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Ten nonionic emulsifier grades
Sorbitan esters, polysorbates and polyethylene glycol esters spanning HLB 4.3 to 15.0 — the full W/O to O/W range from a single manufacturer.
Grade comparison
Sorted by HLB, lipophilic first. Click a grade for the full specification, solubility profile and application list.
| Grade | Chemistry | CAS | HLB | Type | Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPAN 80 | Sorbitan Monooleate — grade VS-201A | 1338-43-8 | 4.3 | W/O | Amber viscous oily liquid |
| Compound Emulsifier VS-201B / VS-201C | Compound emulsifier for W/O emulsion explosives | Blend | ≈ 4 – 5 | W/O | Brown viscous oily substance |
| SPAN 60 | Sorbitan Stearate | 1338-41-6 | 4.7 | W/O | Slightly yellow waxy solid |
| PEG 400 DO | Polyethylene Glycol (400) Dioleate | 9005-07-6 | 7 – 8 | W/O | Pale yellow liquid |
| PEG 600 DO | Polyethylene Glycol (600) Dioleate | 9005-07-6 | 10 – 11 | O/W | Pale yellow liquid |
| PEG 400 DL | Polyethylene Glycol (400) Dilaurate | 9005-02-1 | 10.5 | O/W | Colourless to light yellow liquid |
| PEG 400 MO | Polyethylene Glycol (400) Monooleate | 9004-96-0 | 11 – 12 | O/W | Pale yellow liquid |
| PEG 400 ML | Polyethylene Glycol (400) Monolaurate | 9004-81-3 | 13 | O/W | Colourless to light yellow liquid |
| PEG 600 MO | Polyethylene Glycol (600) Monooleate | 9004-96-0 | 13 – 14 | O/W | Pale yellow liquid |
| Tween 80 | Polyoxyethylene (20) Sorbitan Monooleate | 9005-65-6 | 15.0 | O/W | Light yellow to amber oily liquid |
HLB value, viscosity, acid value and solubility can be adjusted to a formulation's requirements. Some indicators can be modified at customer request.
Grades in detail
Tween 80
The high-HLB reference point of the range. Water-soluble, alcohol-soluble, and the standard O/W emulsifier where a single high-HLB nonionic has to do the emulsifying, wetting, foaming and dispersing at once.
O/W emulsifier · Light yellow to amber oily liquid
CAS 1338-43-8 · HLB 4.3SPAN 80
Our highest-volume grade and the core W/O emulsifier for emulsion explosives. Strongly lipophilic, stable at the ammonium-nitrate interface, and the same chemistry that serves invert drilling mud and agrochemical EC.
W/O emulsifier · Amber viscous oily liquid
CAS Blend · HLB ≈ 4 – 5Compound Emulsifier VS-201B / VS-201C
A formulated blend rather than a single ester — built for emulsion explosive plants that want a drop-in emulsifier with a wider processing window than straight SPAN 80. Two types: B for higher saponification, C for low acid value.
W/O emulsifier · Brown viscous oily substance
CAS 9004-96-0 · HLB 11 – 12PEG 400 MO
Mid-HLB PEG oleate. Where a metalworking fluid needs emulsification and lubricity from the same component, this is usually the first grade to screen. Biodegradable.
O/W emulsifier · Pale yellow liquid
CAS 9005-07-6 · HLB 7 – 8PEG 400 DO
The diester sits well below its monoester counterpart on HLB, which makes it the W/O and kerosene-emulsifier member of the PEG 400 pair. Biodegradable.
W/O emulsifier · Pale yellow liquid
CAS 9004-96-0 · HLB 13 – 14PEG 600 MO
Longer PEG chain than the 400 MO, so it is fully water-soluble and pushes toward the detergent end — good detergency alongside emulsifying and lubricating performance.
O/W emulsifier · Pale yellow liquid
CAS 9005-07-6 · HLB 10 – 11PEG 600 DO
Water-soluble diester holding a mid-range HLB. The grade that turns up in water-soluble coatings and in printed-circuit-board acid baths as well as in pesticide emulsification.
O/W emulsifier · Pale yellow liquid
CAS 9004-81-3 · HLB 13PEG 400 ML
Laurate rather than oleate — shorter, more compact chain, which shows up as better wetting and particle dispersion. The cosmetic-side grade of the PEG 400 family.
O/W emulsifier · Colourless to light yellow liquid
CAS 9005-02-1 · HLB 10.5PEG 400 DL
A multi-role dilaurate: wetting and emulsifying in synthetic fibre oils, thickening in solution, defoaming in detergents. Antistatic, soft and smooth on fibre.
O/W emulsifier · Colourless to light yellow liquid
CAS 1338-41-6 · HLB 4.7SPAN 60
The solid member of the sorbitan family. Waxy at room temperature, disperses readily in hot water, and brings stabilising and defoaming behaviour on top of W/O emulsification.
W/O emulsifier · Slightly yellow waxy solid
Packaging
25 kg or 200 kg drums. Custom packaging and tank-truck transport available on request.
Storage & transport
Non-flammable and non-explosive; shipped as general non-hazardous goods. Store in a dry, cool, well-ventilated area.