About Phases | ||||||||
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A phase is a group of miscible ingredients that are processed in the formula together. You can arrange phases in a formula in a preferred order.
There are two types of phases: standard phases and premix phases.
Standard Phases
A standard phase contributes its ingredients' levels to the total percentage of the
formula directly, grouping ingredients together. Standard phase rows are indicated
in the formula grid by a blue beaker 
in the icon column.
Premix Phases
A premix phase is like a discrete formula within the formula. The level of the premix phase is not calculated as part of the main batch total; instead, other phases can include a link to it. Within these phases, the premix phase link behaves like an ingredient, whose level you can adjust in the same way as a standard ingredient. For more information, see "Creating a Premix Phase."
Premix phases are indicated by a black cross 
in the icon column.
Links to Premix Phases
Unless a premix phase has a link to it in the main formula, its level is not included in the formula's calculated total. (If you create a formula that only contains premix phases, its TOTALS row displays 0%.)
You specify the contribution of the premix to the formula's total in the row for the link to the premix. For example, consider a soap in which the fragrance is premixed. You include the fragrance ingredients in a premix phase, and create a link to the premix phase in which you specify the amount of the fragrance. Formulation Design calculates the amounts of the individual fragrance ingredients used in the formula. This is illustrated in the example below.
Links to premix phases are indicated by 
in the icons column.
Example
The following formula grid shows a soap formula with three phases: a Main Phase, a Colorants phase, and a Fragrances phase. The Main Phase and the Colorants phase are standard phases. The Fragrances phase is a premix phase.
The Link to Fragrances row specifies that 20.00 g of the Fragrances premix is included in formula batches. Note how the total weight of the Fragrances premix phase (100.00 g) is not included in the calculations for the formula's TOTALS row:
| # | Material ID | Material Name | Wet % | Wet % (w/w) | Wet % (w/w active) | Wet Wt | Units | ||
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P1 | PI-00000049 | |||||||
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Main Phase | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00 | g | ||
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1 | RMP-00000626 | SD-Alcohol | 1.50% | 1.50% | 1.50% | 15.00 | g | |
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2 | RMP-00000081 | Water | 85.50% | 85.50% | 85.50% | 855.00 | g | |
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3 | RMP-00000490 | Sodium Lauryl Sulfate - 25% | 10.00% | 10.00% | 2.50% | 100.00 | g |
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4 | Link to Fragrances | 2.00% | 2.00% | 2.00% | 20.00 | g | |
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Colorants | 1.00% | 1.00% | 1.00% | 10.00 | g | ||
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5 | RMP-00000478 | FD&C Yellow No 6 Aluminum Lake | 1.00% | 1.00% | 1.00% | 10.00 | g |
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Fragrances | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00 | g | ||
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6 | RMP-00000480 | Methyl Salicylate | 20.00% | 20.00% | 20.00% | 20.00 | g |
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7 | RMP-00000482 | Benzaldehyde | 20.00% | 20.00% | 20.00% | 20.00 | g |
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8 | RMP-00000484 | Ethyl Butyrate | 60.00% | 60.00% | 60.00% | 60.00 | g |
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TOTALS: | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 1000.00 | g | ||