What is Polyquaternium-11 and what is it used for?
Polyquaternium-11 (CAS 53633-54-8) is a vinylpyrrolidone-based cationic copolymer. It is used in hair care as a film former and fixative for styling and setting products, and as a conditioning and antistatic agent in rinse-off and leave-on formulations.
POLYQUATERNIUM-11- ▸ Film forming: Builds flexible, conditioning films for styling products
- ▸ Hair fixative: Provides hold in styling and setting formulations
- ▸ Conditioning: Cationic conditioning and feel benefits
- ▸ Antistatic: Reduces static on treated hair
| Grade | CAS No. | Listed functions | Repeat-unit formula |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polyquaternium-2 | 68555-36-2 | Conditioning, film formation | C15H34Cl2N4O2 |
| Polyquaternium-7 | 26590-05-6 | Conditioning, film formation, thickening | — |
| Polyquaternium-10 | 68610-92-4 | Conditioning, film formation, thickening | — |
| Polyquaternium-11 you are here | 53633-54-8 | Conditioning, film formation | C18H34N2O7S |
| Polyquaternium-28 | 131954-48-8 | Conditioning, film formation | C16H30ClN3O2 |
How to choose: Polyquaternium is an INCI family of cationic (positively charged) polymers, not a single molecule — each number is a distinct backbone. Polyquaternium-7 is an acrylamide/DADMAC copolymer; the series is grouped for their shared cationic charge and film-forming/conditioning function profile. Members that also carry a thickening/rheology role (PQ-7, PQ-10) contribute viscosity in addition to substantivity.
A grade-specific Safety Data Sheet (SDS) — with the complete hazard classification, handling precautions, and transport information — is supplied with every shipment and available on request. Confirm all safety and regulatory details against the SDS for your specific grade.
Request SDS →Polyquaternium-11 (CAS 53633-54-8) is a cationic, water-soluble copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone and a quaternized dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate. Formulators reach for it when a single polymer has to do two jobs at once: lay down a clear, flexible film for hold and, because it carries a permanent positive charge, deposit and condition on hair. The quaternary nitrogen is what makes the molecule substantive to negatively charged keratin, so the film stays put through humidity and combing rather than washing or flaking away. That combination of humidity-resistant hold, conditioning feel, and film clarity is why Polyquaternium-11 remains a workhorse fixative and conditioning polymer across hair-styling and rinse-off personal-care lines.
Applications by sector
Hair styling: gels, mousses, hairsprays, setting lotions
This is the polymer’s core territory. In styling gels, mousses, hairsprays, and setting lotions, Polyquaternium-11 forms a continuous film on the fiber that delivers flexible-to-firm hold depending on use level and pairing with other resins. Because the film is clear and non-tacky, it adds gloss without the dull, crusty cast that some fixatives leave, and the cationic backbone gives meaningful anti-static control so styled hair stays manageable. Its film also tolerates ambient humidity better than many non-ionic film formers, which is the practical reason styling chemists keep it in rotation for hold that survives a humid day.
Conditioners and leave-ins
The same cationic charge that anchors the styling film makes Polyquaternium-11 substantive in rinse-off conditioners and leave-in treatments. It deposits preferentially on damaged, more negatively charged regions of the hair, where it improves wet and dry detangling, smooths the cuticle for better slip, and leaves a conditioned feel without heavy build-up. Formulators often use it to add styling memory to a conditioner or to carry a light fixative benefit into a leave-in, bridging the gap between conditioning and hold.
Skin care and other personal-care uses
Outside hair care, Polyquaternium-11 is used as a film former in skin-care and other topical personal-care formats where a flexible, water-resistant film is useful for substantivity or sensory effect. Its broad compatibility with anionic, nonionic, and amphoteric surfactants and with common cosmetic solvents makes it straightforward to slot into existing systems, and the cationic film performs across a wide formulation pH range. Why a cationic copolymer rather than a neutral resin? The permanent charge is what drives deposition onto negatively charged substrates, produces clear films instead of hazy ones, and keeps the polymer broadly compatible across solvent and surfactant systems.
Forms and grade
Polyquaternium-11 is typically supplied as an aqueous solution at a stated percentage of active polymer, often pre-preserved, as a colorless to pale-yellow viscous liquid. Active content, viscosity, and preservative system vary by grade and supplier, so the exact percentage and specification should be confirmed on the Certificate of Analysis for the lot you receive. We can source cosmetic-grade material and match the active level, packaging, and preservation your formulation and quality system require.
Handling
Handle Polyquaternium-11 as a standard aqueous cosmetic raw material: store in closed, compatible containers away from extreme heat and freezing, and follow good manufacturing and personal-protective practice. The Safety Data Sheet for the specific grade governs all handling, storage, and disposal requirements; request the current SDS and CoA before formulating or shipping.
Source Polyquaternium-11 in bulk
RawSource sources Polyquaternium-11 in bulk for personal-care manufacturers and contract formulators. Send us your target active percentage, annual volume, and packaging preference (pails, drums, totes, or IBCs) and we will return a bulk quote with current SDS and CoA documentation. Request a quote to get pricing and lead time on Polyquaternium-11.
Reviewed and updated July 2026 by the RawSource technical team.
Polyquaternium-11 is a water-soluble cationic copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone and dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, quaternized with diethyl sulfate, used as a film-forming fixative and conditioning polymer in personal-care formulation (CAS 53633-54-8).
