Surfaxor™ Fatty Alcohol Ethoxylates
Composed of different chemical alcohol structures with variations in alkyl chain length and alkyl branching
Surfoxor™ Fatty Alcohol Ethoxylates
Surfoxor™ as Alternatives for Nonylphenol Ethoxylates
Surfoxor™ alcohol ethoxylates are based on synthetic or natural fatty alcohols. Synthetic alcohols used for ethoxylation are available from hydroformylation leading to oxoalcohols or from the oligomerization of ethylene with Ziegler catalysts. Natural fatty alcohols are produced by reduction of fatty acids.
Surfoxor™ alcohol ethoxylates are a class of nonionic surfactants that contain a hydrophobic alkyl chain attached via an ether linkage to a hydrophilic ethylene oxide (EO) chain and have the general structure R(OCH2CH2)nOH. The alkyl chain, R, can vary in length and in the degree of linearity, but is typically between 8 and 18 carbons long (for detergent range surfactants). The EO chain can also vary in length from 1 to 40 EO units.
DOSAS' Portfolio of Alcohols & Ethoxylates
Pick the Best Surfactant
The Surfoxor™ specifications listed in the below table are a selection from a variety of other potential DOSAS NPE alternatives.
If you need more detailed information on the product properties and the applications, our sales representatives will put you in touch with our technical service team.
| Moles EO | HLB | Average MW (g/mol) | Wetting Value (s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 6.2 - 8.5 | 283 - 354 | > 300 |
| 6 | 10.3 - 11.4 | 400 - 489 | 11 - 42 |
| 9 | 12.7 - 13.3 | 480 - 621 | 16 - 19 |
| 12 | 13.5 - 14.5 | 550 - 750 | 26 - 43 |
Alkyl Chain Lengths
- Longer alkyl chains increase melting point and reduce wetting performance.
- Shorter and longer than C12-C13 chains produce less foam.
- Higher emulsifying efficienc with longer chains but may form viscous gel phases.
- Longer chains have a milder odor than shorter ones.
Alkyl Chain Structure
- Branching lowers melting point and improves wetting performance.
- Branched chains produce less foam than straight chains.
- Straight chains offer higher emulsifying efficiency due to longer effective chain length.
- Linear chains are more likely to form gel phases if not properly formulated.
- Increased branching slightly slows biodegradation.
Polyoxyethylene Chain Length
- Polyoxyethylene chain length adjusts alcohol ethoxylate properties.
- Oil-soluble, water-in-oil emulsifiers with no foaming in water.
- Highest surface activity and wetting performance, suitable for various applications.
- Increased water solubility, good dispersing properties, and oil-in-water emulsifiers for hydrophilic oils.
Get in Touch with an Expert | Surfoxor™ Alcohol Ethoxylate
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