Question

XPO-4 (Glycerol Polyoxyethylene Ether Oleate), what is a high-temperature leveling agent? What are its main uses?

XPO-4 (Glycerol Polyoxyethylene Ether Oleate) is a high-performance nonionic surfactant specially designed for high-temperature and high-pressure dyeing processes of polyester and its blended fabrics. It is primarily used as a high-temperature leveling agent, while also possessing multiple functions such as industrial emulsification, dispersion, and compounding of chemical fiber oils.

Detailed Description

XPO-4 (Glycerol Polyoxyethylene Ether Oleate) is a nonionic surfactant produced by Hai'an Guoli Chemical Co., Ltd. Its aliases include Polyoxyethylene Glycerol Ether Oleate, Polyoxyethylene Glycerol Monooleate, Oleic Acid Polyoxyethylene Glycerol Ester, etc. At room temperature, the product is a light yellow to yellow transparent viscous liquid. It occupies an important position in the chemical fiber printing and dyeing industry due to its excellent leveling and retardation properties.

From a chemical structure perspective, XPO-4 is synthesized with glycerol as the backbone, which undergoes polyoxyethylenation with ethylene oxide and then esterification with oleic acid, giving it a unique hydrophilic-lipophilic balance. It has excellent resistance to acid, alkali, and hard water, maintaining high efficiency under different water qualities and process pH conditions. Under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions, the product does not demulsify or separate, demonstrating outstanding thermal stability.

In terms of environmental protection and safety, XPO-4 has an acute oral toxicity LD₅₀ greater than 5000 mg/kg (rat), classifying it as a substance with low acute toxicity; its biodegradation rate exceeds 70% (OECD 301B method), making it readily biodegradable. It is irritating to the eyes (GHS Category 2, H319), so protective measures should be taken during handling.

Main Uses

1. High-Temperature and High-Pressure Leveling Agent (Core Use)
As a special leveling agent for polyester (polyester fiber) and its blended fabrics in the high-temperature and high-pressure dyeing process with disperse dyes. This product has excellent migration ability, effectively reducing the dye uptake rate, ensuring uniform adsorption and diffusion of dyes on the fiber surface and inside, significantly preventing dyeing defects such as color spots, color differences, and color points, improving color reproducibility and one-time dyeing success rate. At the same time, it has strong emulsifying and dispersing power for disperse dyes, effectively preventing dye particles from agglomerating and precipitating in the dye bath.

2. Industrial Emulsifier and Dispersant
With excellent surface activity, it is suitable for formulation systems such as inks, coatings, pesticide emulsifiable concentrates, and used as a high-quality industrial emulsifier and dispersant.

3. Chemical Fiber Oil Component
Used in the compounding of chemical fiber spinning oils, it imparts good smoothness, cohesion, and antistatic properties to the fibers, improving their spinnability and post-processing performance.

Application Suggestions

  • Dyeing process: Suitable for high-temperature and high-pressure dyeing equipment (such as jet dyeing machines, high-temperature and high-pressure jiggers, etc.), used in conjunction with disperse dyes in the dye bath. It is recommended to adjust the dosage according to the dyeing depth and dye type.
  • Compounding application: As the core raw material for commercialized leveling agents, it can be compounded with other auxiliaries to form a more comprehensive dyeing auxiliary system.
  • Storage conditions: Recommended storage temperature is 5°C to 40°C. Avoid freezing or long-term exposure to high temperatures. Keep the container sealed and store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated warehouse.

Precautions

  • During operation, wear standard safety goggles or face shields to avoid contact with eyes (H319 - Causes serious eye irritation).
  • It is recommended to wear chemical-resistant protective gloves (such as nitrile rubber or neoprene gloves). After operation, thoroughly wash hands and exposed skin.
  • Avoid release into the environment to prevent harm to aquatic life (H402 - Harmful to aquatic life).
  • This product has a flash point greater than 150°C and is a non-flammable liquid. However, it should be stored away from strong oxidizing agents, strong acids, strong bases, and other incompatible substances.