Polyethylene glycol PEG-400 is a nonionic high-molecular polymer produced by the stepwise addition polymerization of ethylene oxide with water or ethylene glycol. It appears as a colorless transparent viscous liquid with a CAS number of 25322-68-3. Thanks to its excellent nonionic properties, superior compatibility, and chemical stability, PEG-400 can be stably compounded with anionic, cationic, and nonionic systems, making it a widely used industrial and pharmaceutical excipient.
In the pharmaceutical industry, PEG-400 is mainly used as an ointment base, suppository base, dropping pill carrier, and solubilizer and stabilizer for liquid medications, effectively improving the solubility and bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs, and enhancing the formability and stability of preparations. In the daily chemical field, it serves as a high-performance moisturizer, lubricant, and viscosity regulator, widely applied in creams, lotions, shampoos, toothpaste, and other products, imparting a moist and smooth touch to the skin.
In the industrial processing field, the applications of PEG-400 are equally diverse: in the textile industry, it is used as an antistatic agent, softener, leveling agent, and component of spinning finishes for synthetic fibers; in rubber and plastic processing, as a mold release agent and dispersant; in metalworking fluids, providing lubrication and cooling performance; in paints and inks, as a pigment dispersion stabilizer and plasticizer; in the papermaking industry, as a softener and anti-sticking agent; and in pesticide formulations, as an emulsifier and wetting agent, enhancing the spreading and penetration of the liquid on plant leaf surfaces.
| Industry | Main Application Process/Use | Core Function |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmaceutical Industry | Ointment base, suppository base, dropping pill carrier, solubilization of liquid medications | Solubilizer, stabilizer, improving drug solubility and bioavailability |
| Daily Chemical Industry | Creams, lotions, shampoos, toothpaste, shaving products | Moisturizer, lubricant, viscosity regulator |
| Textile Industry | Spinning finishes, antistatic finishing, softening treatment, leveling process | Antistatic, softening, leveling, reducing friction between fibers |
| Rubber and Plastic Processing | Mold release process, filler dispersion, processing flow modification | Mold release agent, dispersant, improving processing fluidity and surface finish |
| Metalworking Fluids | Cutting fluids, quenching fluids, cooling fluids | Lubrication, cooling, wetting, and cleaning |
| Paints and Inks | Pigment dispersion, film plasticization, leveling control | Dispersant, plasticizer, preventing sedimentation and flocculation |
| Papermaking Industry | Paper softening treatment, anti-sticking in pressing and drying | Softener, anti-sticking agent, improving paper hand feel |
| Pesticide Formulations | Preparation of emulsifiable concentrates, oil-in-water emulsions, suspension concentrates | Emulsifier, wetting agent, enhancing spreading and penetration |
PEG-400 has excellent nonionic properties and is compatible with anionic, cationic, and nonionic systems, making it an ideal component in complex formulation systems. In practical applications, it is recommended to control the addition amount reasonably according to the target process requirements: as a solubilizer, it is usually suggested to add 5%~20% of the total formulation; as a moisturizer or lubricant, the addition amount is generally 1%~10%. Since PEG-400 has strong hygroscopicity, it should be sealed and stored immediately after opening to avoid long-term exposure to air, which may lead to quality degradation.