What is Fatty Alcohol Polyoxyethylene Ether?

Definition of Fatty Alcohol Polyoxyethylene Ether

Fatty Alcohol Polyoxyethylene Ether, also known as Fatty Alcohol Ethoxylates (or Ethoxylated Fatty Alcohol) and commonly referred to as Emulsifier AEO, is a class of non-ionic surfactants produced through the addition reaction between fatty alcohols and ethylene oxide. Its general chemical formula is RO(CH₂CH₂O)nH, and its CAS number is 68439-51-0.

This surfactant exhibits excellent wetting, emulsifying, dispersing, cleaning, and solubilizing properties. The structure contains both hydrophilic (polyoxyethylene chain) and lipophilic (fatty alcohol chain) parts, enabling it to effectively reduce surface tension and stabilize emulsions.

Depending on the length of the polyoxyethylene chain, Fatty Alcohol Polyoxyethylene Ether can be categorized into various grades, such as AEO1, AEO2, AEO3, AEO4, AEO5, AEO7, AEO9, AEO10, and AEO23. Each grade has a distinct hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (HLB) value, making it suitable for different emulsification, wetting, and detergency applications.

Main Properties and Characteristics

Fatty Alcohol Polyoxyethylene Ether is valued for its outstanding solubility, stability, and versatility across many industries.

• Solubility: It dissolves readily in water and various organic solvents.
• Foaming: Produces moderate foam that rinses easily and leaves minimal residue, which is ideal for mild detergents.
• Chemical Stability: Maintains excellent performance in acidic, alkaline, and hard-water conditions, ensuring consistent effectiveness.
• Emulsifying and Wetting Ability: It creates stable oil–water emulsions and enhances the wetting and penetration of other components into substrates.
• Biodegradability: As a non-ionic surfactant derived from fatty alcohols, it is environmentally friendly and biodegradable.

These properties make AEO-type surfactants reliable for cleaning, emulsifying, and stabilizing a wide range of formulations in both industrial and consumer applications.

How Fatty Alcohol Polyoxyethylene Ether is Produced

Fatty Alcohol Polyoxyethylene Ether is synthesized through a catalytic ethoxylation process, in which ethylene oxide reacts with natural or synthetic fatty alcohols (such as lauryl, cetyl, or stearyl alcohol). The reaction is carried out under controlled temperature and pressure with an alkaline catalyst like sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.

By controlling the amount of ethylene oxide added, manufacturers can tailor the EO chain length and thus adjust the product’s hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (HLB). Shorter EO chains result in more lipophilic (oil-loving) products suitable for emulsifying oils, while longer EO chains make the surfactant more hydrophilic (water-loving), ideal for aqueous formulations.

Common Types and Classifications

The Fatty Alcohol Polyoxyethylene Ether family includes multiple emulsifier grades designed for different performance needs:

• Emulsifier AEO: A general-purpose nonionic surfactant widely used for its powerful emulsifying, dispersing, and cleaning abilities in detergents, textiles, and industrial cleaners.
• Emulsifier E1300: Provides excellent emulsification and stability, commonly applied in cosmetics, pigments, and emulsion systems requiring long-term consistency.
• Emulsifier E1000: Known for strong detergency and low foaming characteristics, suitable for household and industrial cleaning products.
• Emulsifier O: Performs as a versatile wetting and dispersing agent, especially in agrochemical formulations, coatings, and textile auxiliaries.
• Emulsifier LAE: Offers superior biodegradability and mildness, making it ideal for personal care and cosmetic formulations that require gentle, skin-friendly performance.

Each emulsifier type differs in EO content and molecular structure, providing flexibility for specific formulation goals.

Applications of Fatty Alcohol Polyoxyethylene Ether

Fatty Alcohol Polyoxyethylene Ether has a broad spectrum of industrial and consumer applications due to its stable performance and excellent surface activity:

• Textile Industry: Used as a scouring agent, desizing agent, dyeing auxiliary, and finishing penetrant, it effectively removes oil and sizing residues from fibers and enhances dye uptake uniformity.
• Household Chemicals: Acts as a primary detergent ingredient in washing powders, shampoos, and shower gels, offering mild, non-irritating cleansing properties.
• Metalworking and Cutting Fluids: Functions as an emulsifier and wetting agent, ensuring stable oil–water mixtures and enhancing lubrication performance.
• Emulsion Polymerization: Serves as an emulsifier and dispersant to help produce polymer emulsions with uniform particle size and stable dispersion.

Thanks to its balanced performance, Fatty Alcohol Polyoxyethylene Ether remains one of the most versatile nonionic surfactants across multiple industries.

Conclusion

Fatty Alcohol Polyoxyethylene Ether (AEO) stands out as a multi-functional, biodegradable, and highly efficient nonionic surfactant. From household detergents to textile auxiliaries and polymer emulsions, it delivers outstanding emulsification, stability, and compatibility with various systems. Its customizable EO chain length allows precise control of hydrophilic–lipophilic balance, making it adaptable to numerous industrial requirements. With growing emphasis on sustainability and safety, Fatty Alcohol Polyoxyethylene Ether continues to play a vital role in developing modern, eco-friendly formulations.