Tween T-80 belongs to the polysorbate class of nonionic surfactants, with aliases including Polysorbate 80, Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate 80, Tween 80, Polysorbate 80. From a chemical composition perspective, it is produced by the addition polymerization of sorbitan monooleate (Span 80) with approximately 20 moles of ethylene oxide (EO). The molecule contains both hydrophilic polyoxyethylene chains and lipophilic oleate ester chains. This "amphiphilic" structure endows it with excellent emulsifying, solubilizing, wetting, and dispersing capabilities.
Tween T-80 typically appears as a light yellow to amber viscous liquid, soluble in water, ethanol, methanol, ethyl acetate, and many other solvents. Its HLB value is approximately 15.0, making it an O/W (oil-in-water) emulsifier that maintains excellent chemical stability in acidic, alkaline, and hard water environments.
| Item | Parameter |
|---|---|
| Chemical Name | Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate |
| CAS Number | 9005-65-6 |
| Aliases | Polysorbate 80, Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate 80, Tween 80, Polysorbate 80 |
| Surfactant Type | Nonionic Surfactant |
| HLB Value | Approximately 15.0 |
| Emulsification Type | O/W (Oil-in-Water) |
| Appearance | Light yellow to amber viscous liquid |
| Solubility | Soluble in water, ethanol, methanol, ethyl acetate, etc. |
Due to its excellent emulsifying and solubilizing properties, Tween T-80 is widely used in various industries: Pharmaceutical field for solubilizing poorly soluble drugs and preparing injectable emulsions; Food industry as an emulsifier and stabilizer in ice cream, baking fats, and beverages; Cosmetics in creams, lotions, cleansing oils, and other products; additionally, it is used in textile antistatic finishing, pigment dispersion in water-based coatings, emulsification of pesticide emulsifiable concentrates, and petroleum drilling fluids.