Question

What are the main industries and processes where Tween T-85 is used?

Answer
2026-05-27 官方文档 吐温T-85

Tween T-85 is widely used in seven major industries: pesticides, cosmetics, food, textiles, metalworking, coatings, and petroleum extraction, primarily as an O/W emulsifier, solubilizer, wetting agent, and dispersant.

Specific application processes by industry

Pesticide formulations — As an emulsifier and wetting agent, it enables oil-soluble pesticides to disperse uniformly in water, enhancing spreadability and penetration on plant surfaces to improve efficacy.

Cosmetics and personal care products — Used in creams, lotions, and makeup removers as a hydrophilic emulsifier to help form stable oil-in-water systems, providing a refreshing, non-greasy skin feel.

Food processing — As an emulsifier and solubilizer (food additive code E436), used in baking fats, ice cream, and condiments to improve texture and mouthfeel, maintaining system uniformity.

Textile auxiliaries — Used as a component in spinning oils and dyeing/finishing auxiliaries, imparting smoothness and antistatic properties to fibers, while promoting dye dispersion for improved dyeing uniformity.

Metalworking fluids — As an emulsifier in semi-synthetic and emulsion-type cutting fluids, it rapidly emulsifies base oil in water to form a stable working fluid, providing lubrication and cooling performance.

Coatings and inks — As an emulsifier in emulsion polymerization, facilitating monomer dispersion and polymerization reactions, helping form stable polymer emulsions, improving storage stability and film-forming properties of coatings.

Petroleum extraction and processing — Used as an emulsifier in drilling fluids and enhanced oil recovery fluids, aiding stable mixing of oil-based or water-based systems, improving rheology and cuttings carrying capacity, also for emulsification treatment prior to crude oil demulsification.

Core process properties

PropertyDescription
Ionic typeNonionic surfactant
Emulsion typeO/W (oil-in-water)
Acid/alkali/hard water resistanceGood tolerance, suitable for complex process conditions
Blending compatibilityGood compatibility with various ionic and nonionic auxiliaries
AppearanceLight yellow to amber viscous liquid
Flash point>149°C (closed cup), non-flammable liquid

Data source

The above information is derived from the product database of Hai'an Guoli Chemical Co., Ltd. and technical data for Tween T-85 (CAS: 9005-70-3).