1. Product Introduction & Main Application
Arnico’s Ethoxylates are a class of advanced non-ionic surfactants produced by the addition reaction of Ethylene Oxide (EO) to fatty alcohols, alkylphenols, or fatty acids. With a hydrophobic (hydrocarbon) tail and a long hydrophilic (polyethylene glycol) chain, these substances are unparalleled emulsifiers, detergents, and wetting agents for industrial and household cleaners, textiles, leather, and agricultural formulations.
2. Technical Specifications
| Technical Parameter | Fatty Alcohol Ethoxylate (FAE-7) | Nonylphenol Ethoxylate (NPE-10) | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Clear to hazy liquid | Clear, colorless to pale yellow liquid | – |
| Moles of EO (Degree of Ethoxylation) | 7 | 10 | – |
| Hydroxyl Value (OH Value) | 105 – 120 | 85 – 95 | mg KOH/g |
| Water | ≤ 0.5 | ≤ 0.3 | % |
| Cloud Point (1% Solution) | 65 – 70 | 60 – 65 | °C |
| pH (1% Solution) | 5.5 – 7.0 | 6.0 – 7.5 | – |
| Density (20°C) | 0.98 – 1.01 | 1.04 – 1.06 | g/cm³ |
3. Features & Benefits
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Exceptional Emulsifying & Dispersing Power: Creates stable oil-in-water and dirt-in-water emulsions, providing ideal detergency for fabrics and hard surfaces.
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Excellent Performance in Hard Water: Unlike anionic surfactants, they do not form lime precipitates and are effective in any water type.
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Tunable HLB: By changing the length of the EO chain, the hydrophilic property can be precisely adjusted for a specific application (degreasing, wetting, or softening).
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High Biodegradability of FAE: Fatty Alcohol Ethoxylates are environmentally friendly and have replaced NPEs in many applications.
4. Industrial Applications
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Detergent Industry: The active ingredient in dishwash liquids, industrial cleaners, and carpet shampoos.
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Textile & Leather Industry: A wetting, scouring, and degreasing agent for fibers and hides.
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Agriculture: An emulsifier and spreader in pesticide (EC) formulations and liquid fertilizers.
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Paint & Paper Industry: A latex stabilizer and de-inking agent in paper recycling.
5. Safety & Handling
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MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet): These substances are mild skin and eye irritants. NPE is toxic to aquatic life. The Arnico MSDS file must be obtained.
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Storage Conditions: Store in stainless steel or polyethylene tanks, sealed, at a temperature of 10-40°C, away from moisture and strong oxidizers.
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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): When working with large volumes, the use of gloves and safety goggles is recommended.
6. Quality Assurance & COA
Arnico Ethoxylate shipments are accompanied by a Certificate of Analysis (COA) detailing the OH value, cloud point, and the EO molecular distribution.
