Polyethylene Glycol PEG-800 (CAS: 25322-68-3), also known as Polyethylene Glycol 800, Macrogol 800, Carbowax 800, Polyoxyethylene Glycol 800, etc., is a high molecular weight polymer polymerized from ethylene oxide. At room temperature, the product appears as a white waxy solid, which can transform into a colorless viscous liquid as temperature rises. As a non-ionic surfactant, PEG-800 has good chemical stability, excellent compatibility, and very low physiological toxicity, making it an indispensable basic raw material in many industrial and pharmaceutical formulations.
PEG-800 possesses several core characteristics: excellent dissolving ability, soluble in water and various organic solvents, with outstanding solubilizing and dispersing effects; superior emulsifying and wetting properties, effectively reducing interfacial tension and improving formulation stability; wide chemical compatibility, resistant to acids and alkalis, maintaining high performance even in hard water conditions; excellent physiological safety, with very low skin and eye irritation; good lubricating and mold release properties, significantly improving operational efficiency in industrial processes; the product is non-flammable, ensuring safe and convenient storage and use.
In terms of applications, PEG-800 covers multiple fields including the pharmaceutical industry (ointment base, suppository base, drop pill excipient), personal care (moisturizer, emollient, emulsion stabilizer), industrial manufacturing (metalworking fluids, rubber mold release agent, antistatic agent), textile industry (sizing agent, softener), coatings and inks (pigment dispersant, leveling aid), as well as papermaking and ceramic molding (lubricating and plasticizing aid). The product has an acute oral toxicity LD50 greater than 5000 mg/kg, is non-irritating to skin and eyes, and is classified as a practically non-toxic substance.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Product Name | Polyethylene Glycol PEG-800 |
| CAS Number | 25322-68-3 |
| Aliases | Polyethylene Glycol 800; Macrogol 800; Carbowax 800; Polyethylene Glycol 800; Polyoxyethylene Glycol 800; PEG 800 |
| Product Type | Non-ionic Surfactant / Water-soluble Polymer |
| Appearance | White waxy solid (transforms to colorless viscous liquid upon heating) |
| Solubility | Soluble in water and various organic solvents |
| Chemical Stability | Resistant to acids and alkalis, maintains high performance in hard water |
| Acute Toxicity (LD50) | >5000 mg/kg (rat oral), practically non-toxic |
| Skin Irritation | Non-irritating (OECD 404 test) |
| Eye Irritation | Non-irritating (OECD 405 test) |
| Skin Sensitization | Non-sensitizing (OECD 406 test) |
| Mutagenicity | Negative in Ames test, non-mutagenic |
| Flash Point (Closed Cup) | Approximately 240–270°C |
| Flammability | Non-flammable |
| Biodegradability | Readily biodegradable, no bioaccumulation potential |
Pharmaceutical Preparations: Used as an ointment base, suppository base, drop pill excipient, and solubilizer. With excellent biocompatibility, it can effectively regulate drug release rate and improve formulation quality.
Personal Care and Cosmetics: Used as a moisturizer and emollient in skin creams, lotions, and facial cleansers. It forms a protective film to reduce water evaporation, giving the skin a smooth feel, commonly found in makeup removers and cleansing products.
Industrial Lubrication and Processing: Applied in metalworking fluids, wire drawing lubricants, rubber mold release agents, and antistatic agents. It reduces friction coefficient, minimizes mold adhesion, improves product surface finish, and extends equipment life.
Textile Industry: Used as a sizing agent and softener in sizing and softening finishing processes, improving yarn cohesion and abrasion resistance, imparting a soft and full hand feel to fabrics.
Coatings and Inks: Serves as a pigment dispersant and leveling aid, preventing pigment flocculation and sedimentation, improving system uniformity, and optimizing coating gloss and surface effect.
Papermaking and Ceramic Molding: Provides lubrication and plasticizing assistance, improving slurry flowability and green body molding quality, reducing processing defects.