Lauryl Alcohol Ethoxylate
Lauryl alcohol ethoxylates are biodegradable nonionic
surfactants composed of ethylene oxide adduct of lauryl alcohol. Lauryl alcohol
ethoxylates, clear to yellowish liquid to waxy solids depending on alkyl chain
length and the number of ethoxy groups, are nonionic surfactants which contain
both hydrophobic tail portion (fatty alcohol part) and hydrophilic polar head
groups (ethoxy chain part), and are thus tend to dissolve in both aqueous and
oil phase and to reduce the surface tension of liquids. Ethylene oxide (also
called epoxyethane and oxirane) is the simplest cyclic ether or epoxide, with
the formula C2H4O; reactive material which is added to the base of alcohols (or
amines) to form ethoxylated surfactants. In general, with increase in the
ethylene oxide chain attached to the lauryl alcohol hydrophobe increases the
HLB value (water solubility), pour point, cloud point, density, viscosity, and
flash point of the ethoxylate. The Lauryl alcohol ethoxylates are designated by
the name LAE followed by a number indicating the average number of ethylene
oxide molecules added. LAE 2, LAE 3, LAE 5, LAE 7, LAE 8 are viscous liquids at
room temperature. LAE 10 is a white waxy solid. The higher EO adducts are available on
request.
I.C.C manufactures a wide range of
ethoxylates of lauryl alcohol.