Rubbing Alcohol/O-8 (Fatty Alcohol Polyoxyethylene (8) Ether, CAS: 68439-49-6) is a classic nonionic surfactant based on C12~14 fatty alcohols. With its ideal hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) value, this product forms a stable interfacial film at the oil-water interface, demonstrating strong emulsifying, solubilizing, wetting, and dispersing capabilities for mineral oils, animal and vegetable oils, and various organic solvents. Additionally, it remains stable in acids, alkalis, and high-concentration electrolyte salt solutions, exhibits excellent hard water resistance, does not form calcium soap precipitates, and can adapt to various harsh operating conditions.
Rubbing Alcohol/O-8 has good compatibility when compounded with anionic, cationic, and amphoteric surfactants, making it a core functional component in numerous industrial formulations. Whether in high-temperature scouring, heavy oil stain cleaning, or processes such as emulsion polymerization and pesticide formulations, Rubbing Alcohol/O-8 has become a preferred adjuvant in the industry due to its balanced comprehensive performance.
| Application Industry | Specific Process | Function and Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Textile Printing and Dyeing | High-temperature scouring in pretreatment, washing after dyeing, dye dispersion | Effectively removes natural fiber companions and processing oils, improves fabric whiteness and capillary effect, enhances level dyeing and fabric hand feel |
| Industrial and Household Cleaning | Metal hard surface cleaning, heavy oil degreasing, household liquid detergents | Excellent wetting, penetration, and oil removal capabilities, strong detergency and easy rinsing, good stability when compounded with various additives |
| Agricultural Chemicals | Preparation of emulsifiable concentrates, oil-in-water emulsions, microemulsions, suspension concentrates | Improves the emulsifying and dispersing performance of pesticide active ingredients, enhances dilution stability and the spreading and adhesion ability of the spray liquid on target surfaces |
| Emulsion Polymerization | Emulsion polymerization of acrylic, vinyl acetate, styrene-acrylic, etc. systems | Acts as a primary or co-emulsifier, provides stable monomer pre-emulsification, effectively controls particle size and system viscosity |
| Papermaking Industry | Waste paper deinking, rewetting treatment | Promotes the detachment and emulsification dispersion of ink from fiber surfaces, reduces residue, improves pulp brightness and subsequent coating processing performance |
| Leather Processing | Soaking, degreasing and other wet processing steps | Accelerates the softening and uniform soaking of dry hides, efficiently removes natural fats, leaving the leather clean and grease-free |
| Metalworking Fluids | Preparation of cutting fluids, grinding fluids, inter-process cleaning agents | Provides lubrication, cooling, and strong degreasing effects, prevents metal corrosion and keeps workpieces clean |
Due to its high cloud point, Rubbing Alcohol/O-8 is particularly suitable for processes requiring high-temperature treatment (such as high-temperature scouring in textiles), where it does not lose surface activity. In formulation design, it is recommended to adjust the dosage according to specific process requirements: when used as an emulsifier, it typically accounts for 2%~8% of the total formulation; when used as a wetting and penetrating agent, the dosage can be appropriately reduced to 0.5%~3%. Compounding with anionic surfactants (e.g., LAS, AES) can produce synergistic effects and enhance overall formulation performance.
In pesticide formulations, Rubbing Alcohol/O-8 is suitable for preparing various dosage forms such as EC (emulsifiable concentrate), EW (oil-in-water emulsion), ME (microemulsion), etc., significantly improving the dilution stability of the formulation in hard water. In emulsion polymerization, it is recommended to be used in combination with nonionic-anionic composite emulsifier systems to achieve better polymerization stability and particle size control.