Question

XPO-4 (Polyoxyethylene Glyceryl Ether Oleate), the main component of high-temperature leveling agent?

XPO-4 (Polyoxyethylene Glyceryl Ether Oleate), the main component of the high-temperature leveling agent is exactly what its name indicates — glycerol polyoxyethylene ether oleate (Polyoxyethylene glyceryl ether oleate), which is a type of nonionic surfactant prepared from glycerol, ethylene oxide (EO) and oleic acid through polymerization and esterification reactions.

Detailed Description

The chemical essence of XPO-4 is glycerol polyoxyethylene ether oleate, also known as polyoxyethylene glycerol monooleate or oleic acid polyoxyethylene glycerol ester. From a molecular structure perspective, it uses glycerol as the initiator, first undergoing polymerization with ethylene oxide to form glycerol polyoxyethylene ether (hydrophilic chain segment), and then esterifying with oleic acid (a C18 monounsaturated fatty acid) to ultimately form a nonionic surfactant with both a hydrophilic polyoxyethylene chain and a lipophilic fatty acid long chain. This structure endows the product with excellent emulsifying, dispersing and leveling properties.

As a nonionic surfactant, XPO-4 does not ionize in water; its surface activity relies entirely on the synergistic effect of the polyoxyethylene ether chain (hydrophilic group) and the fatty acid ester chain (hydrophobic group) in the molecule. This structure allows it to maintain stable interfacial activity under high temperature and high pressure conditions, and it exhibits excellent chemical compatibility with acids, alkalis, hard water and electrolytes, making it an irreplaceable leveling auxiliary in the high-temperature and high-pressure dyeing process of polyester with disperse dyes.

The active content of this product is usually expressed as the active matter content. At room temperature, it is a light yellow to yellow transparent viscous liquid and is a substance with low acute toxicity (rat oral LD₅₀ > 5000 mg/kg). For more precise chemical composition ratios and specification parameters, it is recommended to refer to the quality inspection report of a specific batch.

Technical Parameters

Parameter ItemParameter Description
Chemical NameGlycerol polyoxyethylene ether oleate
English NamePolyoxyethylene glyceryl ether oleate / POE glyceryl oleate
AliasesPolyoxyethylene glycerol monooleate; Oleic acid polyoxyethylene glycerol ester
Ionic TypeNonionic surfactant
CAS NumberNot available for this parameter
Appearance (Room Temperature)Light yellow to yellow transparent viscous liquid
Hydrophilic GroupPolyoxyethylene ether chain (—(CH₂CH₂O)ₙ—)
Hydrophobic GroupOleic acid fatty acid long chain (C18)
InitiatorGlycerol

Application Recommendations

XPO-4, as a specialized leveling agent for high-temperature and high-pressure dyeing of polyester and its blend fabrics with disperse dyes, should be added to the dye bath according to the process formulation. Utilizing its excellent migration and retardation properties, it effectively controls the dye uptake rate, preventing dyeing defects such as blotches, spots and color differences. Meanwhile, its strong emulsifying and dispersing ability maintains high stability of disperse dye particles in the dye bath, preventing dye aggregation and precipitation at high temperatures.

In addition to textile dyeing, XPO-4 can also be used as a high-quality industrial emulsifier and dispersant, suitable for formulation systems such as coatings, inks, pesticide emulsifiable concentrates, and as compounding components for chemical fiber spinning oils.

Precautions

  • This product causes eye irritation (GHS classification: Category 2, H319). Safety goggles or face shields must be worn during operation.
  • Harmful to aquatic life (H402). Do not discharge untreated waste directly into water bodies.
  • Flash point > 150 °C. Although not a flammable liquid, it should still be kept away from fire and high temperatures. Recommended storage temperature is 5°C to 40°C.
  • Store separately from incompatible substances such as strong oxidizers, strong acids, and strong bases.