Polyquaternium-11: Key Figures for Buyers
- Reported cosmetic use: 192 US cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 2.9% in leave-on products per 2023 use data, down from 254 formulations at up to 12% in rinse-off products in 2001 (CIR re-review, 2023).
- Safety status: concluded “safe as a cosmetic ingredient in the present practices of use” by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel, first published 1983 and reaffirmed 2003 (CIR safety assessment).
- Commercial molecular-weight grades: low-MW grade under 100,000 average molecular weight, carried in alcohol; high-MW grade above 1,000,000, supplied in water at 19% solids minimum (CIR safety assessment, 1983 data in 2023 re-review package).
- Typical aqueous-grade properties: 19-21% solids, pH 5-7 as supplied, Brookfield viscosity 20,000-70,000 cps at 25 °C (Ashland Gafquat 755N technical bulletin 4817-1, 2017).
- Impurity specification: residual vinylpyrrolidone monomer capped at 1.0% maximum by industry specifications (CIR safety assessment).
Regulatory & registration requirements
- TSCA (US):
- REACH (EU): Not determined from public registry
- EC number: 611-022-0
TSCA Inventory flag XU: a substance exempt from reporting under the Chemical Data Reporting Rule (40 CFR 711) (EPA flag legend).
Source: EPA TSCA Inventory (July 2025 release) · ECHA CHEM — retrieved 2026-07-12
Solutions Using This Product
Process-solution guides on this site that specify this chemistry:
- Clean-Rinse Film-Forming Styling Polymers (Beauty & Personal Care)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Polyquaternium-11 used for?
Polyquaternium-11 (CAS 53633-54-8) is used as a film former, hair fixative, antistatic, and conditioning agent in personal-care formulations. It builds clear, flexible films for humidity-resistant hold in styling gels, mousses, and hairsprays, and its cationic charge delivers conditioning and detangling in conditioners and leave-ins.
What is Polyquaternium-11 made of?
It is a cationic copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone and a quaternized dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate. The vinylpyrrolidone backbone contributes film formation while the quaternized methacrylate provides the permanent positive charge that drives substantivity and conditioning.
What is the difference between Polyquaternium-11 and Polyquaternium-10?
PQ-11 is a vinylpyrrolidone/quaternized-methacrylate copolymer used largely for film-forming and hold, while PQ-10 is a quaternized hydroxyethyl-cellulose conditioning polymer. Choose by whether the formulation prioritizes styling-film performance and hold or conditioning substantivity from a cellulosic polymer.
How is Polyquaternium-11 supplied in bulk?
It is commonly supplied as an aqueous solution, often pre-preserved, with active content stated by grade. Confirm the active percentage and viscosity on the CoA and request the SDS, then send your volume and packaging for a bulk quote in pails, drums, totes, or IBCs.
Is Polyquaternium-11 compatible with surfactants in shampoos and conditioners?
Yes. It is broadly compatible with anionic, nonionic, and amphoteric surfactants and with common cosmetic solvents, and the cationic film performs across a wide formulation pH range, which is why it is used in shampoos, conditioners, gels, mousses, and hairsprays. Confirm compatibility for your specific system during bench work.
What is the CAS number for Polyquaternium-11?
Its CAS number is 53633-54-8. A batch CoA and SDS are available on request to confirm identity and specifications.
Is Polyquaternium a silicone?
No. Polyquaternium-11 is a quaternized copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone and dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, built on a carbon backbone with no siloxane (Si-O) units. It is water soluble, and the standard high-molecular-weight grade ships as an aqueous solution at 19-21% solids. Formulators building silicone-free styling or conditioning systems use it to retain film formation, hold, and antistatic performance in a fully silicone-free formula.
Is polyquaternium-11 safe?
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel concluded that polyquaternium-11 is “safe as a cosmetic ingredient in the present practices of use,” first published in 1983 and reaffirmed in 2003. A March 2023 CIR literature search found no new relevant safety data, and 2023 use data list 192 US cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 2.9% in leave-on products. The acute oral LD50 for the high-molecular-weight polymer is estimated at greater than 12.8 g/kg. Review the grade-specific SDS before production use.
Is Polyquaternium formaldehyde?
No. Polyquaternium-11’s documented synthesis is vinylpyrrolidone copolymerized with dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, then quaternized with diethyl sulfate; formaldehyde plays no part in it. The CIR assessment tracks residual vinylpyrrolidone, capped at 1.0% by industry specifications, as the relevant impurity. The similarly named quaternium-15 is a different INCI ingredient entirely. Commercial solutions often ship pre-preserved, so buyers running formaldehyde-free programs should confirm the preservative system on each grade’s TDS and CoA.
Is polyquaternium-11 water soluble?
Yes. Polyquaternium-11 is a water-soluble cationic polymer. The standard high-molecular-weight grade is supplied as an aqueous solution at 19-21% solids, pH 5-7, with a Brookfield viscosity of 20,000-70,000 cps at 25 °C, per Ashland’s Gafquat technical bulletin. A lower-molecular-weight grade carried in ethanol at 28-32% solids is suggested for spray applications, where lower solution viscosity gives better spray break-up. Confirm solids and viscosity on the CoA for the grade quoted.
What is the REACH and TSCA regulatory status of Polyquaternium-11?
Polyquaternium-11 (CAS 53633-54-8) is listed as Active on the U.S. EPA TSCA Inventory; its REACH registration status is not determined from the public ECHA registry.