Polyurethane rheology modifiers for organic compositions

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.