What is Rubailin/O-8?

Rubailin/O-8 is a classic nonionic surfactant with C12-14 fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene (8) ether as its core component. It is widely used in textile printing and dyeing, industrial cleaning, pesticide formulations, emulsion polymerization and other fields due to its efficient emulsification, wetting, dispersion and excellent chemical stability.

Detailed Description

Rubailin/O-8 (CAS: 68439-49-6), also known as emulsifier O-8, C12-14 alcohol polyether-8, chemical name polyoxyethylene (8) C12-14 alkyl ether, belongs to the class of fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether nonionic surfactants. The product appears as a white to slightly yellow paste or flake, produced by Hai'an Guoli Chemical Co., Ltd.

The molecular structure of this product combines hydrophilic polyoxyethylene segments with hydrophobic long-chain alkyl groups, giving it an ideal hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value, enabling it to form a stable interfacial film at the oil-water interface. It exhibits strong emulsifying and solubilizing capabilities for mineral oils, animal and vegetable oils, and various organic solvents, while rapidly reducing surface tension, imparting good wetting and penetrating properties to the system. Its chemical stability is excellent; it remains stable in acids, alkalis, and high-concentration electrolyte salt solutions, with outstanding hard water resistance and no formation of calcium soap precipitates.

Rubailin/O-8 has good compatibility with anionic, cationic, and amphoteric surfactants, making it a core functional component in many industrial formulations. Its aqueous solution has a relatively high cloud point, suitable for processes requiring high-temperature treatment without losing surface activity, meeting the requirements of harsh operating conditions.

Technical Parameters

Application Suggestions

The main application areas of Rubailin/O-8 include:

• Textile Printing and Dyeing: Used as a pretreatment scouring agent, penetrating agent, and after-dyeing washing agent to effectively remove natural fiber impurities and processing oils, improving fabric whiteness and capillary effect.
• Industrial and Household Cleaning: Used in formulating metal hard surface cleaners, heavy oil degreasers, and household liquid detergent products, offering strong detergency and easy rinsing.
• Pesticide Formulations: Used as a pesticide emulsifier and wetting-dispersing agent in emulsifiable concentrates, oil-in-water emulsions, microemulsions, etc., to enhance formulation stability and spray liquid spreadability.
• Emulsion Polymerization: Serves as a primary or co-emulsifier in acrylic, styrene-acrylic, vinyl acetate systems, providing monomer pre-emulsification and latex stability.
• Papermaking Industry: Applied in deinking processes to promote ink detachment from fiber surfaces and emulsify dispersion, improving pulp brightness.
• Leather Processing: Used in wet processing steps such as soaking and degreasing to accelerate hide softening and removal of natural fats.
• Metalworking Fluids: Acts as a basic emulsifying component in cutting and grinding fluids, providing lubrication, cooling, and strong degreasing effects.

Precautions

Hazard: This product is harmful if swallowed (H302), causes skin irritation (H315), causes serious eye damage (H318), and is harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects (H412). Hazard categories include skin corrosion/irritation (Category 2), serious eye damage/eye irritation (Category 1), acute toxicity - oral (Category 4), and hazardous to aquatic environment - chronic toxicity (Category 3).

Operational Protection: Wear protective gloves, protective clothing, eye protection/face protection (P280) during operation. Wash skin thoroughly after handling (P264). Do not eat, drink, or smoke when using (P270). Work clothing must not be taken out of the workplace.

First Aid Measures: Eye contact - Immediately flush with plenty of running water or saline solution for at least 15 minutes. Do not use neutralizing agents. Seek medical attention promptly. Skin contact - Remove contaminated clothing and wash thoroughly with plenty of soap and water (P302+P352). Ingestion - Rinse mouth, do NOT induce vomiting. Immediately call a poison center or doctor (P301+P312).

Storage: Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated dedicated warehouse, keep container tightly closed. Warehouse temperature should not exceed 30°C, relative humidity should not exceed 75%. Keep away from fire and heat sources, avoid direct sunlight.