Hydroxypropyl guar

Hydroxypropyl guar (CAS 68442-94-4), also supplied in depolymerized form, is a modified natural polysaccharide derived from guar bean endosperm through hydroxypropyl etherification.

The modification improves water solubility and reduces residue compared to native guar, making it a practical rheology modifier and conditioning agent across multiple formulation-driven industries.

In personal care, it functions as a primary thickener and conditioning polymer in shampoos, conditioners, and skin cleansers, where it builds viscosity and improves wet-comb feel without heavy buildup.

Home care formulators use it to control rheology in liquid detergents and surface cleaners, ensuring stable suspension of actives and consistent pour behavior for the end user.

In oilfield applications, depolymerized grades serve as friction reducers and fluid-loss control agents in hydraulic fracturing and completion fluids to optimize extraction efficiency.

Textile and paper processors apply it as a sizing and finishing agent to improve fiber cohesion and surface uniformity during wet processing and industrial manufacturing stages.

Hydroxypropyl guar is supplied as a free-flowing off-white to cream powder. Grades are differentiated by degree of substitution, molecular weight, and specific viscosity profile.

Depolymerized variants are specifically targeted at low-viscosity personal care and oilfield applications. Industrial, cosmetic, and oilfield-specific grades are the most commonly traded specifications.