Tween T-60 is a polyol-based nonionic surfactant with excellent performance, offering outstanding emulsifying ability, solubilizing capacity, chemical stability, and wetting/antistatic functions. It is widely used in various industries including food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, textiles, pesticides, and plastics.
Detailed Explanation
Tween T-60 (Polyoxyethylene (20) Sorbitan Monostearate, CAS No.: 9005-67-8) is a nonionic surfactant produced by condensing sorbitan monostearate with ethylene oxide. The product appears as a light yellow to amber oily liquid or paste with a mild odor. It can be compounded with various ionic and nonionic surfactants, exhibiting excellent compatibility.
Its most core characteristic lies in its outstanding performance as an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsifier – it forms a stable interfacial film at the oil-water interface, significantly reducing interfacial tension and producing a fine, uniform, and highly stable emulsion system. At the same time, it has good solubilizing and dispersing effects on poorly soluble oils, fragrances, essential oils, and lipophilic active substances, effectively improving the transparency and efficacy of formulations.
In terms of chemical stability, Tween T-60 has high tolerance to acids, bases, and hard water, maintaining functional stability over a wide pH range, making it suitable for complex formulation systems. In addition, it effectively reduces surface tension, improves surface wettability of materials, and exhibits good antistatic properties in textile and plastic processing. The product has high safety, with extremely low acute oral toxicity (rat oral LD50 > 5000 mg/kg), belonging to the practically non-toxic level, and a flash point > 149 °C, making it a non-hazardous substance.
Technical Parameters
| Parameter Item | Description |
|---|
| Chemical Type | Nonionic Surfactant |
| CAS No. | 9005-67-8 |
| Aliases | Polysorbate 60, Polyoxyethylene (20) Sorbitan Monostearate, Emulsifier T-60, Polysorbate 60 |
| Appearance | Light yellow to amber oily liquid or paste |
| Emulsion Type | Oil-in-water (O/W) type |
| HLB Value | Not available (typical value approx. 14.9, for reference only) |
| Flash Point | > 149 °C (Closed Cup method) |
| Acute Oral Toxicity | LD50 > 5000 mg/kg (Rat) |
| Recommended Storage Temperature | 5 °C to 35 °C |
| Shelf Life | Two years from date of manufacture (under normal temperature, sealed conditions) |
Application Recommendations
With its multifunctional properties, Tween T-60 is widely used in the following fields:
- Food Industry: As an emulsifier and stabilizer in ice cream, cream, baked goods, coffee creamer, and beverages, improving texture, preventing oil-water separation, and extending shelf life.
- Cosmetics and Personal Care: Used in creams, lotions, shampoos, body washes, and color cosmetics for emulsifying, solubilizing, and emollient effects, providing a fine skin feel and stable systems.
- Pharmaceutical Preparations: As a solubilizer and emulsifier in oral liquids, injections, ointments, etc., to improve the dispersion and bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs.
- Textile Industry: Used as a leveling agent, wetting agent, and antistatic agent in spinning, weaving, and finishing processes to reduce fiber friction and improve hand feel and processing performance.
- Pesticide Formulations: As an emulsifier in emulsifiable concentrates, microemulsions, and aqueous emulsions to help uniform dispersion of pesticide active ingredients in water, enhancing efficacy.
- Plastics and Polymer Industry: As an internal lubricant and antistatic agent to improve processing flowability and reduce static accumulation on product surfaces.
Precautions
- When handling, it is recommended to wear chemical safety goggles and protective gloves to avoid direct contact with concentrated product on skin and eyes.
- After opening, reseal promptly; do not return unused product to the original container.
- Store away from strong oxidizing agents, strong acids, and strong bases; avoid mixed storage.
- Storage containers should be made of stainless steel, FRP, or carbon steel with epoxy phenolic lining; avoid prolonged contact with copper or copper alloys.
- For small spills, use inert absorbent materials (e.g., vermiculite, dry sand) to contain and collect; prohibit discharge into surface water or sewage systems.
