LAUSR

A need exists for rheological modifiers that provide thickening for organic (oil) phases in the personal care industry. Despite such a significant need, most commercially available oil thickeners have several deficiencies, notably poor efficiency and clarity in formulations. To address this gap, we have developed a novel polyurethane-based oil thickener (Oil-Thickener PU) that provides significant thickening (gelation at <1 wt %) and high clarity in a range of natural oils and synthetic emollients. In this work, the structure, thickening mechanism, and viscoelastic properties of neat Oil-Thickener PU film and Oil-Thickener in sunflower oil gel are investigated in depth. Results show that the Oil-Thickener PU provides thickening by forming a physically crosslinked network in oil via hydrogen bonding, resulting in a gel that is shear and temperature sensitive. Given its efficiency and uniqueness, the Oil-Thickener PU is projected to have use in applications where a thickened organic phase is required. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46372.