Carbomer uses a thickening method

1. Neutralization and thickening
Capo is usually neutralized into salt, thickening the crimped molecule by opening up by electric repulsion. Sodium hydroxide and triethanolamine are common neutralizers, which accounts for capo's sensitivity to ions.
2. Thickening of hydrogen bonds
Carbomer molecules as carboxyl donors can bond with one or more hydroxyl groups to form hydrogen bonds and thicken. This neutralization method takes time. The commonly used hydroxyl donors are non-ionic surfactants and polyols.