Pemulen™ Polymeric Emulsifiers

Pemulen^™ polymeric emulsifiers are high molecular weight copolymers of acrylic acid and C10-C30 alkyl acrylate crosslinked with allyl pentaerythritol. These pharmaceutical excipients provide effective emulsification properties to form stable oil-in-water emulsions. Pemulen polymer excipients contain both hydrophilic and hydrophobic portions and serve as excellent gel forming polymers, creating a network around suspended oil droplets and providing exceptional emulsion stability, often without the need for additional surfactants.

These pharmaceutical excipient emulsifiers are ideal for use in topical drug delivery, transdermal drug delivery, and other mucosal applications, such as ophthalmic drug delivery. Pemulen polymers help create low irritancy creams and lotions, providing optimal aesthetics, feel, and drug penetration into the membrane, as well as efficacious, non-irritating emulsion eye drops. Pemulen acrylic acid polymer excipients also provide viscosity building and high yield value to allow for suspension and stabilization of insoluble particulates.

Product Overview

Pemulen Polymer	Solvent System	Product Type	Viscosity, cP (1.0 wt% at pH 7.5)¹	Suggested Uses
TR-1 NF	Cosolvent¹	Copolymer	14,000 - 26,500	Low irritancy emulsions (lotions and creams)
TR-2 NF	Cosolvent¹	Copolymer	4,500 - 13,500	Low irritancy emulsions (lotions and creams)

¹Colsolvent system made using cyclohexane and ethyl acetate

Typical Product Properties

Typical Properties	Pemulen TR-1 NF Polymer	Pemulen TR-2 NF Polymer
USP/NF monograph	Carbomer Copolymer Type B	Carbomer Copolymer Type A
Typical oil levels	Up to 20 - 30%	Up to 50%
Typical use level (wt%)	0.20 - 0.40	0.20 - 0.40
pH formulating range	4 - 8	4 - 8
Viscosity (mPa*s) pH 7.3 - 7.8
0.2 wt% emulsion	6,500 - 15,500	1,700 - 4,500
1.0 wt% dispersion	14,000 - 26,500	4,500 - 13,500