MOA-4 (AEO-4) is a nonionic surfactant made from C12-14 fatty alcohol through addition polymerization with ethylene oxide. Its chemical name is Laureth-4. Due to its excellent emulsifying, wetting, and penetrating properties, it is widely used in industrial cleaning, textiles, agrochemicals, daily chemicals, and other fields.
Detailed Description
MOA-4 (also known as AEO-4, CAS Number: 68439-50-9) belongs to the fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether class of nonionic surfactants. The initiator is C12-14 fatty alcohol (lauryl alcohol), and the average ethylene oxide (EO) addition number is 4. The product appears as a colorless to slightly yellow transparent liquid with high active content and stable chemical properties. Due to its short EO chain, the product has a relatively low HLB value and relatively strong lipophilicity, making it especially suitable as an emulsifier for water-in-oil (O/W) type systems.
From the perspective of chemical structure, the MOA-4 molecule contains both a lipophilic long-chain alkyl group (C12-14) and a hydrophilic polyoxyethylene ether segment. This amphiphilic structure endows it with multiple functions such as reducing interfacial tension, emulsifying and dispersing, wetting, and penetrating. As a nonionic surfactant, it does not ionize, so it is not affected by hard water, acids, bases, or electrolytes in aqueous solutions. It can be well compounded with anionic, cationic, and zwitterionic surfactants, achieving synergistic effects.
MOA-4 is also a key intermediate for synthesizing the anionic surfactant AES (fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether sulfate). After sulfation and neutralization reactions, it can be used to prepare alcohol ether sulfate salt products, which are widely applied in personal care and daily detergent formulations such as shampoos, shower gels, and laundry detergents.
Technical Parameters
| Parameter Item | Description |
|---|
| Chemical Name | Laureth-4 |
| CAS No. | 68439-50-9 |
| Aliases | AEO-4, MOA-4, Fatty Alcohol Polyoxyethylene Ether AEO-4, Laureth-4, Dodecyl Alcohol Polyoxyethylene Ether-4 |
| Product Type | Nonionic surfactant |
| Appearance | Colorless to slightly yellow transparent liquid |
| Starter | C12-14 fatty alcohol (lauryl alcohol) |
| EO Addition Number | Approximately 4 |
| Ionic Type | Nonionic |
| HLB Value | Temporarily unavailable |
| pH Value | Temporarily unavailable |
| Cloud Point | Temporarily unavailable |
| Active Content | Temporarily unavailable |
Application Suggestions
The core application areas of MOA-4 cover the following eight fields:
- Civilian Liquid Detergents: Used in formulations such as laundry detergents and dishwashing detergents, providing excellent degreasing performance and low-temperature washing effects.
- Industrial Cleaners: Used as a component with strong penetrating power and corrosion protection in metal cleaning and hard surface cleaning, effectively removing mineral oil and grease.
- Textile Auxiliaries: Used as a penetrating agent in pretreatment and a levelling agent in dyeing, accelerating the penetration of alkali solutions into fibers, promoting even dye uptake, and reducing color streaks.
- Leather Degreasing Agents: Used in the soaking and degreasing stages of leather processing, efficiently removing natural fats and dirt with its excellent emulsifying and penetrating abilities.
- Agrochemical Emulsifiers: Used in formulating emulsifiable concentrates, microemulsions, and other formulations, dispersing oil-soluble pesticides uniformly in water and enhancing the wetting and spreading ability of the spray solution.
- Coatings and Inks: Improves pigment wetting and dispersion, enhances system stability, and assists in adjusting drying speed and flowability of coating films.
- Emulsion Polymerization: Acts as a primary or auxiliary emulsifier in the emulsion polymerization of monomers like acrylates and vinyl acetate, controlling latex particle size.
- AES Synthesis Intermediate: Through sulfation/neutralization, it is used to prepare fatty alcohol ether sulfate salts, a key raw material for producing personal care and cleaning products.
Precautions
- Skin Irritation: This product causes skin irritation (GHS Category 2). Always wear impervious gloves and protective clothing when handling.
- Eye Hazard: Causes serious eye irritation (GHS Category 2A). Wear chemical safety goggles. If it gets into the eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of clean water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical attention.
- Environmental Risk: Harmful to aquatic life with long-term effects (GHS Category 3). Do not discharge undiluted product directly into water bodies or soil.
- Storage Conditions: Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated warehouse. Keep containers tightly sealed, away from heat sources and open flames, and separate from strong oxidizers and food.
- Operating Environment: Handle in a well-ventilated area. Eating, drinking, and smoking are prohibited in the workplace. Thoroughly wash exposed areas after operation.
