Solubilizer S-15 (PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil) may occasionally encounter issues such as incomplete solubilization, system turbidity and stratification, or abnormal foaming in formulation applications. When such problems occur, it is recommended to first self-check from the following dimensions:
1. Poor solubilization effect or system turbidity
1. Check whether the dosage is appropriate — The HLB value of solubilizer S-15 is 14-16, the cloud point is 65-75°C (1% aqueous solution), and the critical micelle concentration (CMC) is about 0.1~0.5 g/L. If the substance to be solubilized (such as fragrance or essential oil) is highly hydrophobic, the addition ratio of S-15 should be appropriately increased. It is usually recommended to explore the optimal ratio between solubilizer and solubilized substance in the range of 1:1 to 3:1.
2. Pay attention to the feeding sequence and mixing process — It is recommended to pre-mix the solubilizer S-15 with the oily substance to be solubilized evenly, then slowly add the water phase while stirring. If a large amount of water is added at once or stirring is insufficient, an unstable coarse emulsion may form, leading to a white and turbid system.
3. Check the system pH and electrolyte environment — This product has excellent stability in acids, alkalis, and hard water, but extreme pH (such as <2 or >12) may still weaken its solubilization ability. Please ensure the final formulation pH is within the stable range of 5.0~7.0.
2. Abnormal foam occurrence
Solubilizer S-15 is inherently a low-foaming nonionic surfactant. If abnormal foam appears in the formulation, it is usually caused by other co-blended surfactants or air entrainment from mechanical forces. The mechanical stirring intensity can be appropriately reduced, or a small amount of defoamer can be added for adjustment.
3. Abnormal product self-state
The normal appearance should be a colorless to slightly yellow transparent liquid, with a refractive index of about 1.466 (20°C) and a viscosity of about 550-650 mm²/s (20°C). If obvious turbidity, stratification, or gelation occurs, it may be due to storage temperatures below 5°C or above 40°C. Restoring the barrel liquid to a 15-30°C environment and stirring gently can usually restore it to a transparent and uniform state. If abnormalities persist, the product may be contaminated or expired; please stop using it.
Haian Guoli Chemical Co., Ltd. has an experienced application technology team that can provide in-depth support for formulation issues involving solubilizer S-15 in fields such as agrochemical preparations, daily chemical products, industrial cleaning, and textile printing and dyeing, including formulation optimization, compatibility evaluation, and process route suggestions.
Methods to obtain technical support are as follows:
1. Call the official service hotline — You can call the sales or technical service phone number published on the Guoli Chemical official website to directly describe the problem you encountered.
2. Contact the regional sales manager or agent — Reporting the problem through the service personnel who supply you daily is the most efficient way. They can bring samples to your site or assist in contacting the headquarters laboratory for formulation analysis.
3. Website message and email consultation — Submit the problem materials (including formulation dosage, operation process, photos of abnormal phenomena, product batch number, etc.) via the company's official website technical support email or online form. Professional technical engineers will reply as soon as possible, and if necessary, samples can be sent to the Guoli Chemical application laboratory for reproduction and analysis.