Question

What is Stearic Acid Polyoxyethylene Ether SG-10? What are its main uses?

Answer
2026-06-06 官方文档 硬脂酸聚氧乙烯醚SG-10

Stearic Acid Polyoxyethylene Ether SG-10 is a classic nonionic fatty acid polyoxyethylene ester surfactant, characterized by excellent O/W emulsifying ability, and widely used in cosmetics, textile printing and dyeing, washing, metal processing, pesticides, and many other industrial fields.

Detailed Description

Stearic Acid Polyoxyethylene Ether SG-10 (CAS No.: 9004-99-3), chemical name Polyoxyethylene (10) Stearate, also known as Emulsifier SG-10, PEG-10 Stearate. It appears as a light yellow paste to solid and belongs to nonionic surfactants. Its molecular structure contains a hydrophilic polyoxyethylene chain segment and a lipophilic stearate group, endowing the product with excellent surface activity and wide application adaptability due to this unique "amphiphilic" structure.

In terms of performance, this product has excellent emulsifying ability, especially suitable for the preparation and stabilization of O/W (oil-in-water) emulsion systems; good wetting and dispersing properties can effectively reduce interfacial tension; it shows excellent chemical stability in acidic, alkaline, and hard water media; it has good compatibility with various anionic, cationic, and nonionic surfactants; and it is mild and non-irritating, with high safety in use, and a 5% dilution is non-irritating to the skin.

In terms of safety and environmental protection, this product is low-toxic (rat acute oral LD50 > 5,000 mg/kg), non-irritating to the skin and non-sensitizing, negative in Ames test, and non-genotoxic. In terms of biodegradability, the degradation rate exceeds 60% under OECD 301B conditions for 28 days, making it readily biodegradable and environmentally friendly.

Main Uses

1. Cosmetics and Personal Care Products
As a high-efficiency O/W emulsifier, it is used in the preparation of creams and lotions to uniformly disperse oil phase components in the water phase, forming a stable and fine texture, imparting good spreadability and skin feel to the product. It can also be used in cleansing products such as makeup removers and facial cleansers, both for emulsification and mild cleansing.

2. Textile Printing and Dyeing Auxiliaries
Used as a leveling agent to promote uniform dye uptake onto fibers, preventing color spots and streaks; used as a softening agent to impart a soft and smooth hand feel to fabrics; used as an antistatic agent to reduce surface resistance of fibers and minimize static buildup; also used as a soaping agent in the after-printing soaping process to remove unfixed dyes, improving color fastness and preventing white ground staining.

3. Industrial and Household Detergents
In industrial cleaners, it enhances the emulsification, dispersion, and removal of oily soils; in household laundry liquids, dishwashing detergents, etc., it serves as a co-emulsifier and detergency booster, improving low-temperature washing performance.

4. Metalworking Fluids
As an emulsifier and stabilizer for emulsified cutting oils, it enables the base oil to form a stable working fluid with water, providing good lubrication and cooling performance; it can also be used in rust preventive fluids to help distribute anti-rust additives evenly.

5. Pesticide Emulsifiers
As a core emulsification component in pesticide emulsifiable concentrates, it ensures that the pesticide active ingredient can be quickly and stably dispersed in water when diluted for use, forming a uniform emulsion to guarantee efficacy.

6. Emulsion Polymerization Stabilizers
As an emulsifying stabilizer in emulsion polymerization processes such as acrylic and styrene-acrylic, it controls micelle formation and particle size distribution, improving polymerization stability and the storage stability of the final emulsion.

7. Leather Chemicals
As an emulsifying component in fatliquors, it helps oils penetrate into leather fibers, making leather soft and plump; it can also be used in degreasing processes to effectively remove natural fats from hides.

8. Paint Dispersants
In water-based paints, it assists in the wetting and dispersion of pigments and fillers, preventing particle flocculation and sedimentation, improving the storage stability and application properties of the paint.

Technical Parameters

ParameterValue
Product NameStearic Acid Polyoxyethylene Ether SG-10
Chemical NamePolyoxyethylene (10) Stearate
CAS No.9004-99-3
Ionic TypeNonionic
AppearanceLight yellow paste to solid
HLB ValueNot available (not provided in database)
Cloud PointNot available (not provided in database)
Acute Oral Toxicity (Rat)LD50 > 5,000 mg/kg (Low toxicity)
Skin Irritation5% dilution non-irritating (PII 0–0.5)
Eye IrritationPure product slightly irritating (reversible)
SensitizationNon-sensitizing
GenotoxicityAmes test negative, non-genotoxic
BiodegradabilityReadily biodegradable (OECD 301B, 28 days >60%)
Fish Acute Toxicity96h LC50 > 100 mg/L

Application Recommendations

  • Cosmetic Formulations: Recommended as primary or auxiliary O/W emulsifier, suitable for creams, lotions, makeup removers, etc., and can be compounded with other nonionic and ionic surfactants to optimize system stability.
  • Textile Processing: When used in softening aftertreatment, it is recommended to prepare a certain concentration of emulsion before use; it can be used alone or compounded with other softeners to enhance overall hand feel.
  • Pesticide Emulsifiable Concentrates: As an emulsifier component, the addition amount should be optimized based on the nature of the active ingredient and formulation requirements to ensure dilution stability meets standards.
  • Metalworking Fluids: Used as primary or co-emulsifier in emulsified cutting oil formulations, it is recommended to be used in combination with other functional additives for optimal lubrication and rust prevention effects.
  • Compatibility: Shows good compatibility with anionic, cationic, and nonionic surfactants, offering high flexibility in formulation design.

Precautions

  • Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated warehouse, recommended temperature not exceeding 40°C, avoid moisture absorption and caking.
  • Wear protective gloves and goggles during handling; the pure product is mildly and reversibly irritating to the eyes.
  • Keep away from heat sources, sparks, and open flames; store separately from strong oxidizers and acids.
  • Disposal should be carried out in accordance with national and local regulations; do not discharge into water bodies or soil arbitrarily.