Nonionic surfactants do not ionize in aqueous solutions, and their hydrophilic groups are mainly composed of a certain number of oxygen-containing groups (generally ether groups and hydroxyl groups). The lipophilic groups in the molecule include high-carbon fatty alcohols, alkylphenols, fatty acids, fatty amines and oils, etc., while its water solubility comes from the polyoxyethylene ether groups and terminal hydroxyl groups in the molecule.

It is precisely because nonionic surfactants have the characteristics of not ionizing in water that they are superior to ionic surfactants in some aspects, such as better solubility in water and organic solvents, and stability in solutions. It has high resistance and is not easily affected by strong electrolyte inorganic salts, acids and alkalis. Because it has good compatibility with other types of surfactants, it can often be mixed and used well.

Most nonionic surfactants are in liquid or slurry state, and their solubility in water decreases as the temperature increases. Nonionic surfactants have good cleaning, dispersing, emulsifying, foaming, wetting, solubilizing, antistatic, leveling, anti-corrosion, sterilization and protective colloid properties and are widely used in textiles, papermaking, food , plastics, leather, fur, glass, petroleum, chemical fiber, medicine, pesticides, coatings, dyes, fertilizers, film, photography, metal processing, mineral processing, building materials, environmental protection, cosmetics, fire protection and agriculture, etc.

One  Polyoxyethylene derivatives

It is a polyether compound obtained by condensation reaction of long-chain fatty alcohols, alkylphenols, and higher fatty acid polyol esters with ethylene oxide.

Representative raw materials

Fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether

Alkylphenol polyoxyethylene ether

Polyol polyoxyethylene ether fatty acid ester

fatty acid methyl ester ethoxylate

1 Fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether

Fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether (AEO), also known as polyoxyethylene fatty alcohol ether. It is the fastest growing and most widely used variety among nonionic surfactants. This type of surfactant is an ether formed by the condensation of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and fatty alcohol. It is represented by the following general formula: RO(CH2CH2O)nH, where n is the degree of polymerization. Due to the polymerization of polyethylene glycol There are different varieties depending on the degree and type of fatty alcohol. The trade name is Brij. For example, Brij30 and Brij are made by polycondensation of different numbers of polyethylene glycol and lauric acid, and can be used as O/W emulsifiers.

Example: Ceteareth-10; INCI: CETEARETH-10; Alias: AEO-10; Cetearyl-10. White waxy body, insoluble in water, HLB value is 12.9.

2 Alkylphenol polyoxyethylene ether

Also known as TX; OP, alkylphenol polyoxyethylene ether-n, the raw material with n value greater than 8 has better water solubility. Alkylphenol polyoxyethylene ether (APEO) is an important polyoxyethylene nonionic surfactant. It has the characteristics of stable properties, acid and alkali resistance and low cost. It is mainly used to produce high-performance detergents and is an important material for printing and dyeing. One of the most commonly used main raw materials in auxiliaries, it has long been necessary to add alkylphenol polyoxygen to various printing and dyeing auxiliaries such as detergents, scouring agents, spinning oils, softeners, crude oils and metal cleaning agents. vinyl ether.

Example: nonylphenol polyether-10; INCI name: NONOXYNOL-10; alias: TX-10, nonylphenol polyoxyethylene (10) ether. Transparent liquid with good wetting, emulsifying, dispersing, solubilizing, foaming, defoaming and decontamination functions, with an HLB value of 13.3.

3 Polyol polyoxyethylene ether fatty acid ester

The typical representative raw material is polyoxyethylene sorbitan (Tween), also known as: polysorbate, Tween, which is the condensate of Span and ethylene oxide. Because there are many prophilic compounds in its molecules The water-based group is a polyoxyethylene group, so it is highly hydrophilic. Including T-20/21/40/60/61/65/80/81/85.

Example: Polysorbate-20; INCI name: POLYSORBATE 20; Alias: T-20, Tween 20, polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan anhydride monolaurate.

This raw material is a light yellow to yellow viscous liquid at room temperature with a weak characteristic odor. Soluble in water, ethanol, methanol, ethyl acetate, insoluble in mineral oil and petroleum ether. Can be used as emulsifier, dispersant and solubilizer.

4 Fatty acid methyl ester ethoxylate

Fatty acid methyl ester ethoxylate (FMEE) is a fatty acid methyl ester added to ethylene oxide under the action of a catalyst. Compared with polyoxyethylene ethers of fatty acids, the ester group is more stable, especially in terms of acid and alkali resistance. There has been a big improvement.

The raw material of FMEE is fatty acid methyl ester. Fatty acid methyl ester itself is a type of defoaming agent. The ethoxylated fatty acid methyl ester still has the characteristics of low foam. FMEE is mainly used as an efficient cleaning agent. It has low foam, high cloud point, excellent cleaning performance, especially excellent dispersion performance. Good dispersion is very important in industrial production, and the liquor ratio of working fluid is becoming more and more important. Under the smaller development trend, it can effectively prevent dirt in the working fluid from gathering into groups and even anti-contaminating equipment or processed materials.

