PPG-5-Laureth-4 is the name used in the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) for a non-ionic surfactant. The surfactant originates from the group of organic compounds, alcoxylated fatty alcohols, also referred to as alkyl polyoxyethers. It is a family of chemical substances obtained during the ethoxylation and propoxylation of fatty alcohols. The reactants in that reaction are higher fatty alcohols, mostly of petrochemical and oleochemical origin, as well as ethylene oxide. The global CAS number for PPG-5-Laureth-4 is 68439-51-0.
In room conditions, PPG-5-Laureth-4 is a clear or slightly cloudy liquid with a bright yellowish colour. It features a relatively low freezing point of around -12oC as well as cloud points in appropriate solutions characteristic of surfactants. In a solvent such as water, at around 25oC PPG-5-Laureth-4 shows its cloud point, that is the temperature at which it starts to crystallize. During that process, a transparent solution undergoes phase separation and forms a stable sol or suspension that collects sediment, producing a solution that resembles a colloid. For a 10% butyldiglycol solution, PPG-5-Laureth-4 shows its cloud point at 48oC. As the temperatures that cause phase separation are relatively low, we can use the whole range of advantages of that substance without having to apply extremely high temperatures. PPG-5-Laureth-4 is active already at room (or slightly higher) temperature. This chemical compound shows excellent detergent capabilities, which can be used both for household chemicals and for professional cleaning, since it has a low foam production capacity, which is desirable in the cleaning industry. It combines strong dirt removal properties (which can even be compared to strong detergents such as lauryl alcohol ethoxylates) with the beneficial low foam production (being several times lower than that of the detergents) and the ability to control foaming. In addition, it has excellent wetting properties, which are useful in detergents. These properties make PPG-5-Laureth-4 the most versatile, strong and low-foaming surfactant available on the market. Its foaming properties diminish even more on exceeding the cloud point in water, which is without a doubt another asset of that substance. Besides, PPG-5-Laureth-4 shows a low tendency to produce gels in concentrated water solutions.
PPG-5-Laureth-4 has various and multi-directional applications in the industry. It serves as a wetting agent and an auxiliary, which is used, for example, in textile industry during the bleaching of fabrics, where it has a favourable effect on the capillarity of bleaching formulations. In addition, the dirt caused by the initial textile processes, for instance oil patches, is easily removed by PPG-5-Laureth-4. That chemical compound is equally popular in chemical, professional agents designed for dishwashers, since it combines excellent wetting properties with a low cloud point for a surfactant. Furthermore, PPG-5-Laureth-4 reduces the wetting angle on hard surfaces, which results in such positive features of dishwashing agents as faster drying and the prevention of stains. In cosmetic formulations, PPG-5-Laureth-4 is widely used as a solubilizer. This is an application where the surfactant is capable of introducing substances insoluble or sparingly soluble in water to the water solution. This is desirable in the ingredients of such formulations as shower gels, aromatic compositions or hair styling preparations. Additionally, it is an emulsifier that facilitates bonding between water and oils, which is also useful in cosmetics such as creams or balsams. PPG-5-Laureth-4 is also applied in agrochemicals as an ingredient of pesticides and fluid fertilizers.
