Polyether L-61 (Poloxamer 181, CAS: 25322-69-4) is a nonionic polymeric surfactant produced by Haian Guoli Chemical Co., Ltd. Its unique hydrophilic-lipophilic block copolymer structure endows the product with excellent interfacial activity, broad compatibility, and very low foaming characteristics, allowing it to maintain stable performance in acidic, alkaline, and hard water environments. Leveraging these core advantages, Polyether L-61 plays a key role as a process aid in multiple industrial fields.
In the polyurethane industry, Polyether L-61 is an important additive for both flexible and rigid foams. For flexible foams, it acts as a stabilizer and cell regulator, controlling the nucleation and growth of bubbles during the foaming process to achieve fine and uniform cell sizes, preventing collapse and coalescence, and improving hand feel and resilience. For rigid and semi-rigid foams, it functions as an emulsifier and dispersant, promoting the thorough mixing of polyols with blowing agents, flame retardants, and other components, improving material flowability, thereby obtaining a uniform and fine closed-cell structure, enhancing insulation and compressive strength.
In other industrial fields, Polyether L-61 also excels: as the main active ingredient in industrial defoamers, its foam-breaking and foam-suppressing capabilities are widely used in coatings, adhesives, papermaking, and wastewater treatment; as a lubricating and anti-foaming component in water-based metalworking fluids, it provides boundary lubrication to reduce friction and wear while effectively suppressing foam generated during high-pressure circulation and spraying; in textile dyeing and finishing, its low-foaming and high-penetration characteristics make it an ideal leveling agent and penetrant; in pesticide formulations, as an efficient emulsifying and dispersing agent, it significantly improves the dispersion stability of oil-soluble pesticides in water and the field application efficacy.
| Application Industry | Specific Process/Scenario | Functional Role |
|---|---|---|
| Polyurethane Foam | Flexible foam foaming process | Stabilizer, cell regulator — refines cell structure, prevents collapse and coalescence |
| Rigid/Semi-rigid Polyurethane Foam | Rigid foam pouring, spray molding | Emulsifying and dispersing aid — promotes component mixing, improves closed-cell structure and insulation |
| Industrial Defoamers | Coatings, adhesives, papermaking, wastewater treatment | Main active ingredient — rapid foam breaking, sustained foam suppression |
| Water-based Metalworking Fluids | Cutting, grinding, high-pressure spray circulation systems | Lubricating and anti-foaming component — provides boundary lubrication, inhibits foam generation |
| Textile Printing and Dyeing | Dyeing, penetration pretreatment | Low-foaming penetrant, leveling agent — reduces color difference and streaks, improves dyeing uniformity |
| Pesticide Formulations | Emulsifiable concentrate, suspension concentrate preparation | Emulsifying and dispersing agent — improves dilution stability and efficacy |
When selecting Polyether L-61 as a process aid, it is recommended to determine the dosage based on the specific application system: in polyurethane foam formulations, typically add 0.3%–2.0% by weight of the total polyol; in defoamer formulations as the main active ingredient, recommended usage is 5%–30%; in metalworking fluids, typical addition is 0.1%–0.5% of the working fluid; in textile leveling processes, recommended dosage is 0.5–2 g/L; in pesticide formulations as an emulsifier, recommended usage is 3%–8% (all are empirical reference ranges; actual dosage should be determined through system testing). Due to its low-foaming characteristics, this product is especially suitable for dynamic operations such as circulation pumping, spraying, and stirring, effectively reducing equipment malfunctions and process interruptions caused by foam.