According to relevant data, since April 2021, the market share of the niche category of cleansing mud masks has been on the rise, indicating an increase in consumers' demand for deep-cleaning skincare. Speaking of cleansing mud masks, the main ingredients are generally kaolin, bentonite, natural mud, magnesium carbonate, etc., utilizing the adsorptive properties of these components to clean pores. And these minerals are precisely the foundation upon which cleansing mud mask products are built.

Bentonite, commonly used in cleansing masks, comes in both hydrophobic and hydrophilic forms. The type of interlayer cation in bentonite determines whether it is hydrophobic or hydrophilic. When the interlayer cation is Na+, it is called sodium-based bentonite, which is a hydrophilic thickener. When the interlayer cation is an organic cation, it is known as organobentonite, a hydrophobic thickener.

Organobentonite refers to a hydrophobic and oleophilic organoclay composite formed when organic cations or their compounds replace the exchangeable interlayer cations or adsorbed water in montmorillonite, losing or partially losing the adsorbed water. It exhibits excellent colloidal dispersion, thickening, adhesion, thixotropic, and suspension stability properties in organic solvents, making it suitable for use in full-oil makeup remover, skincare, and makeup products.

China is the world's largest producer of bentonite. In recent years, the production volume of organobentonite products in our country has steadily increased, growing from 171,000 tons in 2014 to 338,000 tons in 2020.

Effective Thickening of Oils

BARENATE® P-300 is a high-performance organoclay, an easily dispersible thixotropic thickener and anti-sagging agent, suitable for the thickening of various oils.

Thickening Principle

The thickening mechanism of organoclay involves surface modification, typically through an ion exchange reaction using organic cation exchange agents, which imparts oleophilicity to the organoclay's surface. This modification enhances compatibility between the organoclay and oils, strengthening their interaction, thus achieving a thickening effect. The organic modification of organoclay improves its dispersion stability in oils. The organic functional groups on its surface interact with oil molecules, forming a protective layer that prevents aggregation and settling of the organoclay particles. This dispersion stability helps maintain the uniformity and viscosity of the oil system. When organoclay comes into contact with oil, it swells, forming a colloidal system with a layered structure. This colloidal structure can entrap oil molecules, increasing the viscosity and thickness of the oil system. The swelling capacity of organoclay depends on the characteristics of its interlayer structure and dispersion degree. In summary, the principle of organoclay as a thickener is to interact with oils and form a stable colloidal system by enhancing surface modification, dispersion stability, and swelling performance, thus effectively thickening oils. This thickening effect from organoclay is more persistent and stable, catering to the needs of various oil systems.

Production Process

Mixing organoclay P300 with various oils effectively thickens synthetic oils, vegetable oils, mineral oils, silicone oils, and more. The thickening effect is notably better for synthetic oils and vegetable oils.

The general process for manufacturing organoclay involves: sodium purification of natural calcium-based bentonite → stirring → addition of a covering agent for activation → pressure filtration → introduction of steam → drying → ball mill grinding → homogenization → packaging → finished product. As the market demand for organoclay continues to expand and technology advances, more companies are entering the organoclay production industry, highlighting the promising market prospects for investing in high value-added bentonite products to entrepreneurs.