What is poloxamer and what is it used for?
Poloxamer (ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymer, CAS 9003-11-6) is a tunable nonionic surfactant whose behavior is set by its hydrophilic-to-hydrophobic block ratio. It is used as a surfactant, wetting and dispersing agent, defoamer and nonionic emulsifier across industrial and personal-care systems.
POLOXAMER 407- ▸ Wetting agent: Lowers surface tension in aqueous systems.
- ▸ Dispersant: Stabilizes particulate dispersions.
- ▸ Defoamer: Foam control in process streams.
- ▸ Emulsifier: Nonionic emulsification of oil-water systems.
A grade-specific Safety Data Sheet (SDS) — with the complete hazard classification, handling precautions, and transport information — is supplied with every shipment and available on request. Confirm all safety and regulatory details against the SDS for your specific grade.
Request SDS →Poloxamer (polyethylene–polypropylene glycol block copolymer; CAS 9003-11-6) is a nonionic surfactant built from a central hydrophobic polypropylene-oxide block flanked by two hydrophilic polyethylene-oxide blocks. Varying the block sizes tunes its hydrophilic/lipophilic balance, so the poloxamer family spans low-foam wetting agents, emulsifiers, solubilizers and dispersants for personal-care, pharmaceutical, cleaning and industrial use.
What is a poloxamer?
A poloxamer is an A–B–A tri-block copolymer: EO–PO–EO. The PO core is oil-loving and the EO arms are water-loving, and because the two block lengths can be set independently, grades range from liquids to waxy solids with widely different HLB. That tunability is why poloxamers serve as wetting agents, low-foam/defoaming surfactants, emulsifiers, solubilizers and dispersants.
Applications by sector
Personal care. Mild surfactant, solubilizer for fragrance and oils, and a foam/cleansing aid in rinses, gels and toothpastes. Pharmaceutical. A solubilizer, emulsifier and wetting agent in oral, topical and other dosage forms. Household & industrial cleaning. A low-foam wetting agent and detergent for CIP, bottle-wash and hard-surface cleaners. Industrial. A wetting, dispersing and defoaming additive in metalworking, agriculture and process fluids. Choose the grade by EO/PO ratio for the HLB and foam profile you need.
Forms and grades
Supplied as liquids, pastes or solid flakes depending on the grade; specify the poloxamer grade (EO/PO ratio) or the performance you need on the RFQ. The CoA documents the lot.
Handling and documentation
Each lot ships with a Certificate of Analysis (CoA); request the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for handling data.
Bulk supply and RFQ
RawSource supplies poloxamer block copolymers in bulk to personal-care, pharmaceutical, cleaning and industrial buyers, with CoA and SDS per lot. Submit an RFQ with the grade or performance and your target quantity.
Typical Properties
Typical reference values, not a specification; the Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for the lot governs.
| Property | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Chemical Name | Poloxamer (EO/PO/EO block copolymer) |
| CAS Number | 9003-11-6 |
| Chemical type | Nonionic tri-block copolymer (polyethylene–polypropylene glycol) |
| Appearance | Liquid, paste or solid flake (grade-dependent) |
| Solubility | Water-soluble (grade-dependent) |
| Function | Wetting, low-foam surfactant, emulsifier, solubilizer, dispersant |
| Grades | Selected by EO/PO ratio (HLB) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is poloxamer used for?
Poloxamer (EO/PO block copolymer, CAS 9003-11-6) is a nonionic surfactant used as a wetting agent, low-foam detergent, emulsifier, solubilizer and dispersant in personal care, pharmaceuticals, household and industrial cleaning, and process fluids.
How do poloxamer grades differ?
Grades differ in the size of the hydrophobic PO block and the hydrophilic EO blocks, which sets the HLB, physical form (liquid to solid) and foam profile. Choose the grade by the EO/PO ratio for your application.
Is poloxamer high or low foaming?
Many poloxamers are low-foaming, which is why they are used as wetting agents and detergents in CIP and bottle-wash systems where low foam matters; specific foam behavior depends on the grade.
What is the CAS of poloxamer?
The poloxamer block-copolymer family is CAS 9003-11-6. As a copolymer it is supplied by grade; the CoA documents each lot.
How is bulk poloxamer supplied and quoted?
RawSource supplies it as liquid, paste or flake in bulk with CoA and SDS per lot. Pricing is quote-based on grade and volume; submit an RFQ with your target quantity.
Disclaimer. Information on this page — including chemical properties, identifiers, hazard, transport (DOT/UN) and tariff (HS) classifications, and applications — is provided for general reference and is compiled from authoritative public sources (e.g. PubChem). Values are typical and are not a guaranteed specification; the Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for the lot you purchase governs. Products are sold for industrial and professional use only. Nothing here is a medical, health, or efficacy claim, or advice. Always consult the current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before handling, storage, transport or disposal, and confirm regulatory status, classification and suitability for your application and jurisdiction. Hazard, transport and tariff classifications must be verified for your specific shipment. RawSource makes no warranty, express or implied, and assumes no liability for use of this information.