Polyether L-64 (CAS No.: 9003-11-6), also known as Poloxamer 184, Kolliphor P 184, Synperonic PE/L64, is a classic Pluronic series block polyether product mainly supplied by Guoli Chemical. Its molecular structure consists of hydrophobic polypropylene oxide (PPO) segments and hydrophilic polyethylene oxide (PEO) segments. This unique "sandwich-like" ABA block structure endows it with excellent interfacial activity and wide application adaptability.
The most prominent feature of this product is its excellent low-foaming property — it generates very little foam in working fluids and defoams rapidly, making it suitable for foam-sensitive circulation systems and spray cleaning processes. At the same time, it combines efficient substrate wetting ability with low foam characteristics, reducing or eliminating the need for additional defoamers. In addition, the product maintains good stability in acid, alkali, and high-hardness water, exhibits excellent compatibility with anionic, cationic, and other nonionic surfactants, has low irritation, and good toxicological safety.
Polyether L-64 has a stable shelf life under sealed room temperature conditions. The product is somewhat hygroscopic and should be stored sealed in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated place. Basic protective gloves and goggles are recommended during operation, and prolonged skin contact and eye splashing should be avoided.
| Application Field | Functional Role | Specific Description |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Cleaning | Low-foaming wetting agent, emulsifier | Suitable for high-pressure spray cleaning, metal parts degreasing, and CIP online cleaning systems, providing excellent dirt removal, degreasing, and wetting performance while reducing foam interference |
| Metalworking Fluids | Emulsification, dispersion, lubrication aid | Improves the stability and wetting spreadability of cutting fluids and grinding fluids, reduces frictional heat, enhances surface finish, and suppresses foam accumulation in high-pressure circulation systems |
| Defoamers | Defoaming component, carrier | Can be used directly as a defoamer component or as a carrier or synergist in defoamer formulations, widely applied in fermentation, food processing, and other systems requiring rapid defoaming |
| Waterborne Coatings and Inks | Wetting agent, pigment dispersion aid, defoaming aid | Promotes pigment deflocculation, improves substrate wetting and spreadability, reduces film surface defects and application foam, enhances color paste color development and storage stability |
| Emulsion Polymerization | Nonionic emulsifier, stabilizer | Helps control particle size and distribution, endows latex particles with good stability, narrow size distribution, and low foaming tendency |
| Textile Auxiliaries | Low-foaming wetting penetrant, leveling agent | Applied in pretreatment scouring, dye leveling, and finishing processes, helping treatment liquids quickly wet fabric fibers and improve penetration uniformity |
| Cosmetics and Personal Care | Mild emulsifying solubilizer, foam regulator | Used in facial cleansers, shampoos, body washes, and other formulations to provide comfortable skin feel and moderate cleansing power |
| Pharmaceutical Excipients | Solubilizer, emulsifier, micellar carrier | Used for solubilizing poorly soluble drugs, oral liquids, topical preparations, and other dosage forms to improve drug bioavailability |
Polyether L-64 is recommended to be added during the cooling or dilution stage of formulation development, with moderate stirring for uniform dispersion. The specific dosage should be determined through experiments based on the formulation system and desired function. The product is insensitive to hard water ions and remains active over a wide pH range, offering strong versatility.