Castor oil polyoxyethylene ether EL-80 (CAS No.: 61791-12-6) is a high HLB value (15.5~16.5) nonionic surfactant formed by the condensation of natural castor oil with ethylene oxide (approximately 80 mol EO). Its molecular structure combines the hydrophobicity of long-chain fatty acid esters with the hydrophilicity of polyoxyethylene ether chains, imparting excellent water solubility, emulsifying power, dispersing power, and antistatic performance to the product. It maintains stable activity in hard water, weak acid, weak base, and electrolyte systems, thus penetrating widely into multiple industrial processing fields.
In the textile industry, this product is used as a key component in spinning oils for synthetic fibers (nylon, polyester, etc.), providing smoothness and antistatic functionality, effectively reducing the dynamic friction coefficient of fibers and minimizing broken filaments and ends; in dyeing and finishing processes, it serves as a leveling agent and dispersant to improve uniform dye uptake. In the field of pesticide formulations, EL-80 is a highly effective emulsifier for difficult-to-emulsify emulsifiable concentrate systems such as pyrethroids, organophosphates, and emamectin benzoate, and is also suitable for water emulsion and microemulsion formulations, enhancing the wetting and penetration of the spray liquid on targets. In daily chemical and personal care products, it is commonly used in O/W systems such as shampoos, body washes, creams, and lotions as a solubilizer, emollient, and emulsifier, especially suitable for transparent solubilization systems of fragrances and oil-soluble active ingredients. In the metal processing and lubrication field, it is widely used in emulsified and semi-synthetic cutting fluids, hydraulic support fluids, providing excellent emulsification effects for base oils such as mineral oil and synthetic esters, along with synergistic anti-rust and boundary lubrication improvement. Additionally, this product can be used as an additive in industrial cleaning agents and as a nonionic emulsifier and colloidal protective agent in emulsion polymerization (acrylate, styrene-acrylic, vinyl acetate-acrylic systems).
The following is a summary of the key process roles and recommended dosages of EL-80 in different application scenarios:
| Parameter | Typical Data |
|---|---|
| Product Type | Nonionic Surfactant |
| Chemical Composition | Castor Oil Polyoxyethylene Ether (EO number ≈ 80) |
| HLB Value | 15.5 ~ 16.5 |
| Appearance (Room Temperature) | Light yellow paste to solid |
| Water Solubility | Easily soluble in water, forming a clear solution |
| Ionicity | Nonionic |
| Flash Point (Closed Cup) | >150°C |
| Biodegradability | OECD 301B, 28-day degradation rate >70% (ultimately biodegradable) |
| Aquatic Toxicity (Daphnia magna 48h EC50) | >100 mg/L (low acute toxicity) |
Formulation Flexibility: EL-80 can be freely compounded with nonionic, anionic, cationic surfactants, and various organic solvents and additives, providing significant synergistic effects and strong formulation adaptability. In pesticide emulsifiable concentrates, combined with anionic emulsifiers (e.g., calcium salts) it significantly improves emulsion stability; in cleaning formulations, compounded with dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid it enhances degreasing and defatting capabilities.
Usage Method: When used as an emulsifier, it can be directly added to the oil phase, followed by slow addition of water under stirring for phase inversion emulsification, or pre-prepared as a 20% to 30% aqueous solution for later use. It is recommended to conduct a small-scale trial before use to determine the optimal dosage and process conditions.
Low Foaming Advantage: This product exhibits low foam at working temperatures, is easy to rinse, and can reduce the amount of defoamer needed, especially suitable for industrial cleaning and textile pretreatment processes that require low foaming properties.