Items | Specifications | Results |
Appearance | Milky white paste to pale yellow liquid | Milky white paste |
Acid Value(KOH mg/g) | ≤2.0 | 0.39 |
Saponification Value(KOH mg/g) | 45～69 | 53.6 |
Hydroxyl Value(KOH mg/g) | 57～80 | 64.4 |
Water(%) | ≤3.0 | 1.13 |
Ash content (%) | ≤0.3 | Pass. |
Heavy metal(ppm) | ≤10 | Pass. |
Conclusion | The product conforms to the Enterprise Standard. |
Ethoxylated Hydrogenated Castor Oil is a non-ionic surfactant and emulsifier derived from castor bean oil through a two-step chemical process. It is a versatile ingredient known for its excellent solubilizing, emulsifying, and conditioning properties.
Its name breaks down its production process:
Hydrogenated Castor Oil: First, castor oil undergoes hydrogenation. This process saturates the double bonds in the fatty acid chains, converting the liquid oil into a hard, waxy solid. This step improves its oxidative stability (reduces rancidity) and changes its melting point.
Ethoxylated: The hydrogenated castor oil then undergoes ethoxylation. It is reacted with ethylene oxide, which adds polyoxyethylene (PEG) chains to the molecule. The number of ethylene oxide units (e.g., PEG-40, PEG-60) determines the compound's water-solubility and specific properties.
Key Properties
Appearance: Typically a white to off-white, soft paste, wax, or solid flake.
Solubility: Soluble in water, alcohol, and various organic solvents. Its water solubility increases with a higher degree of ethoxylation.
Function: Primarily acts as a surfactant (lowers surface tension), emulsifier (stabilizes oil and water mixtures), solubilizer (helps dissolve oils in water), and emollient (conditions skin and hair).
HLB Value: Its Hydrophile-Lipophile Balance (HLB) value can be modified by changing the ethoxylation degree, making it suitable for formulating both water-in-oil (W/O) and oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions.
Primary Applications and Uses
This ingredient is a workhorse in industries where combining oil and water is essential.
1. Cosmetics and Personal Care (Most Common Use)
It is a extremely common and multifunctional ingredient in a vast array of products:
Solubilizer: Its primary role is to solubilize fragrances, essential oils, and silicone oils into clear water-based products like:
Clear shampoos and conditioners
Facial toners and micellar waters
Leave-in conditioners and serums
Emulsifier: Helps create stable, creamy emulsions in:
Lotions and creams
Sunscreen formulations
Makeup (foundations, lipsticks)
Conditioning Agent: Adds slip, lubricity, and softness to hair and skin without a greasy feel.
2. Pharmaceuticals
Used in topical formulations as an emulsifier and solubilizer for ointments, creams, and lotions.
3. Industrial Applications
Acts as an emulsifier, lubricant, and anti-static agent in:
Why is it so widely used?
Multifunctional: One ingredient can perform several roles (emulsifier, solubilizer, conditioner), simplifying formulations.
Efficient: Excellent at solubilizing tricky ingredients like fragrances and silicones into clear solutions.
Skin Feel: Imparts a rich, lubricious, and non-greasy feel to products.
Flexible: By varying the degree of ethoxylation, chemists can "customize" it for a specific application (e.g., PEG-40 for solubilizing, PEG-60 for a thicker emulsion).
In summary, ethoxylated hydrogenated castor oil is a highly versatile, modified natural derivative that is crucial for creating stable, elegant, and effective formulations in cosmetics and beyond. You will often see it on ingredient lists (INCI) as PEG-[Number] Hydrogenated Castor Oil (e.g., PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil).
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