Pharmaceutical-grade Carbomers are manufactured under distinct process controls specific to pharmaceutical formulation requirements. Additional pharmaceutical-grade options beyond those listed may be available — contact us with your target application.
Carbomer is a hydrophilic crosslinked acrylic acid polymer prized as a thickener and gelling agent — its abundant carboxyl groups mean that once neutralized, it forms a clear, non-irritating gel widely regarded as one of the safest and most effective hydrophilic thickeners for pharmaceutical and personal care formulations.
Every grade we supply is manufactured using an ethyl acetate / cyclohexane co-solvent system or pure ethyl acetate as the polymerization solvent — never benzene — keeping solvent residue low and compliant with current regulatory requirements.
Three Product Families
Carbomer grades fall into three structural categories, each suited to different formulation needs:
Homopolymer — the most classic category, polymerized from acrylic acid alone. Offered in three viscosity tiers (Type A, B, C) suited to gels, creams, ophthalmic preparations, and oral solid dosage applications.
Copolymer — incorporates additional functional monomers to improve salt resistance and shear stability, suited to formulations requiring thickening performance in higher-ionic-strength systems.
Interpolymer — engineered for rapid wetting alongside salt and ion resistance, useful where fast hydration during manufacturing is a priority.
Benzene-free polymerization solvent system (ethyl acetate / cyclohexane)
MSDS / TDS available on request
Key Applications
Carbomer across topical, oral solid, ophthalmic, and salt-resistant thickening applications.
Topical Gels, Ointments & Creams
Thickener and gelling agent for creams, ointments, gels, and lotions — a smooth, non-irritating texture with excellent clarity.
Oral Solid Dosage
Taste-masking agent and release retardant in tablets and granules — a key excipient in new direct-compression oral granule formats.
Ophthalmic & Specialty Preparations
Ophthalmic gels, nasal drops, medical coupling agents, and enemas — depending on grade and viscosity requirements.
Salt-Resistant Thickening
Copolymer and interpolymer grades maintain thickening efficiency in high-ionic-strength systems, with rapid wetting available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is your Carbomer benzene-free?
Yes. All our Carbomer grades are manufactured using an ethyl acetate/cyclohexane co-solvent system or pure ethyl acetate as the polymerization solvent — not benzene — with low solvent residue compliant with current regulatory requirements.
What's the difference between Carbomer homopolymer, copolymer, and interpolymer?
Homopolymer is polymerized from acrylic acid alone and is the most classic Carbomer category. Copolymer and interpolymer incorporate additional functional monomers to improve salt resistance, shear stability, and wettability — useful where the formulation environment (such as higher ionic strength) would challenge a standard homopolymer.
Which pharmacopoeia standards does your Carbomer comply with?
Manufactured to comply with EP and USP monograph requirements, with batch documentation available for regulatory filings.
Do you provide certificates of analysis for each batch?
Yes, a batch-specific COA is provided with every shipment, along with ISO certification and MSDS/TDS documentation on request.
