G-18 glycerol polyoxyethylene ether (INCI name: Glycereth-18, CAS number: 31694-55-0) is a nonionic surfactant with a glycerol backbone grafted with a polyoxyethylene (18EO) chain. It appears as a colorless to light yellow transparent liquid. Its molecular structure combines the moisturizing properties of the glycerol group with the high hydrophilicity of the polyoxyethylene chain, endowing the product with excellent water solubility, interfacial activity, and chemical stability, maintaining stable performance in acidic, alkaline, and hard water environments.
The core value of this product in multiple industries stems from its multifunctionality: as an O/W emulsifier and solubilizer, it effectively disperses oils, fragrances, and active ingredients; as a wetting and dispersing agent, it rapidly reduces interfacial tension, improving the uniform dispersion of powders and pigments; as an antistatic agent and softening agent, it enhances fiber surface properties; and in metalworking systems, it also provides both lubrication and rust prevention functions.
Cosmetics and Personal Care — G-18 acts as an O/W emulsifier, solubilizer, and moisturizing auxiliary in creams, lotions, facial cleansers, makeup removers, and fragrance solubilization systems. Its glycerol ether structure provides certain moisturizing properties, is mild and low-irritating, and is suitable for sensitive skin formulations, improving product stability and skin feel.
Textile Industry — Used as an antistatic agent and softening finishing agent. In spinning, yarn-making, and finishing processes, it effectively eliminates static accumulation between fibers, imparts a soft and smooth hand feel to fabrics, and improves subsequent processability and garment wear comfort.
Metalworking Fluids — Suitable for cutting fluids, grinding fluids, and rust-proof fluids formulations. G-18 provides excellent lubrication performance during metalworking, reducing friction and wear between tools and workpieces, while its rust-proof function protects machined surfaces, improving machining accuracy and surface quality.
Coatings and Inks — As an efficient wetting and dispersing agent, it promotes uniform dispersion of pigments and fillers during pigment grinding and color mixing processes, preventing flocculation and sedimentation, avoiding floating color and flooding, thereby improving system storage stability, tinting strength, and film gloss.
Industrial Cleaning Agents — Applied in hard surface cleaners and industrial degreaser formulations. With good wetting, penetration, and detergency, it effectively removes various oils and soils, and its excellent rinsability minimizes residues, making it suitable for industrial cleaning scenarios such as textile pretreatment.
Polyurethane Foam — As a foam stabilizer component, it helps regulate cell structure during the foaming process of flexible and rigid polyurethane foams, improving foam fineness and dimensional stability, and enhancing foam uniformity and physical properties.
Depending on the application system, the recommended dosage of G-18 varies: in cosmetic emulsification formulations, the typical addition amount is 1% to 5%; when used as a solubilizer, it is recommended to premix with fragrance or active ingredients in proportion before adding to the system; in metalworking fluids and industrial cleaning formulations, the dosage can be adjusted within 2% to 10% according to detergency or lubrication requirements; for coatings and inks dispersion, the recommended dosage is 0.5% to 3.0% of the pigment amount. The specific dosage should be optimized through formulation experiments, and there is no universal standard value.