MOA-5 (AEO-5) is a nonionic surfactant with the chemical name C12-14 fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene (5) ether. This product is a colorless transparent liquid at temperatures above 25°C, and may appear as a white paste at low winter temperatures (≤25°C). If solidified before use, it can be appropriately heated to 25~30°C to restore fluidity for normal use. Since the product is easily soluble in oil and dispersible in water, when preparing water-based systems, it is recommended to pre-disperse it with a small amount of warm water or co-solvent before adding it to the main formulation and stirring evenly to achieve the best performance.
The cloud point of MOA-5 is only 28~32°C (1% aqueous solution), meaning that when used in aqueous solutions, the operating temperature should not be too high; otherwise, "clouding" may occur, leading to reduced efficacy. If the formulation requires operation at higher temperatures, it is recommended to blend with other high cloud point nonionic surfactants. Its critical micelle concentration (CMC) is 0.065 mmol/L, and the surface tension can be reduced to 28 mN/m, indicating excellent wetting and penetrating properties even at low concentrations.
The following dosage data are general references based on product characteristics and industry experience. The actual optimal dosage should be determined through formulation small-scale trials:
| Application Field | Recommended Dosage (of total formulation weight) | Usage Instructions |
|---|---|---|
| Textile Printing and Dyeing Auxiliaries | 2%~10% | Used as a component of pretreatment scouring agents and leveling agents, can be compounded with other surfactants, dissolved in warm water at 40~60°C before adding to the dye bath |
| Leather Processing | 1%~5% | Directly added to the water bath in degreasing and soaking processes, works better when combined with alkaline auxiliaries |
| Metal Cleaning Agents | 3%~10% | Compounded with alkaline auxiliaries and chelating agents, suitable for spray and immersion cleaning; recommended to keep operating temperature below the cloud point |
| Hard Surface Cleaners | 2%~8% | Compounded with anionic surfactants (e.g., LAS, AES) to enhance oil removal and wetting effects |
| Household Detergents | 2%~15% | Used as primary or secondary surfactant in laundry liquids or dishwashing liquids, providing excellent degreasing performance and moderate foam |
| Pesticide Emulsification | 5%~15% | Used in combination with anionic emulsifiers (e.g., Agricultural Emulsifier 500#, 600# series) for preparing emulsifiable concentrates or water emulsions |
| Coatings and Inks | 0.5%~3% | Used as a wetting and dispersing agent, added during the grinding stage to help disperse pigments evenly and improve storage stability |
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Ionic Type | Nonionic Surfactant |
| HLB Value | 10.5 |
| Active Content | ≥99% |
| pH (1% Aqueous Solution) | 5.0~7.0 |
| Cloud Point (1% Aqueous Solution) | 28~32°C |
| CMC (25°C) | 0.065 mmol/L |
| Surface Tension (25°C, at CMC) | 28 mN/m |
| Density (25°C) | 0.98±0.02 g/cm³ |
| Appearance | Colorless transparent liquid (>25°C) / White paste (≤25°C) |
| Solubility | Easily soluble in oil, dispersible in water |
| Foaming Characteristics | Moderate foaming |
| Flash Point (Closed Cup) | >165°C |
1. Optimal Compounding Strategy: MOA-5 has an HLB value of 10.5, which is in the medium HLB range. It can be compounded with anionic surfactants (e.g., LAS, AES, SDS) or other nonionic surfactants (e.g., TX-10, AEO-9). Compounding with anionic surfactants can produce synergistic effects, improving detergency and salt tolerance.
2. Temperature Control: The cloud point of only 28~32°C is an important usage limitation for this product. In water-based formulations, when the operating temperature exceeds the cloud point, the surfactant will precipitate from the aqueous phase, leading to a sharp decline in performance. If high-temperature operation is unavoidable, it is recommended to blend with high cloud point AEO-9 (cloud point about 60~65°C) or TX-10 (cloud point about 65°C).
3. Dissolving Tips: Because the product is easily soluble in oil but dispersible in water, when preparing water-based systems, you can first pre-disperse it with a small amount of co-solvents such as isopropanol or ethylene glycol butyl ether, or after adding it to the formulation, slowly raise the temperature above 25°C while stirring to ensure full dispersion.