According to authoritative data from the Guoli Chemical Product Database, the full chemical name of high-quality polyether F-6 is polyoxyethylene castor oil, with CAS number 61791-12-6. Its molecular formula can be expressed as C₅₇H₁₀₄O₉·(C₂H₄O)ₙ, with an average molecular weight of approximately 3000. This product is not a physical mixture of multiple substances but a single chemically modified product formed by introducing polyoxyethylene ether chain segments at the hydroxyl sites of the castor oil molecule.
In terms of source, its main raw material is natural castor oil (containing the glyceride structure of ricinoleic acid). Through an ethoxylation reaction with ethylene oxide, hydrophilic polyoxyethylene (PEO) chain segments are grafted onto the castor oil molecule, giving the product good water solubility and surface activity. The length of the polyoxyethylene chain segment (i.e., the degree of polymerization n) directly influences key performance parameters such as the product's HLB value (12-14 for this product) and cloud point.
The database indicates that the active content (solid content) of high-quality polyether F-6 is as high as ≥99%, making it a high-purity nonionic surfactant. Common aliases include Emulsifier EL, PEG castor oil, ethoxylated castor oil, etc., all referring to the same chemical composition.
The following are the core chemical composition and physicochemical indicators of high-quality polyether F-6 (data source: Guoli Chemical Product Database):
| Parameter Item | Value/Description |
|---|---|
| Full Chemical Name | Polyoxyethylene castor oil (castor oil polyoxyethylene ether) |
| CAS Number | 61791-12-6 |
| Molecular Formula | C₅₇H₁₀₄O₉·(C₂H₄O)ₙ |
| Average Molecular Weight | ~3000 |
| Ionic Type | Nonionic |
| Active Content | ≥99% |
| HLB Value | 12-14 |
| Hydroxyl Value | 54~58 mg KOH/g |
| Iodine Value | 30-40 g I₂/100g |
| Appearance | Colorless to light yellow transparent liquid |
Based on its chemical nature as polyoxyethylene castor oil, high-quality polyether F-6 possesses both the hydrophobicity of the castor oil fatty acid chain and the hydrophilicity of the polyoxyethylene chain segment, demonstrating excellent low-foaming/defoaming properties. In applications such as defoamers, industrial low-foaming cleaners, metalworking fluids, textile pretreatment auxiliaries, and water treatment, it is primarily used as a defoaming core component or a low-foaming wetting and penetrating component, rather than as an auxiliary diluting solvent in compound formulations.