Laureth-10

Alcohols, C12-14, ethoxylated

Shampoos, creams, colour cosmetics, detergents and formulations used in the textile industry are examples of the applications of Laureth-10. It is a surfactant with very good emulsifying, detergent and dispersing properties. Laureth-10 has a number of unique advantages that make it a popular choice among industrial formulators.

Properties of Laureth-10

Laureth-10 is a non-ionic surfactant. It belongs to the group of ethoxylated fatty alcohols. It is a synthetic raw material (polymer), despite the fact that it is a derivative of a fatty alcohol found in the natural environment. Laureth-10 is the name in the INCI nomenclature.  The number ten indicates the number of ethylene oxide moieties attached to the Laureth-10 molecule. The CAS number of the compound is 68439-50-9.

Physical and chemical properties of Laureth-10:

• a paste at room temperature,
• colour in the Hazen scale: maximum 70 (at 40ᵒC),
• very good solubility in water, low aliphatic alcohols (methanol, ethanol), acetone and benzene,
• stable at a low pH,
• molar mass: approx. 640 g/mol,
• density at 30ᵒC: 0.98 to 1.00 g/ml,
• solidification point: approx. 30ᵒC
• hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB): 14.1
• relatively high hydrophilicity,
• resistant to hard water and partially to alkalis,
• compatible with non-ionic, cationic and anionic surfactants.

Applications in cosmetic products

Laureth-10 in cosmetics acts as an O/W (oil-in-water) emulsifier. This surfactant is a foaming agent. The formed foam plays a significant role in the mechanism of removing dirt and impurities from the cleaned surface. Foaming is especially important in products such as shower gels or make-up removers. Laureth-10 also acts as a modifier of rheologic properties — by changing the viscosity of the product, it affects its consistency and so it is possible to achieve the proper performance and application functions. Due to this, Laureth-10 is considered a consistency-forming component in products such as body lotions, lotions and creams. The detergent and cleansing properties of Laureth-10 make it an essential ingredient of all cosmetic preparations for the cleansing of hair and skin. In the cosmetic industry, Laureth-10 is used in the production of colour cosmetics, hair shampoos, scrubs and shaving foams.

Non-cosmetic use of Laureth-10

Despite the fact that Laureth-10 is successfully used in a number of cosmetics, due to its wide range of properties, it is also willingly chosen by formulators from other industries.

Excellent detergent and emulsifying properties make it the basic surfactant used in the production of liquid and powder detergents for both domestic and industrial use. Moreover, its high cloud point value in water makes it suitable for applications requiring high temperatures. Laureth-10 can be found in products such as dishwashing liquids, hand cleansers and flat surface cleansers.

Laureth-10 can be used in the pre-treatment of fibres. The compound is used in the textile industry as a component of formulations used to remove oil stains (from mineral oils) formed on fabrics and knitted fabrics during industrial weaving processes. Laureth-10 has also the ability to wet cotton fabric. It is also used during the final stages of weaving to dye textiles (remove excess dyes from the bath).