MOA-4 (AEO-4) is a nonionic surfactant produced by the addition polymerization of ethylene oxide with C12-14 fatty alcohols as the starting material, with CAS number 68439-50-9. Due to its excellent emulsifying, wetting, penetrating, and dispersing properties, it is widely used in many industrial fields such as detergents, textiles, leather, pesticides, and coatings.
Detailed Description
MOA-4 (AEO-4), with the chemical name Laureth-4, belongs to the medium-low polymerization degree fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether nonionic surfactants. The product appears as a colorless to slightly yellowish transparent liquid, with high active content and stable chemical properties. As a nonionic surfactant, it does not ionize in aqueous solutions, thus offering broad chemical compatibility, resisting acids, alkalis, and hard water environments. It can be compounded with anionic, cationic, and amphoteric surfactants to achieve synergistic effects.
The core functional advantages of this product are reflected in multiple aspects: In emulsification, it effectively reduces the oil-water interfacial tension to form stable O/W emulsions; in wetting and penetration, it quickly spreads on solid surfaces, accelerating the infiltration of liquids into substrates such as fibers and leather; in dispersion, it helps uniformly suspend solid particles in liquid media, preventing agglomeration and sedimentation. These characteristics make it an indispensable and efficient component in many industrial and civilian formulations.
MOA-4 (AEO-4) is also a key intermediate for synthesizing the anionic surfactant AES (alcohol ether sulfate). Through sulfation and neutralization reactions, it can be further processed to produce alcohol ether sulfate products, which are widely used in detergents and personal care products.
Technical Parameters
The following are the known basic parameters of this product. Specific physicochemical indicators (such as HLB value, cloud point, hydroxyl value, pH, etc.) may vary due to product batches and formulation adjustments. No standardized numerical data is available; it is recommended to refer to the actual factory quality inspection report.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|
| Product Name | MOA-4 (AEO-4) |
| Chemical Name | Laureth-4 |
| CAS Number | 68439-50-9 |
| Ionic Type | Nonionic surfactant |
| Appearance | Colorless to slightly yellowish transparent liquid |
| Starting Material | C12-14 fatty alcohol |
| EO Adduct | Approximately 4 |
| Emulsifier Type | O/W (oil-in-water) |
| Active Content | High (specific value not available) |
| HLB Value | Not available |
| Cloud Point | Not available |
| Hydroxyl Value | Not available |
| Density | Not available |
| pH Value | Not available |
Application Suggestions
With its multifunctional properties, MOA-4 (AEO-4) plays an important role in the following eight major areas:
- Household Liquid Detergents: Used in formulations such as laundry liquids and dishwashing detergents, acting as a low-foaming nonionic surfactant that provides excellent oil removal performance and low-temperature washing effects.
- Industrial Cleaners: Serves as a core component in metal surface cleaning and hard surface cleaning products, with strong penetrating power to effectively remove mineral oils, greases, and solid particles.
- Textile Printing and Dyeing Auxiliaries: Used as a pretreatment penetrant and dyeing leveling agent to accelerate the penetration of alkali liquor or bleach into fibers, promote uniform dye uptake, and reduce color defects.
- Leather Degreasing Agents: Applied in the soaking and degreasing stages of leather processing to efficiently remove natural oils and dirt from raw hides, keeping the leather surface clean and soft.
- Pesticide Emulsifiers: Used in formulating emulsifiable concentrates and microemulsions to uniformly disperse oil-soluble pesticides in water, enhancing the wetting and spreading ability of the spray solution.
- Coatings and Inks: Improves pigment wetting and dispersion, enhances system stability, and adjusts the drying speed and flowability of the coating film.
- Emulsion Polymerization: Acts as an emulsifier in the emulsion polymerization of monomers such as acrylates and vinyl acetate, controlling latex particle size and improving emulsion stability and solid content.
- Intermediate for AES Synthesis: Through sulfation/neutralization reactions, it produces fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether sulfates, serving as a key raw material for downstream applications.
Precautions
- Skin and Eye Protection: This product may cause skin irritation (H315) and serious eye irritation (H319). Wear impermeable gloves, chemical safety goggles, and protective clothing (P280) during handling.
- Environmental Hazards: Harmful to aquatic life with long-lasting effects (H412). Prevent undiluted product from directly entering water bodies, sewers, or soil.
- Storage Conditions: Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated warehouse. Keep containers tightly sealed, away from heat sources and open flames. Store separately from strong oxidizers, strong acids, and strong bases.
- Emergency Measures: In case of skin or eye contact, rinse immediately with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes; if eye irritation persists, seek medical attention (P305+P351+P338, P337+P313).
- Spill Handling: Collect spillage with inert absorbent materials such as sand or vermiculite, place in sealed containers, and dispose of as hazardous waste to prevent environmental contamination.
- Disposal: This product, its containers, and contaminated absorbent materials should be handled by qualified professional institutions according to local hazardous waste management regulations. Do not discard arbitrarily.
