Polyether L-61 (Poloxamer 181) is a high-performance nonionic polymer surfactant under Guoli Chemical, belonging to the block copolymer of propylene oxide (PO) and ethylene oxide (EO). Compared with common nonionic surfactants on the market (such as fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether AEO series, alkylphenol polyoxyethylene ether TX/NP series, or conventional polyethylene glycol PEG products), the most prominent differentiated advantage of Polyether L-61 is its unique combination of low HLB value (3) and extremely low foam. Most nonionic surfactants generate a large amount of foam when exerting emulsifying and penetrating effects, while Polyether L-61, while effectively reducing oil-water interfacial tension, inherently has very low foaming, and even possesses foam-breaking and foam-suppressing capabilities, making it almost irreplaceable in dynamic processes such as circulating pumping, spraying, and high-speed stirring.
Another core advantage is excellent chemical and environmental adaptability. According to Guoli Chemical's product database, Polyether L-61 maintains stable activity over a wide pH range and under hard water conditions, with good alkali resistance, whereas some anionic surfactants are prone to deactivation and precipitation in acidic or high-hardness water. Additionally, its moderate rheological properties, with a molecular weight of about 2000 and viscosity of about 400 mm²/s (25°C), make it easy to pump and disperse in formulations, offering operational convenience superior to some high-molecular-weight polyethers (e.g., L-81) or high-viscosity products. Compared to the TX/NP series, which require APEO (alkylphenol polyoxyethylene ether) raw materials, Polyether L-61 has a smaller environmental load, aligning with current green chemistry trends.
From the perspective of application breadth, Polyether L-61 can meet a variety of process needs across industries. In the polyurethane foam field, it can serve as both a stabilizer and cell regulator for flexible foam and as an emulsifying and dispersing aid for rigid foam. In industrial defoamers, it is the main active component for breaking and suppressing foam. It also performs excellently in water-based metalworking fluids, textile printing and dyeing auxiliaries, and pesticide formulations. In contrast, most similar products (such as common fatty alcohol ethers, oleyl alcohol ethers, etc.) have relatively narrow application scopes and cannot simultaneously cover multiple functions such as lubrication, defoaming, emulsification, and dispersion.
| Parameter Item | Polyether L-61 (Guoli Chemical) | Advantage Over Similar Products |
|---|---|---|
| Ion Type | Nonionic | Good compatibility, can be compounded with anionic/cationic/nonionic |
| HLB Value | 3 | Low HLB, strong lipophilicity, suitable for water-in-oil systems and defoaming |
| Foam Characteristics | Low foam (with defoaming and foam suppression capability) | Foam control ability in dynamic processes far surpasses AEO and TX series |
| Active Content | ≥99.5% | High purity, precise formula calculation, minimal impurity interference |
| Hydroxyl Value | Approx. 28 mg KOH/g | Provides controllable reactive sites |
| Viscosity (25°C) | Approx. 400 mPa·s | Moderate rheology, convenient for pumping and formula operation |
| Flash Point | >200°C | High flash point, safer in high-temperature processes than low-flash-point solvent-based additives |
| Alkali Resistance | Good | Does not hydrolyze or deactivate in alkaline formulations |
| Solubility Characteristics | Insoluble in water, soluble in ethanol, ether, etc. | Oil-soluble properties make it preferred for defoamers and emulsifiers in oil-based systems |
| pH (1% aqueous solution) | 5.0–7.5 | Near neutral, minimal pH interference with the system, good mildness |
| Heavy Metal Content | ≤10 mg/kg | Meets strict industrial standards |
(Data source: Guoli Chemical Product Database)
Based on the above advantages of Polyether L-61, the following core application scenarios are recommended: