Oleth-5 (INCI name: Oleth-5, CAS number: 9004-98-2), chemically named Oleth-5 (5 EO), is a nonionic surfactant produced by the addition polymerization of oleyl alcohol (octadecenol) with ethylene oxide. The product appears as a colorless to pale yellow transparent liquid with a low HLB value and strong lipophilicity, making it particularly suitable as a primary or auxiliary emulsifier in W\/O (water-in-oil) emulsion systems.
This product exhibits excellent chemical stability, maintaining high performance in acidic, alkaline, and hard water environments, and is not easily affected by electrolytes. The synergistic action of the oleyl hydrophobic chain and the polyoxyethylene hydrophilic chain in its molecular structure endows the product with outstanding emulsifying power, wetting penetration, and dispersing ability, significantly enhancing the compatibility and long-term stability of formulations.
As one of the core products of Guoli Chemical, OV-5 has been maturely applied in multiple industrial fields due to its versatility and good compatibility, making it a preferred raw material for formulators when constructing high-quality emulsion and cleaning systems.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Chemical Name | Oleth-5 (5 EO) |
| INCI Name | Oleth-5 |
| Aliases | Oleth-5; Polyoxyethylene (5) oleyl ether; Octadecenol polyoxyethylene (5) ether |
| CAS Number | 9004-98-2 |
| Ionic Type | Nonionic surfactant |
| Appearance | Colorless to pale yellow transparent liquid |
| HLB Value | Not available (low HLB type, suitable for W\/O emulsion systems) |
| Cloud Point | Not available |
| Ethylene Oxide Adduct Number (EO Number) | 5 |
| Flash Point | >150°C (closed cup), not flammable |
Cosmetics and Personal Care: Used as a nonionic W\/O emulsifier and co-emulsifier in creams, lotions, and sunscreen products, imparting excellent high- and low-temperature stability and a delicate skin feel; used as a solubilizer in facial cleansers, shampoos, and shower gels to help uniformly disperse active ingredients and fragrances, improving product transparency and user experience.
Industrial and Household Liquid Cleaners: As an efficient wetting and emulsifying component, significantly reducing the surface tension of the cleaning system, enhancing the penetration and removal of oils and dirt, suitable for metal surface cleaning, hard surface cleaning, and various household liquid cleaning formulations.
Textile Printing and Dyeing Auxiliaries: Provides excellent penetration and emulsifying decontamination performance in scouring agents; promotes uniform dye uptake in leveling agents, reducing color spots; serves as an auxiliary emulsifying and dispersing component in softeners, improving the uniformity of finishing effects and fabric hand feel.
Metalworking Fluids: Combines emulsifying and lubricating functions in cutting fluids and anti-rust emulsifying oils, forming a stable oil-water emulsion system while reducing the friction coefficient at the machining interface, effectively extending tool life and improving machined surface quality.
Pesticide Formulations: Used as an emulsifying and dispersing adjuvant, widely applied in emulsifiable concentrates, microemulsions, and emulsion in water formulations, helping the active ingredient self-emulsify upon dilution to form a uniform and stable emulsion, enhancing the wetting and spreading performance of the spray liquid on target surfaces, and improving field efficacy.