Sodium sulfosuccinate (which is a common name for Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate) is a surfactant featuring very good emulsifying, wetting and dispersing properties. It is an ingredient of a number of cosmetic formulations. It is also used in the chemical, plastics, construction and textile industries.
Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate is the INCI name for di(2-ethylhexyl) sulfoccinate sodium salt. Other valid chemical names of this compound are sodium salt of di(2-ethylhexyl) alcohol ester and sulfosuccinic acid or docusate sodium. The CAS number of Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate is 577-11-7. In products, the compound primarily acts as an emulsifier, wetting agent and dispersing substance.
Physical and chemical properties of Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate:
The main functions of Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate in products:
Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate is an ingredient added for example to cosmetic formulations to provide several basic functions. First of all, as an emulsifier, it facilitates the generation of an emulsion, i.e. helps to combine the particles of two immiscible phases. It is essential as appropriate emulsifiers are required to obtain a product of the desired quality. A vast majority of cosmetics as well as compositions of ingredients with industrial applications, come as emulsions. In those products, Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate acts as what is known as hydrotrope, i.e. a substance added to improve the clarity. The compound also enhances the generation of stable foam – it is a foaming substance. It improves the quality of foam in a mixture with non-ionic surfactants. Due to its foaming properties, Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate is a very good washing substance. It effectively removes impurities from the skin and hair surface, while remaining extremely gentle for the skin and mucous membranes. As a surfactant, Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate increases the water solubility of some substances.
Due to its molecular structure, Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate effectively lowers the interfacial tension. It facilitates the contact of a liquid with the surface to be wetted. A low concentration of the compound is sufficient to effectively lower the surface tension. The wetting effect of Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate is used mainly in the textile industry. The compound boosts the effectiveness of detergents used e.g. in fibre washing processes. As a wetting agent, it is also used in paints, adhesives or varnishes.
As a dispersant, Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate is used to disperse pigments in printer inks. Besides dispersing them in the dispersion medium, it improves their penetration. The plastics industry also uses Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate as an additive for dispersing dyes in processing masses.
The use of Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate in plant protection products provides for their proper wetting and increases the rate of pesticide absorption in plants.
In the construction industry, it acts as a wetting agent for cement grains and is also used in anti-adhesive additives, which prevent concrete from sticking to the mould, thus facilitating separation.
Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate is a popular ingredient of products such as:
