Question

What is Castor Oil Polyoxyethylene Ether EL-40? What are its main uses?

Answer
2026-06-06 官方文档 蓖麻油聚氧乙烯醚EL-40

Castor Oil Polyoxyethylene Ether EL-40 is a nonionic surfactant derived from natural castor oil, with excellent emulsifying, wetting, and dispersing capabilities. It is widely used in various industrial fields such as textiles, pesticides, coatings, metalworking, and daily chemicals.

Detailed Description

Castor Oil Polyoxyethylene Ether EL-40 (CAS number: 61791-12-6), also known chemically as Castor Oil Polyoxyethylene (40) Ether, with aliases including PEG-40 Castor Oil and Ethoxylated Castor Oil, is one of the core products of Haian Guoli Chemical Co., Ltd. This product belongs to nonionic surfactants and appears as a pale yellow oily liquid to paste.

This product is manufactured from natural castor oil through ethoxylation, and its molecular structure endows it with excellent comprehensive application performance. Its HLB value is moderate, making it particularly suitable as an oil-in-water (O\/W) emulsifier for emulsifying mineral oils, animal and vegetable oils. The product features excellent hard water resistance and acid-base resistance, and shows good compatibility with anionic, cationic, and nonionic auxiliaries, allowing it to function stably in complex formulation systems.

In terms of safety, this product is classified as an irritant, belonging to Skin Irritation Category 2 and Serious Eye Damage\/Eye Irritation Category 2. During operation, protective gloves, goggles, and protective clothing must be worn to avoid direct contact with skin and eyes. It is also harmful to aquatic life, and untreated products must not be discharged directly into water bodies.

Main Uses

1. Textile Dyeing and Printing Industry: Used as an efficient emulsifier, leveling agent, and antistatic agent. It helps dyes to penetrate and disperse evenly, improving dyeing uniformity while giving fibers a good processing feel and smoothness.

2. Pesticide Formulations: As an excellent emulsifying dispersant, it can stably disperse oily pesticide active ingredients in water, enhancing the wetting and spreading ability of the spray liquid on target surfaces, ensuring uniform spraying, and significantly improving control effectiveness.

3. Coatings, Inks, and Pigments: Used as a pigment wetting dispersant and emulsion polymerization emulsifier, effectively improving the dispersion fineness and color development of pigments and fillers, preventing flocculation and floating color, and enhancing the tinting strength and storage stability of the product.

4. Metalworking Fluids: Plays a dual role of emulsification and lubrication during cutting, grinding, and other machining processes, helping to form stable working emulsions, reducing frictional heat, protecting tools and workpiece surfaces, while also providing rust prevention properties.

5. Daily Chemical Products: As a mild nonionic surfactant, it is used to prepare emulsifying waxes, skincare creams, facial cleansers, and other personal care and household cleaning products, contributing solubilizing, emulsifying, and cleaning effects, imparting a soft touch to the product while reducing irritation.

Technical Parameters

Parameter ItemDescription
Product NameCastor Oil Polyoxyethylene Ether EL-40
Chemical NameCastor Oil Polyoxyethylene (40) Ether (PEG-40 Castor Oil)
CAS Number61791-12-6
Ionic TypeNonionic Surfactant
Product AppearancePale yellow oily liquid to paste
Emulsification TypeO\/W (Oil-in-Water) Emulsifier
Suitable ObjectsEmulsification of mineral oils, animal and vegetable oils
Hard Water ResistanceExcellent
Acid-Base ResistanceGood
CompatibilityCompatible with anionic, cationic, and nonionic auxiliaries
GHS ClassificationSkin corrosion\/irritation Category 2; Eye damage\/irritation Category 2; Aquatic chronic hazard Category 3

Application Suggestions

When using Castor Oil Polyoxyethylene Ether EL-40, it is recommended to adjust the dosage according to the specific application scenario. When used as an emulsifier, the general addition amount is 5% to 15% of the oil phase weight; when used as a wetting dispersant, the recommended addition amount is 0.5% to 3% of the total system weight. Before use, a small-scale test can be conducted to determine the optimal ratio. This product can stably function over a wide pH range, making it especially suitable for industrial environments requiring acid and alkali resistance.

Precautions

  • During operation, be sure to wear chemical safety protective gloves, protective goggles or face shield, and appropriate work clothing
  • Avoid direct contact with skin and eyes; after operation, thoroughly wash exposed areas with clean water and soap
  • Storage temperature is recommended to be maintained between 5°C and 35°C, keep containers tightly closed, and store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place
  • Do not discharge untreated products or their residues into municipal sewage systems or natural water bodies
  • If accidentally enters eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical attention; if skin contact occurs, wash with soap and water for at least 15 minutes