PPG-16 Butyl Ether

What Is It?

PPG-2 Butyl Ether, PPG-4 Butyl Ether, PPG-5 Butyl Ether, PPG-9 Butyl Ether, PPG-12 Butyl Ether, PPG-14 Butyl Ether, PPG-15 Butyl Ether, PPG-16 Butyl Ether, PPG-17 Butyl Ether, PPG-18 Butyl Ether, PPG-20 Butyl Ether, PPG-22 Butyl Ether, PPG-24 Butyl Ether, PPG-26 Butyl Ether, PPG-30 Butyl Ether, PPG-33 Butyl Ether, PPG-40 Butyl Ether, PPG-52 Butyl Ether and PPG-53 Butyl Ether are polypropylene glycol ethers of butyl alcohol where the average number of units of propylene glycol is indicated by the number in the ingredient name. In cosmetics and personal care products, the PPG Butyl Ether ingredients are used in the formulation of personal cleanliness products, hair dyes and colors, colognes and skin care products.

Why Is It Used?

PPG Butyl Ether ingredients enhance the appearance of dry or damaged skin by reducing flaking and restoring suppleness. They also enhance the appearance and feel of hair, by increasing hair body, suppleness, or sheen, or by improving the texture of hair that has been damaged physically or by chemical treatment.

Scientific Facts

Polypropylene Glycol (PPG) Butyl Ethers are manufactured by reacting butyl alcohol with an excess of propylene glycol. The numerical value in the name represents the average number of units of propylene glycol. These ingredients may also be named using numbers that represent the average molecular weight. For example, PPG-52 Butyl Ether may also be called PPG Butyl Ether 3000.

Safety Information

The safety of the PPG Butyl Ether ingredients has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel. The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that PPG-2, -4, -5, -9, -12, -14, -15, -16, -17, -18, -20, -22, -24, -26, -30, -33, -40, -52 and -53 Butyl Ether were safe for use in cosmetics and personal care products when formulated to avoid irritation.

CIR Safety Review: The CIR Expert Panel was more concerned about possible effects of the smaller PPG Butyl Ether ingredients because they have a greater potential to be absorbed trough the skin. PPG-2 Butyl Ether vapors were nontoxic by the inhalation route. PPG-2 Butyl Ether was nontoxic in short-term feeding and dermal exposure studies. In irritation studies, PPG-2 Butyl Ether caused minor, transient erythema and desquamation; in addition, erythema, edema, necrosis, and other changes were observed during an acute percutaneous study.

PPG-2 Butyl Ether also caused minor to moderate conjunctival irritation and minor corneal injury. PPG-2 Butyl Ether when dermally applied was nontoxic and did not cause developmental effects at doses up to 1 ml/kg/day. A PPG Butyl Ether with an average molecular weight of 800 (PPG BE800, between 12-14 units of propylene glycol) at concentrations of 0.001% to 0.26% in feed was noncarcinogenic after 2 years of treatment. In clinical studies, PPG BE800 was nonirritating and nonsensitizing to the skin when tested using 200 subjects.

PPG-40 Butyl Ether was neither an irritant nor a sensitizer in a repeat-insult patch test using 112 subjects. Although clinical testing did not indicate that significant skin irritation was produced by these ingredients, the toxicity test data did indicate that these ingredients can be irritating. Therefore, it was concluded that the PPG Butyl Ether ingredients can be used safely in cosmetics and personal care products if formulated to avoid irritation. Data on the component ingredients, propylene glycol, PPG, and n-butyl alcohol, from previous safety assessments were also considered and found to support the safety of the PPG Butyl Ether ingredients.

The PPG Butyl Ether ingredients may be used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in Europe according to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Regulation of the European Union.

Link to the EU Cosmetic Regulation:
http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/consumers/product_labelling_and_p…

More Scientific Information

PPG Butyl Ether ingredients are the polypropylene glycol ethers of n-butyl alcohol. In cosmetics and personal care products, PPG Butyl Ether ingredients function as skin conditioning agents – miscellaneous and hair conditioning agents.