What is Tween T-85? What are its main uses?

Tween T-85 is a nonionic surfactant, chemically known as polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan trioleate (Polysorbate 85), mainly used as an O/W emulsifier, solubilizer, wetting agent, and dispersant, widely applied in multiple industries such as pesticides, cosmetics, food, textiles, metalworking, coatings, and petroleum extraction.

Detailed Description

Tween T-85 (Tween 85 \/ Polysorbate 85) is a classic nonionic surfactant produced by Guoli Chemical, with CAS number 9005-70-3, also known as Polysorbate 85, polyoxyethylene sorbitan trioleate, with food additive code E436. The product appears as a light yellow to amber viscous liquid, belonging to the nonionic type, thus it has good compatibility with various ionic and nonionic additives, making it easy to compound.

This product has excellent emulsifying, solubilizing, wetting, and dispersing abilities, capable of forming stable oil-in-water (O\/W) emulsions in various systems. At the same time, it exhibits good resistance to acids, bases, and hard water, adapting to complex process conditions. The product has a flash point greater than 149°C (closed cup), is a non-flammable liquid, and offers high safety during storage and transportation.

Technical Parameters

Application Recommendations

With its excellent emulsifying and solubilizing performance, Tween T-85 has wide and specific applications in the following industries:

• Pesticide Formulations: Used as an emulsifier and wetting agent to uniformly disperse oil-soluble pesticides in water, enhancing the spreading and penetration of the liquid on plant surfaces, thereby improving efficacy.
• Cosmetics and Personal Care: As a hydrophilic emulsifier, used in formulations such as creams, lotions, and makeup removers to help form a stable oil-in-water system, providing a refreshing and non-greasy skin feel.
• Food Processing: Used as an emulsifier and solubilizer in bakery fats, ice cream, and sauces to improve texture and mouthfeel, maintaining system uniformity.
• Textile Auxiliaries: As a component of spinning oils and dyeing and finishing auxiliaries, imparting smoothness and antistatic properties to fibers, while promoting dye dispersion to improve dyeing uniformity.
• Metalworking Fluids: Used in formulating semi-synthetic and emulsified cutting fluids to rapidly emulsify base oil in water, forming a stable working fluid that provides good lubrication and cooling performance.
• Coatings and Inks: As an emulsifier in emulsion polymerization to promote monomer dispersion and polymerization, helping to form stable polymer emulsions, enhancing storage stability and film-forming properties of coatings.
• Petroleum Extraction and Processing: Used as an emulsifier in drilling fluids and stimulation fluids to help stabilize the mixing of oil-based or water-based systems, improving rheology and cuttings carrying capacity of drilling fluids, and also for emulsification treatment before crude oil demulsification.

Precautions

1. Health Protection: The product may cause mild eye irritation. It is recommended to wear chemical safety goggles or face shield during operation to prevent liquid splashes into eyes. After work, thoroughly wash hands and exposed skin.

2. Operating Environment: Keep the workplace well ventilated. Do not eat, drink, or smoke during operation. Follow general industrial hygiene practices.

3. Storage Conditions: Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area. Keep containers tightly closed. Recommended storage temperature is 5°C–40°C to prevent freezing or thermal degradation. Keep away from strong oxidizing agents.

4. Spill Handling: Small spills: absorb with inert absorbent materials (e.g., sand, vermiculite) and collect. Large spills: contain to prevent entry into drains or waterways, and wear appropriate personal protective equipment during cleanup.