Polyether L-42 (Poloxamer 122) is a polyoxypropylene polyoxyethylene block copolymer ether type nonionic surfactant. Its molecular structure is controllable, safe and mild, with strong defoaming and foam inhibition functions, as well as excellent emulsifying, wetting, and dispersing capabilities. This product maintains high stability in acidic, alkaline, and hard water environments, and can work well with various anionic, cationic, and nonionic additives, allowing flexible application in a variety of industrial formulation systems.
In the cleaning industry, Polyether L-42 stands out for its low-foaming characteristics and rapid spreading ability, especially suitable for dynamic systems such as automatic spray cleaning equipment and CIP (Clean-in-Place) cleaning, significantly reducing equipment downtime and maintenance costs caused by foam. In the metalworking field, it combines both lubrication and cooling effects, effectively suppressing a large amount of foam generated during the circulation of cutting fluids, ensuring high-speed processing stability and workpiece precision.
In addition, Polyether L-42 acts as an efficient wetting and dispersing agent in coatings, inks, and adhesive systems, reducing dynamic surface tension, enhancing the resin's ability to encapsulate pigments and fillers, and improving color development uniformity and adhesion. In pesticide formulations and textile pretreatment, it serves as an emulsifying and dispersing component and a penetration promoter, respectively, significantly improving the utilization rate of active ingredients and processing effects.
| Application Industry | Specific Process/Use | Core Function |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial and Household Cleaning | Low-foaming and foam-controlled hard surface cleaners, automatic spray cleaning, CIP cleaning | Low-foam wetting, rapid penetration and oil removal, easy rinsing without residue |
| Dishwashing | Automatic dishwashers, rinse aids for tableware | Rinsing aid, reducing interfacial tension, eliminating water spots, improving gloss of utensils |
| Metalworking | Metalworking fluids, cutting fluids, grinding fluids, industrial hard surface cleaning | Lubrication and cooling, defoaming and foam inhibition, preventing pump cavitation, ensuring processing accuracy |
| Defoamer Manufacturing | Core active component of defoamers and deaerators | Rapid bubble breaking, long-lasting foam suppression, suitable for fermentation, papermaking, water treatment, etc. |
| Coatings/Inks/Adhesives | Wetting and dispersing agent, pigment dispersion aid | Reducing surface tension, enhancing wetting and encapsulation, improving color development and adhesion, suppressing microfoam |
| Textile Printing and Dyeing | Pretreatment scouring agent, bleaching penetration aid | Promoting uniform diffusion of alkali/bleach liquor, removing natural waxes, improving capillary effect and whiteness |
| Pesticide Formulations | Emulsifying and dispersing component for emulsifiable concentrates, microemulsions, and suspension concentrates | Emulsifying and dispersing, enhancing wetting, spreading and adhesion of spray liquid, improving active ingredient utilization |
In actual formulation design, it is recommended to adjust the dosage of Polyether L-42 according to the specific process requirements for foam control and wetting. For high-pressure spray cleaning and CIP systems, it can be used as the core low-foam surfactant; in defoamer formulations, it can be used directly as an active substance or combined with other hydrophobic components to enhance the synergistic defoaming and foam inhibition effect. In pesticide formulations, Polyether L-42 has both emulsifying and dispersing functions, which can simplify the formulation and reduce the variety of additives.
This product has good compatibility with anionic, cationic, and nonionic additives, offering excellent formulation compatibility. It performs particularly stably in high-temperature and high-alkali processes such as metalworking fluids and textile pretreatment, making it an ideal choice for formulation engineers.