Polyether L-62 (Poloxamer 182/Poloxamer 182) is a nonionic surfactant formed by block copolymerization of ethylene oxide (EO) and propylene oxide (PO). At room temperature, it is a colorless to light yellow transparent liquid. Its unique EO-PO-EO block structure endows it with excellent emulsifying, wetting, dispersing, and leveling capabilities, along with low-foaming or even foam-suppressing properties, as well as resistance to acids, alkalis, and hard water, making it irreplaceable in multiple industrial fields.
In metalworking fluids (such as cutting fluids and grinding fluids), Polyether L-62 serves as a low-foam lubricating and cooling component, effectively suppressing foam generated by high-pressure spraying and circulating agitation during processing, while improving workpiece surface finish. In the field of industrial and commercial low-foam cleaners, it provides excellent wetting, penetration, and detergency, maintaining extremely low foam even under spray and high-pressure cleaning conditions, suitable for precision parts cleaning, vehicle cleaning, and similar scenarios. Additionally, due to its outstanding defoaming and foam-suppressing properties, it is often used as a core raw material or synergistic component in water-based defoamers.
In light industry and fine chemicals, Polyether L-62 also has broad applications: in textile pretreatment and dyeing/printing, it acts as a low-foam scouring agent and leveling agent component, improving fabric wetting and permeability, facilitating uniform dyeing; in cosmetics and personal care products, it provides mild emulsifying and dispersing effects, suitable for creams, lotions, and other formulations, offering a smooth skin feel; in pesticide soluble concentrates, it enhances emulsification, dispersion, wetting, and spreading of the formulation in water, improving efficacy while avoiding excessive foam that may affect application; in water-based coatings and inks, it promotes stable dispersion of pigments and fillers, reduces system foam, and improves coating leveling; in the pharmaceutical field, it can be used as a solubilizer for poorly soluble drugs and as a suppository base excipient, to modulate drug dissolution and release characteristics.
| Application Industry | Specific Process/Use | Core Function |
|---|---|---|
| Metalworking | Cutting fluids, grinding fluids, rolling fluids | Low-foam lubrication, cooling, foam suppression |
| Industrial Cleaning | Spray cleaning, high-pressure cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning | Wetting, penetration, detergency, low foam |
| Defoamer Manufacturing | Core raw material for water-based defoamers, foam suppression synergistic component | Defoaming, foam suppression |
| Textile Dyeing and Printing | Scouring, bleaching, leveling, finishing | Wetting, penetration, leveling, low foam |
| Cosmetics | Emulsification in creams, lotions, facial cleansers | Emulsifying, dispersing, smooth skin feel |
| Pesticide Formulations | Adjuvants for soluble concentrates (SL), emulsifiable concentrates (EC) | Emulsification dispersion, wetting, spreading |
| Coatings and Inks | Dispersion in water-based coatings, water-based inks | Pigment dispersion, foam suppression, leveling |
| Pharmaceuticals | Solubilizer, suppository base excipient | Solubilization, release modulation |
Polyether L-62 has a moderate HLB value, providing good hydrophilic-lipophilic balance. It is recommended for use as a multifunctional additive in formulations. In low-foam cleaning and metalworking fluid formulations, the recommended dosage is generally 2% to 8% of the total formulation, with specific amounts adjusted based on foam control requirements and cleaning intensity. In defoamer formulations, it can be used as the main active component in synergy with other hydrophobic particles to achieve defoaming and long-lasting foam suppression effects. When used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, attention should be paid to the poloxamer grade and purity requirements to ensure compliance with relevant pharmacopoeia or cosmetic raw material standards.