance.
Swapnroop supports cosmetic raw-material sourcing with a focus on ingredient identification, technical information and formulation-oriented supply requirements.
Polyquaternium-96 is a synthetic polymeric quaternary ammonium salt used in cosmetic formulations primarily for antistatic, film-forming and hair-conditioning functions.
It is described as the polymeric quaternary ammonium salt of dimethylaminopropylacrylamide, acrylamide and acrylonitrile, quaternized with methyl chloride.
Its documented functions are antistatic, film forming and hair conditioning.
It can be evaluated in conditioning shampoo formulations where compatibility with the surfactant system has been established.
Yes. Its documented hair-conditioning function makes it relevant to rinse-off and leave-in conditioning products.
Yes. Polyquaternium-96 is identified as an antistatic cosmetic ingredient.
Yes. Film forming is one of its documented cosmetic functions.
The current CosIng-derived record does not list a CAS number for Polyquaternium-96.
The CosIng inventory reference is 88172.
No. Polyquaternium-96 and Quaternium-96 are separate INCI ingredients and their technical data should not be interchanged.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White to off-white powder |