OPE-105 (Octylphenol polyoxyethylene ether) is a high-purity (active content ≥98%) nonionic surfactant, appearing as a colorless to pale yellow viscous liquid at room temperature (viscosity 200~400 mPa·s, 25°C). Due to its moderate but somewhat sticky viscosity, it is recommended to preheat or stir with warm water (40~50°C) before use to enhance fluidity for accurate measurement and subsequent dispersion and dissolution. The product is readily soluble in water and organic solvents, and can be directly dissolved by adding water with stirring, or pre-dissolved in alcohols, ketones, and other solvents before adding to the aqueous system.
The determination of the addition amount should comprehensively consider factors such as the HLB requirement of the target system, type of oil phase, emulsion stability requirements, and cost control. OPE-105 has an HLB value of 13.5, making it a hydrophilic O\/W type emulsifier, suitable for emulsifying highly polar oil phases or used in combination with low HLB emulsifiers. It is recommended to start from low concentrations and gradually increase during the formulation development stage, using surface tension (1% aqueous solution: 30~32 mN\/m) and cloud point (1% aqueous solution: 65~75°C) as reference indicators to determine if the dosage achieves optimal performance. Excessive use not only increases costs but may also cause foaming issues or affect the physical and chemical properties of the final product.
The following typical dosage ranges are based on industry application experience; specific amounts should be determined through sample verification according to actual processes and formulation systems:
| Application Field | Functional Role | Recommended Addition Amount (as % of working solution\/formulation) | Usage Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Textile scouring penetrant | Penetration, emulsification | 0.5~2.0 g\/L | Add directly to desizing\/scouring bath; can be combined with anionic auxiliaries |
| Industrial degreasing cleaner | Emulsification, detergency | 2%~8% | Combined with alkaline agents (e.g., sodium carbonate, sodium silicate) for better performance |
| Metalworking fluids (cutting\/grinding) | Lubrication, emulsification | 1%~5% | Used as an emulsifier component in combination with base oils, rust inhibitors, etc. |
| Pesticide emulsifiable concentrate\/emulsion in water | Emulsification | 5%~15% | Combined with anionic emulsifiers (e.g., calcium salt); dosage depends on technical material properties |
| Pesticide suspension concentrate (SC) | Wetting, dispersion | 1%~4% | Used as a dispersing aid in synergy with polymeric dispersants |
| Leather degreasing | Penetration, emulsification | 0.5%~2% (based on leather weight) | Add to drum and mix with water; suitable for raw hides and wet blue degreasing |
| Paper deinking | Collection, dispersion | 0.1%~0.5% (based on oven-dry pulp) | Add during pulping or flotation stage; combine with sodium hydroxide, sodium silicate, etc. |
| Paint\/ink wetting and dispersion | Wetting, stabilization | 0.1%~1% (based on total formulation) | Add during grinding and dispersion stage to promote pigment wetting |
| Antistatic treatment | Moisture absorption, conductivity | 0.5%~2% | Apply by impregnation or spraying onto fibers, plastics; activate after drying |
Data Explanation: The above dosage ranges are industry general recommendations; the Guoli Chemical product database does not have specific standard dosages for each field. It is recommended that users conduct small-scale tests before formal production, evaluating indicators such as surface tension, wetting time, and emulsion stability to determine the optimal dosage.
OPE-105 is a nonionic surfactant; due to its nonionic nature, it can be widely combined with anionic, cationic, and other nonionic surfactants, producing synergistic effects. For example, in degreasing cleaning formulations, combining with anionic LAS and AES can improve detergency and salt tolerance; in pesticide emulsifiable concentrates, combining with calcium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (emulsifier 500#) can yield a more stable emulsion system.
The product exhibits good chemical stability in acids, alkalis, and hard water, resisting hydrolysis and deactivation, making it suitable for demanding conditions such as high pH (e.g., alkaline cleaners) and low pH (e.g., acidic rust removers). However, its cloud point is 65~75°C (1% aqueous solution); at temperatures near or above the cloud point, the product may precipitate from water and lose interfacial activity. Therefore, heating processes should maintain the working solution temperature below the cloud point, or combine with anionic auxiliaries to improve heat resistance.
Due to its low-foaming property, OPE-105 offers significant advantages in foam-sensitive processes such as spray cleaning and circulating systems, reducing the need for defoamers.