Castor Oil Polyoxyethylene Ether EL-90 (PEG-90 Castor Oil) is a nonionic surfactant produced by the polymerization of castor oil and ethylene oxide, appearing as a pale yellow to yellow paste or viscous liquid. With excellent emulsification ability, high solubilization and dispersion, superior wetting and spreading properties, and chemical stability over a wide pH range, this product plays a key auxiliary role in many industrial fields. It has good biodegradability and is a green auxiliary with low environmental load, meeting modern environmental requirements.
In practical process applications, the most prominent function of EL-90 is as an O/W (oil-in-water) emulsifier, which can effectively reduce the oil-water interfacial tension and help form emulsion systems with narrow particle size distribution and excellent stability. In addition, it can significantly improve the solubility and dispersion uniformity of poorly soluble substances, quickly wet various substrate surfaces, and plays an irreplaceable role in processes such as emulsion polymerization, cleaning, and solubilization.
The following are the core application industries and corresponding processes of Castor Oil Polyoxyethylene Ether EL-90:
| Industry Field | Process/Application | Function Description |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Chemicals | Pesticide emulsifiable concentrate, microemulsion, aqueous emulsion | As a key emulsifier and solubilizer, it helps uniformly disperse pesticide active ingredients, enhancing efficacy and field application effects |
| Textile and Chemical Fiber Industry | Chemical fiber oiling agent, pretreatment, dyeing, finishing auxiliaries | Imparts smoothness, cohesion, and antistatic properties to synthetic fibers, reducing spinning breakage; enhances penetration, leveling, and softening effects in dyeing and printing processes |
| Industrial Emulsification and Dispersion | Emulsion polymerization, general oil-water emulsification systems | Provides nucleation and stabilization in emulsion polymerization of monomers such as acrylic acid and vinyl acetate; suitable for various industrial emulsification formulations to obtain high-quality emulsions with narrow particle size distribution |
| Daily Chemical Washing | Household detergents, industrial detergents, hard surface cleaners | Improves detergency, dispersibility, and foam control, especially suitable for heavy-duty liquid detergent formulations |
| Cosmetics and Personal Care Products | Creams, lotions, shampoos, body washes | Acts as a mild nonionic emulsifier and solubilizer, helping to uniformly disperse active ingredients and improve skin feel |
| Metalworking Fluids | Cutting fluids, grinding fluids, rust preventive fluids | Provides synergistic effects of emulsification, lubrication, and rust prevention, improving machining accuracy, extending tool life, and protecting workpiece surfaces |
| Leather Processing | Degreasing, fatliquoring, finishing processes | Imparts soft and full hand feel to leather, promoting uniform absorption of dyes and oils |
1. Emulsion Formulation Design: EL-90 has a high HLB value and is suitable as the main emulsifier for O/W emulsion systems. It is recommended to be used in combination with surfactants having complementary HLB values to cover a wider range of oil phases.
2. Pesticide Formulation Development: In pesticide emulsifiable concentrate and microemulsion formulations, EL-90 can effectively improve dilution stability and long-term storage stability. It is recommended to optimize the dosage ratio through orthogonal experiments during formulation development.
3. Textile and Chemical Fiber Application: When used as a component of chemical fiber oiling agents, EL-90 can be used synergistically with antistatic agents and smoothing agents; in high-temperature dyeing processes, attention should be paid to the impact of its cloud point characteristics on performance.
4. Temperature-Sensitive Operation: Under low-temperature conditions, the product may solidify or become turbid. Before use, it should be slowly melted and stirred evenly using indirect heating methods (such as a warm water bath). Open flame direct heating of containers is strictly prohibited.