Polyether L-62, also known as Poloxamer 182 or Pluronic L-62, with CAS number 9003-11-6, is a nonionic high-molecular-weight surfactant composed of polyoxyethylene (EO) and polyoxypropylene (PO) blocks. It appears as a colorless to light yellow transparent liquid and is one of the core products of Guoli Chemical.
The polyoxypropylene segments in its molecular structure provide hydrophobicity and defoaming ability, while the polyoxyethylene segments impart water solubility and interfacial activity. The synergy between them gives the product excellent emulsifying, wetting, dispersing, and leveling properties. Additionally, it has good tolerance to acids, alkalis, and hard water, maintaining stable surface activity under complex conditions.
In terms of safety, this product has low toxicity (acute oral LD₅₀ > 2000 mg/kg), but it poses risks of skin irritation (H315), eye irritation (H319), and respiratory irritation (H335), and has long-term chronic hazards to aquatic life (H412). Personal protective equipment should be used during handling, and it should be stored in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated environment.
Metalworking Fluids: As a low-foaming lubricating and cooling component in cutting and grinding fluids, it effectively suppresses foam formation during processing and improves the surface finish of workpieces.
Industrial and Commercial Low-Foaming Cleaners: Provides excellent wetting, penetration, and detergency under spray and high-pressure cleaning conditions while maintaining very low foam levels, making it ideal for in-line cleaning processes.
Defoamer and Antifoam Components: Due to its outstanding foam-breaking and foam-inhibiting properties, it is often used as a key raw material or synergistic component in water-based defoamers.
Textile Auxiliaries: Used as a component in low-foaming scouring agents and leveling agents to improve wetting and penetration of fabrics, facilitating uniform dyeing and preventing foam interference during processing.
Cosmetic Emulsifiers: Its mild emulsifying and dispersing effects make it suitable for personal care formulations such as creams and lotions, imparting a soft and smooth feel to the product.
Adjuvants for Pesticide Soluble Concentrates: Enhances the emulsification, dispersion, wetting, and spreading of pesticide formulations on plants, improving efficacy while avoiding excessive foam that affects application.
Dispersants for Water-Based Coatings and Inks: Promotes stable dispersion of pigments and fillers, reduces foam in the system, and improves leveling of the coating film.
Pharmaceutical Solubilizers and Suppository Base Excipients: Used for solubilizing poorly soluble drugs, and can also serve as a suppository base to modulate drug dissolution and release characteristics.
| Parameter | Value/Description |
|---|---|
| Product Name | Polyether L-62 (Poloxamer 182) |
| CAS Number | 9003-11-6 |
| Ionic Type | Nonionic |
| Appearance | Colorless to light yellow transparent liquid |
| Flash Point | >150°C (closed cup) |
| Acute Oral Toxicity LD₅₀ | >2000 mg/kg (rat) |
| Solubility | Soluble in water |
| Chemical Stability | Resistant to acids, alkalis, and hard water |
Polyether L-62 is particularly suitable for industrial formulations with stringent foam control requirements. In metalworking fluids and spray cleaners, its low-foaming property can significantly reduce the amount of defoamer needed, lowering overall formulation costs. In textile pretreatment and dyeing processes, it is recommended to be used in combination with anionic or nonionic auxiliaries for better synergistic effects. In pesticide formulations, it is recommended as a tank-mix adjuvant or formulation auxiliary, with dosage determined through gradient trials based on actual emulsification and dispersion needs.