Calcium/Sodium PVM/MA Copolymer

What Is It?

PVM/MA Copolymer is a copolymer of methyl vinyl ether and maleic anhydride or maleic acid. Salts of PVM/MA Copolymer (Calcium/Sodium PVM/MA Copolymer), esters of PVM/MA Copolymer (Butyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer, Ethyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer, Isopropyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer) and salts of the esters of PVM/MA Copolymer (Potassium Butyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer, Potassium Ethyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer, Sodium Butyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer, Sodium Ethyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer) may also be used in cosmetics and personal care products. In cosmetics and personal care products, these ingredients are used in the formulation of hair sprays, wave sets, and other hair products, as well as mascaras and skin care products.

Why Is It Used?

PVM/MA Copolymer, Butyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer, Ethyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer, Calcium/Sodium PVM/MA Copolymer, Isopropyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer, Potassium Butyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer, Potassium Ethyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer, Sodium Butyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer and Sodium Ethyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer all functions as binders, film formers and hair fixatives.

In addition, PVM/MA Copolymer and Isopropyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer have been reported to function as emulsion stabilizers and suspending agents – nonsurfactant.

Scientific Facts

PVM/MA Copolymer is a synthetic polymer prepared from relatively small chemical compounds called monomers. PVM/MA Copolymer is a resin composed of polyvinylmethyl ether (PVM) and maleic anhydride or maleic acid (MA) monomers. Creating salts and esters of PVM/MA Copolymer modifies the solubility of the Copolymer so that it can be incorporated into cosmetic and personal care product formulations.

Safety Information

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permits PVM/MA Copolymer to be used in adhesives that may come in contact with food.

The FDA also permits Calcium/Sodium PVM/MA Copolymer and PVM/MA Copolymer to be used in denture adhesives The safety of PVM/MA Copolymer and its salts and esters (Butyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer, Ethyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer, Calcium/Sodium PVM/MA Copolymer, Isopropyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer, Potassium Butyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer, Potassium Ethyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer, Sodium Butyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer, Sodium Ethyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer) has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel.

The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that PVM/MA Copolymer and its salts and esters were safe as cosmetic ingredients in the present practices of use.

FDA:

Link to Code of Federal Regulations for PVM/MA Copolymer and Calcium/Sodium PVM/MA Copolymer

CIR Safety Review:

The CIR Expert Panel noted that the PVM/MA Copolymers are have very large molecular weights and would not penetrate the skin. Butyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer was not toxic in a short-term oral toxicity study. The ethyl and butyl esters were not toxic in subchronic inhalation studies and the esters were not ocular or dermal irritants. Neither was a skin irritant, sensitizer, or photosensitizer when assayed in human volunteers. Butyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer was negative for genotoxicity.

Based on the large molecular weights and the safety data on the Ethyl and Butyl Esters of PVM/MA Copolymers, the CIR Expert Panel concluded that PVM/MA Copolymer, Butyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer, Ethyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer, Calcium/Sodium PVM/MA Copolymer, Isopropyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer, Potassium Butyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer, Potassium Ethyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer, Sodium Butyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer and Sodium Ethyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer were safe as cosmetic ingredients in the present practices of use. PVM/MA Copolymer, Butyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer, Ethyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer, Calcium/Sodium PVM/MA Copolymer, Isopropyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer, Potassium Butyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer, Potassium Ethyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer, Sodium Butyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer and Sodium Ethyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer 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.

EU Cosmetic Regulation

More Scientific Information

PVM/MA Copolymer is a polycarboxylic resin formed from vinyl methyl ether and maleic anhydride or maleic acid. In cosmetics and personal care products, PVM/MA Copolymer and its salts and esters primarily function as binders, film formers and hair fixatives.