Castor oil polyoxyethylene ether EL-12 (PEG-12 castor oil) is a non-ionic surfactant produced by addition polymerization of natural castor oil with ethylene oxide. It appears as a light yellow to yellow transparent oily liquid. With its excellent emulsifying ability, outstanding resistance to acid, alkali, and hard water, as well as low irritation properties, this product plays a key role in multiple industrial fields.
In formulations, EL-12 is mainly used as an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsifier, exhibiting high emulsifying efficiency for mineral oils, animal and vegetable oils, and various organic solvents. Its non-ionic nature allows free combination with anionic, cationic, and other non-ionic additives, providing great flexibility in formulation design.
| Application Industry | Specific Process/Product | Functional Role |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetics and Personal Care | Creams, lotions, makeup removers, bath products | Solubilizer, emulsifier – solubilize fragrances and oils, build stable emulsified structure, provide delicate skin feel |
| Agrochemical Formulations | Emulsifiable concentrates (EC), emulsions in water (EW) | High-efficiency emulsifier – improve thermodynamic stability of formulations and emulsion performance during field dilution |
| Textile Auxiliaries | Spinning oil, softening finishing agent, high-temperature leveling agent | Smoothing agent, antistatic agent – promote uniform dye uptake, improve fabric hand feel |
| Metalworking Fluids | Semi-synthetic/emulsifiable cutting fluids, grinding fluids | Emulsification and lubrication component – promote oil phase dispersion, form stable emulsion, provide boundary lubrication |
| Industrial Cleaning Agents | Water-based/semi-water-based cleaners, degreasers | Wetting penetrant, oil emulsifier – quickly remove grease from metal and plastic surfaces |
EL-12 exhibits good wetting and dispersing effects even at low concentrations. It is recommended to determine the optimal dosage through orthogonal experiments based on the specific formulation system. This product is resistant to acid, alkali, and hard water, making it suitable for complex working conditions. In agrochemical EC formulations, it can be used as the main emulsifier or in combination with anionic emulsifiers to enhance emulsion stability.