Cyclotetrasiloxane or Cyclomethicone 4 belongs to the family of liquid methyl siloxanes known as cyclomethicones. It is also called Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane and is a cyclosiloxane that is the octamethyl derivative of cyclotetrasiloxane. Cyclomethicone 4 is a super light silicone that is the small sister of the more commonly used 5-unit long cyclic structured Cyclopentasiloxane. It is used as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics.
CAS Number: 556-67-2 / 293-51-6Chem/IUPAC Name: 2,2,4,4,6,6,8,8-octamethyl-1,3,5,7,2,4,6,8-tetraoxatetrasilocaneEINECS/ELINCS No: 209-136-7COSING REF No: 33104Products with CYCLOTETRASILOXANE
With samples available
Gransil SiW-009-IS
by Grant Industries
Volasil™ 994
by Innospec
Gransil SiW-009
by Grant Industries
What is CYCLOTETRASILOXANE used for?
Cyclotetrasiloxane functions as a skin-conditioning, hair-conditioning agent, and solvent in cosmetics. It is a four-unit long, cyclic structured, extremely light silicone that is the little sister of the longer, more widely used Cyclopentasiloxane, which is a five-unit long, cyclic structured silicone. It is a 'volatile silicone,' meaning it evaporates off the skin and hair rather than remaining there.
- Skin care: It has amazing silkiness and excellent spreading characteristics, just like other silicones. In order to achieve distinctive sensorial properties in the formula, it is frequently blended with other silicones. It is used to make cleaning solutions, surfactants, cosmetic products, and polishes. It is used up to a concentration of 19% in skincare products. Overall it can be used at a concentration of 0.0007-28%
Origin
Commercially Cyclotetrasiloxane is produced from dimethyldichlorosilane. Hydrolysis of the dichloride produces a mixture of cyclic dimethylsiloxanes and polydimethylsiloxane. From this mixture, the cyclic siloxanes including D4 can be removed by distillation.
What does CYCLOTETRASILOXANE do in a formulation?
EMOLLIENT|
HAIR CONDITIONING|
SKIN CONDITIONING|
SOLVENTSafety Profile
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel (CIR) concluded that Cyclotetrasiloxane is safe in the present practices of use and concentration. The EU’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) reviewed the safety of D4 and D5 and concluded that cyclomethicones (D4 and D5) do not pose a risk for human health when used in cosmetic products.
CYCLOTETRASILOXANE alternatives
CYCLOTETRASILOXANE technical profile
| Property | Values |
| Boiling Point | 175-176°C |
| Melting Point | 17-18°C |
| Solubility | Soluble in water |
Formulations with CYCLOTETRASILOXANE
No data available
By Application
No data available