Kelzan S vs. Kelzan S Plus: A Comprehensive Analysis

Understanding the Key Differentiators and Industrial Applications

industrial xanthan gum product application

Key Highlights

Enhanced Performance: Kelzan S Plus offers superior stability, improved hydration, and optimized viscosity behavior compared to Kelzan S.
Application Versatility: Both products are designed for thickening, suspending, and stabilizing water-based systems, but Kelzan S Plus excels in demanding applications.
Cost Efficiency and Formulation Advantages: With the potential to reduce usage levels while maintaining performance, Kelzan S Plus can offer cost savings over traditional Kelzan S.

Overview of Kelzan S and Kelzan S Plus

Kelzan S and Kelzan S Plus are industrial-grade variants of xanthan gum used widely in various sectors including household and industrial cleaners, paints and coatings, agrochemicals, and many more applications requiring advanced rheological properties. Xanthan gum plays a critical role as a viscosifier and stabilizer in formulations needing specific viscosity profiles and stability over varying conditions.

Kelzan S: The Standard Xanthan Gum

Kelzan S is characterized by its ease of dispersion in water, making it suitable for immediate thickening applications. It is used extensively in formulations where a consistent viscosity is needed under low-shear conditions, such as in household cleaners, silicone emulsions, jet printing for carpets, and textured coatings. Its formulation is optimized for environments where rapid hydration and dispersion are valued. However, while Kelzan S adequately covers many routine industrial applications, advanced applications requiring high consistency, lower dosage or enhanced flexibility call for additional performance enhancements.

Key Attributes of Kelzan S

Kelzan S offers:

Easy dispersion in water, ensuring quick viscosity development.
Reliable performance in a wide range of applications, including both household and industrial cleaners.
Effective stabilization in systems with high concentrations of electrolytes such as salts or anionic surfactants.

Kelzan S Plus: The Enhanced Xanthan Gum

Kelzan S Plus builds upon the strengths of Kelzan S by offering enhanced properties that make it better suited for more challenging formulations. It is engineered to deliver improved stability and performance by exhibiting high viscosity under low-shear conditions while maintaining ease of flow under high-shear conditions. This dual behavior – often called shear-thinning – is beneficial in applications where both high hold and ease of application are vital.

Advanced Formulation Benefits

The key enhancements of Kelzan S Plus include:

Non-lumping behavior when introduced into water, ensuring even dispersion and consistent viscosity.
Enhanced hydration properties that allow for rapid and uniform thickening even at lower dosages.
Superior stability in the presence of high concentrations of electrolytes, acids, enzymes, and high solids, which is particularly useful in industrial and agricultural settings.
A balanced viscosity profile that combines high viscosity under low-shear conditions with lower viscosity under high-shear conditions, facilitating better handling and improved processing.

This improved performance profile not only enhances product quality and formulation efficiency but may also result in cost savings due to the potential for reduced usage levels while still achieving desired viscosity and stability.

Detailed Comparison Table

Property	Kelzan S	Kelzan S Plus
Dispersibility	Easy dispersion in water, suitable for quick thickening.	Enhanced dispersion with non-lumping behavior ensuring uniform hydration.
Viscosity Profile	Offers high viscosity under low-shear conditions.	Optimized viscosity showing high thickness under low shear and reduced viscosity under high shear.
Stability and Compatibility	Compatible with high electrolyte concentrations; stable across various pH ranges.	Exhibits better overall stability even under demanding conditions including high salt or anionic surfactant levels.
Application Areas	Household cleaners, carpet jet printing, silicone emulsions, and textured coatings.	Advanced industrial formulations like agrochemicals, abrasive systems, paint and coatings, and specialized cleaners.
Usage Efficiency	Standard dosing provides effective performance.	Potential reduction in gum usage while maintaining or enhancing performance, leading to cost savings.

In-Depth Analysis of Rheological Behavior

The performance of xanthan gum in industrial applications is often measured through its rheological properties, which determine how a formulation behaves under different shear conditions. This is particularly crucial in processes that involve pumping, spraying, or mixing.

Kelzan S: Consistent Performance

In applications where a consistent thickening effect is required under static or low-shear conditions, Kelzan S provides reliable viscosity adjustment. Its predictable flow behavior makes it suitable for formulations that do not experience dramatic variations in shear forces during processing. However, at times when the formulation is subjected to high shear—such as during pumping or spraying—the viscosity may reduce, which is a characteristic of shear-thinning behavior, though not optimized for such conditions.

Kelzan S Plus: Optimized for Variable Shear Conditions

Kelzan S Plus has been engineered to accommodate the dynamic demands of modern industrial formulations. Its unique viscosity profile is specifically designed so that the solution maintains high viscosity at rest (under low-shear conditions), ensuring structural integrity and stability. When subjected to high shear forces, the viscosity decreases, which facilitates easier handling, mixing, and application. This dual behavior offers a fine balance between maintaining a thick, stable product in storage and ensuring smooth processing during application.

