Polyethylene glycol PEG-8000 (CAS: 25322-68-3) is a high molecular weight, nonionic, water-soluble polymer, appearing as a white waxy solid or free-flowing powder. Its molecular structure imparts excellent emulsifying, wetting, dispersing, solubilizing, and lubricating properties, along with outstanding tolerance to acidic and alkaline environments and hard water, allowing it to maintain stable functional performance across a wide pH range and under complex water quality conditions.
In the pharmaceutical industry, PEG-8000 plays a key role and is used as a hydrophilic ointment base, suppository base, water-soluble lubricant and binder for tablets, thickener for eye drops, etc., ensuring uniform release of active ingredients and improving bioavailability. In personal care and cosmetics, it is widely used as a humectant, lubricant, and emulsifying stabilizer in creams, lotions, and cleansing products, providing a moisturizing yet non-greasy skin feel. In biotechnology, PEG-8000 is commonly used for protein precipitation and crystallization, promotion of cell fusion (e.g., hybridoma production), and gentle concentration and purification of viruses, making it an irreplaceable key reagent in the laboratory.
In industrial applications, PEG-8000 is widely used as a pigment dispersant in paints and inks, an efficient mold release agent and antistatic agent in rubber and plastics processing, a boundary lubricant in metalworking fluids, a warp sizing agent and antistatic finishing agent in textiles, a coating gloss agent in papermaking, a ceramic forming binder, and an efficient carrier and dispersing aid for water-dispersible granules (WDG) in agriculture. Additionally, it can be used as a raw material for water-soluble films and environmentally friendly adhesives, suitable for emerging applications such as eco-friendly packaging and water-soluble labels.
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Product Name | Polyethylene Glycol PEG-8000 |
| CAS No. | 25322-68-3 |
| Appearance | White waxy solid or free-flowing powder |
| Ionic Type | Nonionic surfactant |
| Water Solubility | Very high solubility, forms clear transparent solution |
| pH Adaptability | Stable performance over a wide pH range |
| Hard Water Tolerance | Excellent, unaffected by hard water |
| Acute Toxicity (Oral LD₅₀ in Rats) | > 50,000 mg/kg (low toxicity) |
| Skin Irritation | Non-irritating |
| Biodegradability | Readily biodegradable |
According to the Guoli Chemical Product Database, PEG-8000 has clear application schemes in the following industries and processes: