- Alcohol ethoxylates (AEO, fatty alcohol ethoxylates) are nonionic surfactants made by adding ethylene oxide (EO) to a fatty alcohol.
- Two dials set the performance: the alcohol chain length (C9–11, C12–14, C16–18) and the number of EO moles — together they fix the HLB, cloud point and solubility.
- Low-EO grades are oil-soluble emulsifiers and wetting agents; high-EO grades are water-soluble detergents and solubilizers.
Alcohol ethoxylates are the most widely used nonionic surfactants in industrial and household cleaning, emulsification and wetting. Because they carry no charge, they tolerate hard water and electrolytes, foam less than anionics, and can be dialed precisely to a target HLB. RawSource supplies fatty alcohol ethoxylates across chain lengths and degrees of ethoxylation — laureths, C9–11 and C12–13 pareths, and cetyl/stearyl ethoxylates.
What are alcohol ethoxylates?
An alcohol ethoxylate is a fatty alcohol (the hydrophobe) reacted with ethylene oxide to attach a chain of repeating ethylene-oxide units (the hydrophile). The general structure is R–O–(CH₂CH₂O)ₙ–H, where R is the alcohol chain and n is the average number of EO moles. Because the molecule is nonionic, it is stable across a wide pH range, compatible with anionic and cationic systems, and relatively insensitive to water hardness.
How to select: chain length, EO moles and HLB
Two variables determine behavior:
- Alcohol chain length. Shorter chains (C9–11) wet and penetrate fast; mid chains (C12–14, lauryl) balance detergency and solubility; longer chains (C16–18, cetyl/stearyl) build emulsion stability and emolliency.
- Degree of ethoxylation (EO moles). More EO raises water solubility, cloud point and HLB. Low EO (≈2–4) gives oil-soluble, low-HLB emulsifiers for water-in-oil systems; high EO (≈9–23) gives water-soluble, high-HLB detergents, oil-in-water emulsifiers and solubilizers.
| EO range | Character | Typical job |
|---|---|---|
| Low (~2–4 EO) | Oil-soluble, low HLB | W/O emulsifiers, wetting, defoaming, coupling |
| Mid (~6–9 EO) | Balanced | Detergency, degreasing, all-purpose cleaners |
| High (~12–23 EO) | Water-soluble, high HLB | O/W emulsifiers, solubilizers, dispersants |
Alcohol ethoxylates we supply
A range across chain length and EO mole so you can match HLB to your formulation. Confirm active content, EO mole and form on the purchase order.
Where alcohol ethoxylates are used
Frequently asked questions
What is an alcohol ethoxylate?
It is a nonionic surfactant made by reacting a fatty alcohol with ethylene oxide, giving the structure R–O–(CH₂CH₂O)ₙ–H. The fatty alcohol is the oil-loving part and the ethylene-oxide chain is the water-loving part. Because it carries no charge, an alcohol ethoxylate is hard-water tolerant, low-foaming relative to anionics, and compatible with most other surfactants.
How do chain length and EO moles change performance?
Shorter alcohol chains (C9–11) wet and penetrate quickly; longer chains (C16–18) build emulsion stability. More ethylene-oxide moles raise water solubility, cloud point and HLB — low-EO grades are oil-soluble W/O emulsifiers, while high-EO grades are water-soluble detergents and O/W emulsifiers.
What is HLB and how do I use it to choose a grade?
HLB (hydrophilic-lipophilic balance) summarizes a surfactant’s water- vs oil-affinity on a 0–20 scale. Match the surfactant HLB to the required HLB of your oil phase: roughly 4–8 for water-in-oil emulsions, 8–18 for oil-in-water emulsions and detergency. Within an alcohol-ethoxylate series, HLB rises with EO mole.
Are alcohol ethoxylates compatible with other surfactants?
Yes. Being nonionic, they blend with anionic, cationic and amphoteric surfactants and are commonly used to boost detergency, control foam and improve electrolyte and hard-water tolerance in surfactant systems.
How are alcohol ethoxylates supplied and quoted?
They are supplied as liquids or pastes specified by alcohol chain length, average EO mole, active content and form. Send your target chain length/EO (or the performance you need) and volume for a quote; the Certificate of Analysis governs the delivered specification.
Disclaimer
Information on this page is provided for general reference and compiled from authoritative public sources. Values are typical and are not a guaranteed specification; the Certificate of Analysis for the lot you purchase governs. Products are sold for industrial and professional use only. Nothing here is a medical, health, or efficacy claim. Always consult the current Safety Data Sheet before handling, and confirm regulatory status, classification and suitability for your application and jurisdiction.
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