Description
Description
Piroctone Olamine is the ethanolamine salt of piroctone and a specialty cosmetic scalp-care active used in rinse-off and leave-on hair-care formulations. It is particularly suited to shampoos, scalp tonics, conditioners, cleansing systems, and other formulations where scalp hygiene, flake-control positioning, and compatibility with surfactant-based systems are important formulation objectives.
Chemical & Technical Profile
| INCI / Identity | Piroctone Olamine |
|---|---|
| CAS No. | 68890-66-4 |
| Molecular Formula | C16H30N2O3 |
| Molecular Weight | 298.43 g/mol |
| Physical Form | White to off-white crystalline powder |
| Solubility | Slightly soluble in water (pH-dependent); soluble in surfactant solutions and hydroalcoholic systems |
| Functional Category | Cosmetic scalp-care active |
Technical Function
Piroctone Olamine is used in cosmetic scalp-care formulations because of its functional activity and compatibility with appropriately designed surfactant systems. The olamine salt provides improved practical handling and formulation compatibility relative to the parent piroctone acid, supporting use in aqueous and surfactant-based hair-care products.
Formulation performance depends not only on active concentration but also on solubilization, deposition, surfactant architecture, pH, contact time, and rinse profile.
Formulation Guidelines
Pre-dissolve the material in an appropriate aqueous, hydroalcoholic, or surfactant-compatible phase before final batch addition. Confirm complete dissolution before viscosity adjustment.
Avoid introducing the active directly into highly concentrated electrolyte zones.
For clear shampoos and transparent systems, re-evaluate clarity after fragrance, electrolyte, preservative, and final pH adjustment because these variables can influence solubility and appearance.
The final use level should be established according to supplier documentation, formulation requirements, local regulations, and finished-product testing.
Compatibility & Stability
Evaluate compatibility with the complete surfactant, fragrance, electrolyte, preservative, and conditioning system.
During stability testing monitor:
- precipitation,
- clarity,
- color,
- odor,
- pH,
- viscosity,
- low-temperature stability,
- packaging compatibility.
Piroctone Olamine performs a separate formulation function from the product preservation system and should not be treated as a replacement for finished-product preservation validation.
R&D, Scale-Up & Quality Control
Incoming and in-process quality control should verify material identity, appearance, dissolution behavior, pH compatibility, clarity where relevant, and precipitation risk under intended storage conditions.
Pilot-scale batches should confirm that laboratory solubilization and clarity remain reproducible under production mixing, temperature, addition-order, and electrolyte conditions.
Specifications & Documentation
Typical properties from the manufacturer’s technical data sheet. The lot Certificate of Analysis governs.
| INCI name | Piroctone Olamine |
|---|---|
| CAS No. | 68890-66-4 |
| EC No. | 272-574-2 |
| Appearance | White to slightly yellowish crystalline powder |
| Purity (HPLC) | ≥ 99.0% (typical) |
| Melting point | 130–136 °C |
| Solubility | Slightly soluble in water; soluble in ethanol and hydroalcoholic systems |
| Typical use level | Supplier guidance: below 0.5% in leave-on, below 1% in rinse-off products |
| Storage | Tightly sealed at room temperature; keep away from nitrites and nitrosating agents |
| SKU | PI-RM-0012 |
Documentation
- Certificate of Analysis (COA) for the lot shipped: for the current lot, available on request at info@pureingredients.us.
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and Technical Data Sheet: available on request at info@pureingredients.us.
For cosmetic formulation use only. Not for direct application to skin.
Packaging, Shipping & Storage
Supplied in a sealed aluminum pouch.
Store tightly closed in a cool, dry place away from direct light, excessive heat, and moisture.
Minimize moisture exposure after opening and reseal promptly after use.
Estimated Delivery: 10–15 Business Days
Applications
Typical formulation applications include:
- scalp shampoos,
- conditioning shampoos,
- scalp tonics,
- leave-on scalp systems,
- conditioners,
- cleansing treatments,
- professional hair-care formulations.
Regulatory Note
For cosmetic formulation use. Finished-product manufacturers and formulators are responsible for applicable regulatory compliance, permitted claims, use levels, safety assessment, and claim substantiation in the intended market.
Related Ingredients
Technical Reference
For compound identity and nomenclature, consult the Piroctone Olamine record in PubChem:
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/50258
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Piroctone Olamine?
Piroctone Olamine (CAS 68890-66-4) is the ethanolamine salt of piroctone, supplied as a white to off-white crystalline powder. It is used in shampoos, scalp tonics, conditioners and other scalp-care formulations.
How do I dissolve it?
It is only slightly soluble in water, and its solubility rises in surfactant and hydroalcoholic systems. Pre-dissolve it in a suitable aqueous, hydroalcoholic or surfactant phase and confirm full dissolution before adjusting viscosity. Avoid adding it into highly concentrated electrolyte zones.
What concentration can I use?
Set the final level from your supplier documentation, local regulations and finished-product testing. For reference, the EU Cosmetics Regulation (Annex V, entry 35) allows up to 1.0% in rinse-off products and 0.5% in other products.
How should finished products using it be positioned in the US?
Position the finished product as a cosmetic scalp-care or hair-care product and keep label and marketing claims cosmetic. Review claims with your regulatory advisor before launch.
Can it replace my preservative system?
No. Treat it as a separate formulation function and validate the finished product’s preservation independently.
What should I check in stability testing?
Precipitation, clarity, color, odor, pH, viscosity, low-temperature stability and packaging compatibility, especially in clear shampoos after fragrance, electrolyte and final pH adjustment.
F***a –
Equal to the description I haven’t tried it yet, when I try it I’ll say if it works.