Practical Implications in Formulations

In practical applications, this means that formulations using Kelzan S Plus can be more robust in challenging environments. For instance, in agricultural formulations like pesticide suspensions, the ability to maintain suspension stability during storage and then flow easily during application is critical. Similarly, in industrial cleaning solutions, a lower viscosity during high-shear processing results in improved spraying and reduced clogging, while still providing effective thickening when the product is at rest.

Application-Specific Considerations

Household and Industrial Cleaners

Both Kelzan S and Kelzan S Plus are widely used in the cleaning industry due to their ability to enhance the consistency and performance of cleaning products. In household applications, rapid dispersion and consistent thickening are essential for product effectiveness. Kelzan S is often used where these standard properties are sufficient. However, in industrial environments where cleaner formulations are exposed to a wide range of operating conditions, Kelzan S Plus’s enhanced properties provide additional benefits by maintaining stability under variable pH, temperature, and electrolyte concentrations.

Paints, Coatings, and Emulsions

In coatings, the rheological profile significantly influences the final appearance and application performance. Both products can be tailored to achieve the desired consistency. Kelzan S is suitable for formulations requiring sturdy viscosity under static conditions. In contrast, Kelzan S Plus further enhances application properties by providing a more consistent film formation and sensitivity to shear forces during application, which can lead to smoother finishes and improved pigment suspension.

Agrochemical and Pesticide Formulations

In agricultural applications, formulations such as pesticide suspensions benefit greatly from the ability to both suspend particulate matter effectively and flow easily during application. The improved hydration and shear-thinning properties of Kelzan S Plus not only ensure the stability of the active ingredients but also help in managing the overall viscosity to suit application equipment. This dual action contributes significantly to better product performance in agricultural settings where environmental and operational variables can be challenging.

Is There a Cost Efficiency Advantage?

One of the compelling reasons for selecting an enhanced formulation like Kelzan S Plus is the potential for cost efficiency. Since Kelzan S Plus delivers superior viscosity and stability even at lower usage levels, manufacturers may achieve equivalent or improved product performance with reduced quantities of gum. This efficiency not only reduces material costs but also streamlines processing by minimizing overuse while achieving the same rheological outcomes.

Furthermore, the enhanced performance characteristics of Kelzan S Plus may reduce the need for additional additives or stabilizers in a formulation, thereby offering further opportunities for cost savings and process optimization.

Industry Standards and Compatibility

Both Kelzan S and Kelzan S Plus maintain compatibility with high concentrations of electrolytes, including salts and anionic surfactants, which are commonly found in industrial formulations. Their stability over a wide range of pH values and temperatures makes them suitable for diverse applications. The critical difference lies in the enhanced compatibility and performance stability of Kelzan S Plus, particularly where aggressive conditions and high solids are encountered.

Regulatory and Safety Considerations

As xanthan gum products, both variants meet industrial standards for safety and performance. They are produced through controlled fermentation processes, ensuring a high degree of purity and consistency in every batch. This consistency is crucial for quality control, particularly in sectors like food processing (where applicable), cosmetic formulations, and pharmaceutical preparations, in addition to industrial applications.

Implementation in Formulation Design

Formulation scientists often face challenges when balancing thickening performance with ease of processing. With Kelzan S plus, the improved rheological properties allow more precise control over product behavior, enabling formulators to design systems that transition efficiently between storage (static) and processing (dynamic) conditions. This versatility is particularly important in designing systems that require controlled viscosity when at rest but need to quickly reduce viscosity to facilitate filling, coating, or spraying.

Comparative Analysis: Performance Metrics and Technological Innovations

Both Kelzan S and Kelzan S Plus have been optimized to offer high performance in a wide array of applications. However, the innovations incorporated in Kelzan S Plus make it a more adaptable solution for modern manufacturing challenges. Its faster hydration, enhanced non-thixotropic properties (implying that the product does not continue to change viscosity over time after shearing), and the prospect of reduced concentration usage give it a distinct edge.

Such performance metrics are pivotal in industries where precision and reliability are critical. By meeting the demands of variable shear environments and maintaining a robust stability profile, Kelzan S Plus ensures manufacturers can rely on consistent product behavior, thereby improving overall production scalability and reducing the risk of formulation failure.

Technological Advantages in Processing Equipment

In modern processing equipment, especially those dealing with high-shear mixing and pumping, the difference in viscosity behavior provided by Kelzan S Plus can be a game-changer. Its ability to decrease viscosity under high shear makes it easier for equipment to operate efficiently without compromising the product’s integrity once the shear forces are reduced. This translates into less wear on equipment, lower energy consumption, as well as increased longevity of the machinery.

References

Kelzan S Plus | Home Care & Industrial Cleaning - Azelis
Kelzan S | Household, Industrial & Institutional Cleaners - UL Prospector
Xanthan Gum India - Burzin and Leons
Kelzan S Plus Xanthan Gum - Knowde
Kelzan S Plus Hydration Advantages - VDocuments
Kelzan S Plus | Agricultural & Environmental Solutions - Azelis
Kelzan S Overview - CP Kelco
Kelzan Xanthan Gum - CP Kelco
Industrial Applications of Xanthan Gum - UL Prospector
Knowde Product Collateral - Knowde