Span 60 is widely used in seven major industries: cosmetics, food, pharmaceuticals, textiles, plastics, pesticides, and coatings & inks, with core functions including W/O emulsification, dispersion, stabilization, and lubrication.
Detailed Description
Span 60 (Sorbitan monostearate, CAS: 1338-41-6) is a classic nonionic surfactant with an HLB value of approximately 4.7, making it a water-in-oil (W/O) emulsifier. Due to its stability over a wide pH range and in hard water, and its ability to be combined with Tween series to flexibly adjust the HLB value, it serves as a key functional component in multi-industry formulations.
In cosmetics and personal care products, Span 60 acts as a primary or co-emulsifier in creams, lotions, and sunscreens, imparting a fine texture and good spreadability. In the food industry, it is used in margarine, ice cream, pastries, and chocolate to prevent oil separation, improve texture, delay starch aging, and extend shelf life.
In the pharmaceutical field, Span 60 serves as a suppository base (for vaginal and rectal suppositories) and a drug carrier, enabling uniform drug dispersion and controlled release. On the industrial side, it covers textiles (providing smoothness and antistatic properties in spinning oils), plastics (as an internal additive for anti-fogging and antistatic properties in agricultural films), pesticides (as a self-emulsifying agent in emulsifiable concentrates), and coatings & inks (as a pigment wetting and dispersing agent to prevent floating and flooding).
Technical Parameters
| Parameter | Value/Description |
|---|
| Chemical Name | Sorbitan monostearate |
| CAS Number | 1338-41-6 |
| Type | Nonionic surfactant |
| HLB Value | Approx. 4.7 (W/O type) |
| Appearance | Micro-yellow waxy solid |
| Flash Point (Closed Cup) | ＞149 °C |
| Acute Oral Toxicity LD₅₀ | ＞15,000 mg/kg (rat, low toxicity) |
| Compatibility | Can be combined with Tween series to flexibly adjust HLB |
Application Recommendations
- Cosmetics: For cream/lotion W/O systems, recommended usage 1%–5%, can be combined with Tween-60 to adjust the required HLB value.
- Food: As an emulsifier and stabilizer in margarine and ice cream, complies with E491 (EU food additive number).
- Pharmaceuticals: As a suppository base, used in combination with semi-synthetic fatty acid glycerides to improve formability and drug release characteristics.
- Textile Oils: Compounded into synthetic fiber spinning oils to provide smoothness, cohesion, and antistatic properties.
- Agricultural Films: As an internal anti-fog additive, improving surface wettability of the film and increasing light transmittance in greenhouses.
- Pesticide Emulsifiable Concentrates: As a co-emulsifier, helping the active ingredient rapidly self-emulsify upon dilution to form a stable emulsion.
- Coatings & Inks: As a pigment dispersant, preventing agglomeration, floating, and flooding; dosage adjusted based on pigment oil absorption.
Precautions
- The product is a waxy solid and may solidify or cake at low temperatures; allow to reach room temperature before use.
- It is recommended to wear protective gloves and safety goggles during handling to avoid dust inhalation (GHS classification: skin irritation H315, eye irritation H319, respiratory tract irritation H335).
- Store in a cool, dry place at temperatures preferably below 35°C, away from strong oxidizers, and keep the container tightly sealed.
