Tween 60 (Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monostearate) is a non-ionic surfactant with high safety. According to the current classification standards of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS), this product is not classified as a hazardous chemical . Its acute oral toxicity is extremely low, with a rat oral LD50 greater than 5000 mg/kg, placing it at a practically non-toxic level. The flash point is above 149°C (by closed cup method), and it poses no flammability or explosion risk under normal use and storage conditions, with no significant harm to aquatic organisms.
Despite its overall high safety, direct contact with concentrated products may cause mild, transient irritation to the skin and eyes. Long-term or repeated exposure has no special systemic hazards. Therefore, basic protection is still necessary during handling, especially when dealing with hot molten products or when there is a risk of splashing, enhanced personal protective measures should be taken.
| Type of Contact | Response Measures |
|---|---|
| Skin Contact | Remove contaminated clothing and shoes, immediately rinse with plenty of running water and soap for at least 15 minutes. If irritation persists or worsens, seek medical attention immediately. |
| Eye Contact | Immediately hold eyelids open and rinse gently and thoroughly with running water or saline solution for at least 15 minutes. Remove contact lenses if present and easy to do, continue rinsing. Professional ophthalmic medical treatment is necessary. |
| Ingestion | Rinse mouth thoroughly with clean water. Do not give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. This substance has extremely low acute toxicity and generally does not require emergency treatment. If discomfort occurs, seek medical attention with the product label. |
| Spill Response | Small spill: Use inert absorbent materials (e.g., vermiculite, dry sand) to contain and collect into a sealed container, then flush the spill area with plenty of water. Large spill: Build dikes to control spread, transfer with explosion-proof pumps to dedicated containers for recovery. The spill area may become slippery, immediately set up warning signs. Do not discharge spill material or cleaning wastewater into surface water, groundwater, or sewage systems. |
| Fire Response | This product does not support combustion, but if involved in a fire, the packaging or surrounding materials may decompose to produce irritating or toxic fumes (e.g., carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide). Extinguishing media may include water fog, alcohol-resistant foam, dry powder, or carbon dioxide. Firefighters must wear self-contained positive-pressure breathing apparatus and full protective clothing. After fire, collect contaminated firefighting water and avoid direct discharge into the environment. |
In actual use, Tween 60 often needs to be heated to a fluid state for handling. It is recommended to control the heating temperature between 40°C and 60°C , avoiding prolonged high-temperature heating to prevent discoloration or performance changes. In formulations, it is commonly used as an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsifier, with recommended usage adjusted within the range of 0.5% to 5% depending on the specific system. Better emulsification stability can be achieved when used in combination with Span series (e.g., Span 60).