MOA-5 (AEO-5) is a medium-polymerization fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether nonionic surfactant. At room temperature, it is a colorless to slightly yellow transparent liquid with good fluidity and water dispersibility. Its usage in formulations is relatively simple; it can be mixed with water in any proportion and can also be compounded with anionic, cationic, and other nonionic surfactants, offering broad compatibility. In practice, it is recommended to first add MOA-5 to the water phase, stir evenly, and then add other components sequentially to ensure a uniform and stable system.
Since MOA-5 has a relatively low cloud point (generally in the 40~60°C range, depending on concentration and water quality), a "cloud point phenomenon" (where the solution changes from transparent to turbid) may occur in high-temperature systems. This is a normal physical behavior of nonionic surfactants and does not affect product performance. If use under high-temperature conditions is required, it is recommended to compound with high-EO nonionic surfactants (such as AEO-7, AEO-9) to increase the cloud point temperature of the system.
This product has excellent stability in hard water, does not easily form precipitates with calcium and magnesium ions, and is suitable for various water quality conditions. It also exhibits outstanding chemical stability in acidic and alkaline environments, remaining active over a wide pH range of 3~11.
| Application Area | Recommended Dosage (of total formulation) | Key Usage Points |
|---|---|---|
| Textile pretreatment scouring agent | 3%~8% | Compound with anionic surfactants (such as sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate), dissolve in warm water at 40~60°C, then add to the scouring bath |
| Dye leveling agent | 0.5%~2% (based on fabric weight) | Add to the dye bath before dyeing and circulate evenly to allow slow dye release and improve leveling effect |
| Metal cleaner | 2%~6% | Use with alkaline additives (such as sodium carbonate, sodium tripolyphosphate) and chelating agents, suitable for spray or immersion cleaning at 50~70°C |
| Hard surface cleaner | 1%~5% | Compound with solvents (such as ethylene glycol butyl ether) and alkaline additives, use at room temperature by spraying or wiping |
| Laundry liquid/dishwashing liquid | 2%~10% | As one of the main surfactants, compound with anionic surfactants such as AES and sulfonic acid to enhance degreasing and detergency |
| Pesticide emulsifier | 5%~15% (of emulsifiable concentrate formulation) | Usually compound with anionic emulsifiers (such as agricultural emulsifier 500#), first dissolve in the pesticide technical concentrate, then dilute with water to form an emulsion |
| Leather degreasing/soaking | 0.5%~2% (based on leather weight) | Add during soaking or degreasing process, operate at room temperature to 40°C to aid chemical penetration |
| Water-based coatings/inks | 0.2%~1% | Add during the grinding and dispersion stage to aid pigment wetting and system stability |
Compounding suggestions: MOA-5 compounded with anionic surfactants (such as LAS, AES, SDS) can produce synergistic effects, significantly improving detergency and foam control. Compounding with high-EO nonionic surfactants (such as AEO-9) can broaden the operating temperature range, adapting to high-temperature cleaning scenarios.
Addition sequence: When preparing liquid detergents or cleaners, it is recommended to first add MOA-5 to water and stir to dissolve (in low-temperature winter conditions, first dissolve in warm water), then add anionic surfactants, and finally add additives, fragrances, preservatives, etc. In pesticide emulsifiable concentrate formulations, first mix MOA-5 evenly with the pesticide technical concentrate and solvent, then dilute with water at the time of use.
Emulsification operation: When used to prepare emulsions, it is recommended to adopt the phase inversion emulsification method—dissolve MOA-5 in the oil phase, slowly add the water phase under stirring conditions, and undergo the phase inversion process from water-in-oil (W/O) to oil-in-water (O/W) to obtain a finer and more stable emulsion.