What are the main characteristics of MOA-4 (AEO-4)?

MOA-4 (AEO-4) is a nonionic surfactant derived from C12-14 fatty alcohol. Its core features are strong emulsifying power, excellent wetting and penetrating properties, and broad chemical compatibility, making it a highly efficient multifunctional component in industrial cleaning, textiles, pesticides, and other fields.

Detailed Description

MOA-4 (AEO-4), full name Laureth-4, with CAS number 68439-50-9, is a nonionic surfactant produced by the addition polymerization of ethylene oxide using C12-14 fatty alcohol as the initiator. The product appears as a colorless to slightly yellowish transparent liquid with high active content and stable chemical properties. The polyoxyethylene chain segment in its molecular structure imparts excellent hydrophilicity, while the fatty alcohol carbon chain provides sufficient lipophilicity. This unique "amphiphilic" structure allows efficient arrangement at the oil-water interface and reduction of interfacial tension.

This product offers six core advantages: its excellent emulsifying ability effectively reduces oil-water interfacial tension, forming stable emulsions suitable for various oil-phase systems; its outstanding wetting and penetrating properties enable rapid spreading on solid surfaces, accelerating liquid penetration into substrates such as fibers and leather; its good dispersing performance helps solid particles remain uniformly suspended in liquid media, preventing agglomeration and sedimentation; its broad chemical compatibility allows it to withstand acidic, alkaline, and hard water environments, maintaining stable performance in complex systems; its nonionic nature permits free combination with anionic, cationic, and zwitterionic surfactants, producing synergistic effects; and its high purity ensures sufficient active content, high usage efficiency, and precise, controllable dosage.

With these properties, MOA-4 plays an indispensable role in many industries, widely used in civil liquid detergents, industrial cleaning agents, textile dyeing and finishing auxiliaries (penetrants, leveling agents), leather degreasing agents, pesticide emulsifiers, coatings and inks, emulsion polymerization, and as an intermediate for AES (fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether sulfate) synthesis. It is an efficient and reliable basic component in industrial and civil formulations.

Technical Specifications

Application Recommendations

Due to its medium-low degree of polymerization, the HLB value of MOA-4 leans towards the lipophilic side, making it particularly suitable as an O/W (oil-in-water) emulsifier. In practical formulations:

• Industrial Cleaning and Civil Detergents: Recommended for use in combination with nonionic or anionic surfactants, it significantly enhances degreasing effects, especially for low-temperature washing scenarios.
• Textile Dyeing and Finishing: When used as a pre-treatment penetrant, the typical dosage is 0.1%-0.5% of the working solution, effectively accelerating the penetration of alkaline solutions and bleaching agents into fibers; when used as a leveling agent, it improves dyeing uniformity and reduces color shading.
• Pesticide Formulations: In emulsifiable concentrates and microemulsion formulations, it serves as a nonionic emulsifier. Combining with anionic emulsifiers is recommended for optimal emulsion stability.
• Emulsion Polymerization: Used in systems such as acrylates and vinyl acetate, it effectively controls latex particle size distribution and enhances emulsion stability.
• AES Synthesis: As a key intermediate, after sulfation/neutralization, it yields fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether sulfate, widely used in personal care and detergent products.

Precautions

• Safety Protection: This product causes skin irritation (H315) and serious eye irritation (H319). Always wear impermeable gloves, chemical safety goggles, and protective clothing during handling. Wash exposed areas thoroughly after work.
• Environmental Protection: Harmful to aquatic life with long-lasting effects (H412). Do not discharge undiluted product directly into sewers or water bodies. Collect spilled material with inert absorbent and dispose of as hazardous waste.
• Storage Conditions: Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated warehouse, keep containers tightly closed, away from heat sources and open flames, and separate from strong oxidizing agents, strong acids, and strong alkalis.
• Emergency Response: In case of skin contact, immediately wash with plenty of soap and water for at least 15 minutes; if product gets into eyes, rinse cautiously with water for several minutes, remove contact lenses if present and continue rinsing. If eye irritation persists, seek medical attention immediately.