The main component of Castor Oil Polyoxyethylene Ether EL-12 is PEG-12 Castor Oil (Polyoxyethylene Castor Oil), a nonionic surfactant formed by the addition polymerization of natural castor oil with approximately 12 moles of ethylene oxide.
Detailed Description
Castor Oil Polyoxyethylene Ether EL-12 (CAS No.: 61791-12-6) is produced by the addition polymerization reaction of natural castor oil with ethylene oxide (EO) in the presence of a catalyst. Its molecular structure uses castor oil triglyceride as the hydrophobic backbone, with an average of about 12 ethylene oxide units (i.e., EO=12) grafted onto the hydroxyl positions of the ricinoleic acid chains, forming hydrophilic polyoxyethylene segments, thereby endowing the product with excellent emulsifying and dispersing properties.
The effective active ingredient content of this product is as high as ≥99%. It appears as a light yellow to yellow transparent oily liquid. It is a nonionic surfactant, free from impurities such as free phosphoric acid and amines. As a green surfactant derived from natural oils, it exhibits good biodegradability and extremely low skin irritation, and is widely used in personal care products, pesticide formulations, and industrial auxiliaries.
Technical Parameters
| Parameter Name | Technical Specification |
|---|
| Chemical Name | PEG-12 Castor Oil |
| Alias | Polyoxyethylene Castor Oil EL-12, Ethoxylated Castor Oil (EO=12) |
| Molecular Formula | C57H104O9(C2H4O)n, n≈12 |
| Molecular Weight | Approx. 1460 |
| CAS No. | 61791-12-6 |
| Ion Type | Nonionic |
| Appearance | Light yellow to yellow liquid |
| Effective Content | ≥99% |
| HLB Value | 6.8 |
| Cloud Point (1% Aqueous Solution) | 50~60°C |
| Saponification Value | 105~125 mgKOH\/g |
| Hydroxyl Value | 75~90 mgKOH\/g |
| Acid Value | ≤1.0 mgKOH\/g |
| Iodine Value | 45~55 gI2\/100g |
| pH Value (1% Aqueous Solution) | 5.0~7.0 |
| Density (25°C) | 1.00~1.05 |
| Surface Tension (1% Aqueous Solution) | Approx. 32~35 mN\/m |
| Flash Point (Open Cup) | >150°C |
Application Recommendations
Castor Oil Polyoxyethylene Ether EL-12, with an HLB value of approximately 6.8, is a water-in-oil (W\/O) type oil-soluble emulsifier, particularly suitable for the following scenarios:
- Cosmetics Industry: Used as a co-emulsifier in creams, lotions, makeup removers, etc. It can be combined with high HLB emulsifiers to construct stable O\/W emulsion systems; also used for solubilizing water-insoluble oily ingredients such as fragrances and essential oils.
- Pesticide Formulations: As a high-efficiency emulsifier in emulsifiable concentrates (EC) and emulsion concentrates (EW). The recommended addition amount is 5% to 15% of the total formulation, significantly enhancing the spontaneous emulsification ability and stability of the spray solution upon field dilution.
- Metalworking Fluids: As a basic emulsifying component in semi-synthetic and emulsified cutting fluids, with a recommended dosage of 3% to 10%, imparting good emulsification stability and boundary lubrication performance to the cutting fluid.
- Compounding Suggestions: It can be widely compounded with nonionic, anionic, and cationic surfactants. When used in combination with high HLB emulsifiers (such as EL-40, EL-80), it can flexibly adjust the HLB value of the system to meet the emulsification requirements of different oil phases.
Precautions
- This product can be dispersed in water but is not easily completely soluble; if preparing an aqueous system, it is recommended to pre-mix it with warm water or a small amount of co-solvent such as ethanol before adding.
- Storage temperature should be controlled between 5~40°C, avoiding prolonged high temperatures or freezing to prevent product separation or quality degradation.
- Wear protective gloves and safety glasses during use, wash the skin promptly after operation, and maintain good ventilation.
- Although this product is non-hazardous and non-irritating, direct discharge into water bodies should be avoided to prevent local eutrophication.
