Laureth phosphate MOA-3P (chemical name: laureth-3 phosphate) is an anionic surfactant, appearing as a colorless to pale yellow transparent liquid with an active content ≥95%, HLB value approximately 6.5, and is easily soluble in both oil and water. Its molecule contains both phosphate ester groups and polyoxyethylene ether segments, imparting excellent emulsifying, dispersing, wetting, penetrating, and antistatic functions. Since the product is acidic (pH value of 1% aqueous solution ≤3.0), it is usually necessary to partially or completely neutralize it with an alkali (such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, or triethanolamine) to the required pH range before use to achieve optimal performance and reduce the acidic impact on the formulation.
There are two main ways to use MOA-3P: direct addition method — directly add it to the aqueous or oil phase and stir evenly; pre-neutralization method — first neutralize MOA-3P with an appropriate amount of alkali to the target pH (usually 5.5~7.0), then add it to the formulation system. The latter is especially common in personal care formulations; after neutralization, the product's water solubility and foam performance significantly improve, and irritation is further reduced. In metalworking fluids and pesticide formulations, MOA-3P is often used as an emulsifier pre-mixed with base oil or technical material, then diluted with water to form a stable emulsion.
Due to its excellent compatibility, MOA-3P can be widely compounded with nonionic surfactants (such as AEO series, TX series), anionic surfactants (such as LAS, SAS), and amphoteric surfactants (such as CAB, CAPB), producing synergistic effects and enhancing the overall comprehensive performance of the formulation.
The following dosages are general industry reference values, provided solely for experimental design reference, not standard data from the Guoli Chemical database. The actual optimal dosage should be determined through orthogonal experiments based on the specific formulation system, water quality conditions, and performance goals:
| Application Field | Recommended Dosage (Weight Percentage) | Usage Instructions |
|---|---|---|
| Personal care (shampoo, shower gel, facial cleanser) | 2%~8% | Use after neutralization, as primary or secondary surfactant compounded with AES, CAPB, etc., and adjust pH to 5.5~6.5 with alkali at the end |
| Household and industrial hard surface cleaners | 1%~5% | Can be used directly or partially neutralized, compounded with nonionic surfactants to improve penetration and degreasing effect |
| Textile scouring agent/penetrant | Working solution concentration 0.5~3 g/L | Prepare into working solution for desizing, scouring, bleaching, etc., can be used in the same bath with other auxiliaries |
| Metalworking fluids (cutting fluid concentrate) | 2%~5% | As emulsifier to disperse base oil in water, compounded with rust inhibitors and extreme pressure additives; dilute to 5%~10% working solution before use |
| Pesticide formulations (emulsifiable concentrate/emulsion in water) | 3%~8% | Pre-mix evenly with pesticide technical material and solvent; self-emulsifies to form stable emulsion when diluted with water |
| Emulsion polymerization (acrylate/styrene-acrylic systems) | 1%~3% of monomer amount | Participate in the monomer pre-emulsification stage; can be used alone or compounded with nonionic emulsifiers to improve latex particle stability |