Two Alkyl alcohol amides

The main component is RI;UN (CL-32CH2}H) z. Stable in acid and alkali. It has great wetting and emulsifying power. Mixed into soap, it can improve foaming power, cleaning power and resistance to hard water. It is produced by the condensation of fatty acids and monoethanolamine (MEA) or diethanolamine (DEA). Its hydrophilic group is an amide group and a hydroxyl group, and its lipophilic group is a long-chain alkyl group. It is a nonionic surfactant that can be used as a detergent, wetting agent, and emulsifier. The main purposes of use in cosmetics are thickeners and foam stabilizers.

For example: cocamide DEA, INCI name: COCAMIDE DEA; alias: coconut fatty acid diethylamide; 6501; coco acid diethanolamide; colorless viscous liquid, soluble in water, with good foaming, foam stabilization, Antistatic and other effects.

It is a restricted substance with quality specifications in the "Safety and Technical Specifications for Cosmetics (2015 Edition)": when using this raw material, do not use it with the nitrosating system; avoid the formation of nitrosamines; in the product The maximum content of secondary alkanes is 0.5% and the maximum content of nitrosamines is 50µg/kg; the maximum content of secondary alkanes in raw materials is 5%; store in nitrite-free containers.

Three Polyol monofatty acid ester

Polyols are used as raw materials to carry out esterification reactions with fatty acids. The lipophilic group is the long carbon chain of the fatty acid, and the hydrophilic group is the unesterified hydroxyl group. Including glycerol fatty acid esters and sorbitan esters.

1 Glyceryl fatty acid ester

Glycerol fatty acid esters generated by the reaction of glycerol and fatty acids can be used as surfactants. They are monoesters and diesters synthesized from glycerol and fatty acids. They are mainly used as emulsifiers. Generally, a mixture of monoester and diester can be used, or it can be distilled and refined to obtain a product with a monoester content of about 90%. The fatty acids used can be stearic acid, palmitic acid, myristic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, etc. However, in most cases, mixed fatty acids with stearic acid as the main component are used.

Example: Glyceryl stearate; INCI name: GLYCERYL STEARATE; alias: glyceryl stearate (mono)ester, white flake, insoluble in water. Mainly used as emulsifier, co-emulsifier and emollient.

2 Sorbitan ester (Span)

Also known as: Span, sorbitan mono-fatty acid ester, sorbitan fatty acid ester. It is a compound produced by the esterification reaction of sorbitol and various fatty acids. Span series raw materials have very low solubility in water and are lipophilic surfactants. It is often used in combination with Tween series raw materials in formulas. Including S-20/40/60/65/80/85. There are a wide variety of product specifications, with the performance and emulsification effect of being mixed with various surfactants. The manufacturing technology is mature and can be used in a series of oil-soluble liquid or waxy compounds in the food, medicine, cosmetics, textile industries, etc., suitable for Used as water-in-oil (W/O) emulsifier.

Example: Sorbitan Laurate; INCI name: SORBITAN LAURATE; aliases: S-20, Span-20, sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan laurate.

3 Sucrose ester

Sucrose ester Sucrose ester is the abbreviation of sucrose fatty acid ester. Sucrose (C12H22011) is the product of the condensation of a glucose molecule and a fructose molecule. There are multiple free hydroxyl groups in the molecule, so it has good water solubility and can undergo esterification reactions with higher fatty acids.

Since sucrose ester is easy to biodegrade, can be absorbed by the human body, is harmless to the human body, and does not irritate the skin, it is widely used as an emulsifier and other additives in food and cosmetic crystals, and can also be used as a low-foaming detergent ingredient.

Four Alkylamine oxides

Alkyl amine oxide is easily soluble in water and polar organic solvents. It is a weak cationic amphoteric surfactant. The aqueous solution is cationic under acidic conditions and nonionic under alkaline conditions. It has good thickening, antistatic, soft, foaming, foam stabilizing and decontamination properties; it also has bactericidal and calcium soap dispersing capabilities, and has good biodegradability, making it an environmentally friendly daily chemical product. Alkyl amine oxides can also be used as thickeners and foam stabilizers in cosmetic formulations.

Example: Laurylamine oxide; INCI name: LAURAMINE OXIDE; alias: dodecyldimethylamine oxide, OB-2 conditioner, OA-12, colorless to light yellow transparent liquid, soluble in water.

Five N-Alkylpyrrolidone

It behaves similarly to alkyl amine oxide and is structurally a non-ionic surfactant. However, in acidic media, the molecule is protonated to produce a cationic group, so it will show weak cationicity. Used as a thickener, foam stabilizer, hair conditioner in hair products, and as a solubilizer for fragrances and other components.

Example: Laurylpyrrolidone, INCI name: LAURYL PYRROLIDONE; alias: N-laurylpyrrolidone.

Source: Maple World