Compared with traditional alkylphenol polyoxyethylene ethers (NP/TX series, which are being phased out globally due to environmental hormone issues) and conventional fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ethers (AEO series, most with high foam), polyether L-45 (poloxamer structure) has irreplaceable structural advantages. Its EO-PO-EO block copolymer molecular architecture allows precise regulation of the ratio of hydrophobic groups (polypropylene glycol) and hydrophilic groups (polyethylene glycol), bringing an ideal balance region with an HLB value of 11-13. This means that L-45 can not only rapidly disperse oily substances into stable oil-in-water emulsions, but also exhibit extremely low foaming during the emulsification process – a performance that is difficult for similar competing products to achieve simultaneously.
In actual working conditions, traditional wetting agents such as AEO-9 tend to produce a large amount of foam during spray cleaning, leading to overflow, while the low foam characteristic of L-45 makes it the preferred choice for high-pressure spray cleaning and dish drying machines. In addition, the cloud point of polyether L-45 is about 65~75°C, within which the cleaning efficiency is highest. Above the cloud point, phase separation actually eliminates foam, and its inherent foam suppression mechanism is superior to the traditional combination of surfactants plus defoamers, fundamentally solving the drawbacks of defoamer precipitation and oil floating.
| Performance Indicator | Polyether L-45 | Conventional AEO-9 | NP-10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ion type | Nonionic | Nonionic | Nonionic |
| HLB value | 11~13 | approx. 13~14 | approx. 13~14 |
| Cloud point (1% aqueous solution) | 65~75°C | approx. 70~75°C | approx. 60~65°C |
| Foaming characteristic | Low foam | Medium-high foam | Medium-high foam |
| Surface tension (0.1%, 25°C, mN/m) | 30~35 | approx. 28~32 | approx. 29~33 |
| Hard water resistance | Excellent | Good | Fair |
| Environmental safety | Biodegradable | Biodegradable | Contains APEO, restricted use |
| Kinematic viscosity (25°C, mm²/s) | 500~1000 | Low viscosity liquid | Medium viscosity |
Preferred for industrial cleaning agent formulations: It is recommended to use 1.5%~3% of polyether L-45 in metal spray cleaning and hard surface cleaners, utilizing its penetration and low foam dual performance to replace NP-10 and AEO-9, which can significantly reduce or eliminate the addition of defoamers.
Synergist for dish drying agents: When compounded with food-grade chelating agents at an addition level of 0.5%~2%, its rapid spreading property allows the water film to be instantly stripped from the dish surface, achieving a "dry upon exit" streak-free bright effect, while meeting the strict low foam requirements of commercial dishwashers.
Metalworking lubricating cooling fluids: Used as the main emulsifier and foam suppressor in high-pressure spray cutting environments, recommended dosage 5%~15%. It does not form soap scum in hard water with high concentrations of calcium and magnesium ions, ensuring the precision of precision parts machining and long-term cleanliness of the tank liquid.