Oleth-5 (INCI name: Oleth-5, CAS No.: 9004-98-2) is a nonionic surfactant, appearing as a colorless to light yellow transparent liquid. Its core advantages lie in excellent emulsifying, wetting, and dispersing capabilities, as well as outstanding resistance to acids, alkalis, and hard water, allowing it to maintain high efficiency in complex chemical environments.
In the cosmetics industry, Oleth-5 is mainly used as a W/O emulsifier or co-emulsifier, widely applied in creams, lotions, and sunscreen products, imparting excellent high- and low-temperature stability and a fine skin feel to formulations. In facial cleansers, shampoos, and body washes, it acts as a solubilizer, helping to uniformly disperse active ingredients and fragrances, enhancing product transparency and user experience.
In the industrial sector, Oleth-5 serves as an efficient wetting and emulsifying component, significantly reducing the surface tension of cleaning systems and enhancing the penetration and removal of oils and dirt. In textile printing and dyeing, it is used as an active component in scouring agents, leveling agents, and softeners. In metalworking fluids (cutting fluids, rust-preventive emulsifying oils), it provides both emulsification and lubrication functions. In pesticide formulations (emulsifiable concentrates, microemulsions, oil-in-water emulsions), it acts as an emulsifying and dispersing adjuvant, facilitating rapid self-emulsification of active ingredients upon dilution to form a stable and uniform emulsion.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Chemical Name | Oleth-5 |
| INCI Name | Oleth-5 |
| CAS Number | 9004-98-2 |
| Synonyms | Oleth-5, Polyoxyethylene (5) oleyl ether, Oleyl alcohol ethoxylate (5 EO) |
| Ionic Type | Nonionic surfactant |
| Appearance | Colorless to light yellow transparent liquid |
| Core Functions | W/O emulsification, wetting, dispersing, solubilizing |
| Industry | Specific Process/Product | Functional Role |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetics and Personal Care | Creams, lotions, sunscreens, facial cleansers, shampoos, body washes | W/O emulsifier, co-emulsifier, solubilizer |
| Industrial and Household Liquid Cleaners | Metal surface cleaning, hard surface cleaning, household liquid detergent formulations | Wetting agent, emulsifier, enhancing detergency and penetration |
| Textile Printing and Dyeing Auxiliaries | Scouring agents, leveling agents, softeners | Penetration and detergency, promoting uniform dyeing, auxiliary emulsification and dispersion |
| Metalworking Fluids | Cutting fluids, rust-preventive emulsifying oils | Emulsification and lubrication, forming stable oil-water systems |
| Pesticide Formulations | Emulsifiable concentrates, microemulsions, oil-in-water emulsions | Emulsifying and dispersing adjuvant, promoting self-emulsification and wetting/spreading |