What is PEG-12 Dimethicone and what is it used for?
PEG-12 dimethicone (CAS 68937-54-2) is a silicone polyether that bridges silicone and water phases. It is used as a nonionic silicone emulsifier and wetting agent, emulsifying water and silicone phases and wetting surfaces and pigments, and to impart a conditioning silicone feel to hair and skin.
PEG-12 DIMETHICONE- ▸ Silicone emulsifier: Emulsifies water and silicone phases.
- ▸ Wetting agent: Wets surfaces and pigments in formulation.
- ▸ Conditioning: Imparts a hair- and skin-conditioning silicone feel.
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 →PEG-12 Dimethicone (CAS 68937-54-2) is a polyether-modified, water-dispersible silicone — a dimethicone backbone grafted with polyethylene-glycol (PEG) chains. The PEG groups make this silicone compatible with water, so it acts as a silicone surfactant, emulsifier, wetting agent and conditioning agent that bridges silicone and aqueous phases. It is used across personal care and as a wetting/spreading additive in technical formulations.
What is PEG-12 dimethicone?
It is a dimethicone (PDMS) chain carrying PEG (ethylene-oxide) side chains — a silicone polyether copolymer. Plain dimethicone is water-insoluble; grafting hydrophilic PEG onto it produces a surface-active silicone that disperses in water and lowers surface tension, while retaining silicone slip and spreading. The “12” indicates the average degree of ethoxylation, which sets the hydrophilic/lipophilic balance.
Applications by sector
Personal care. PEG-12 dimethicone is a silicone emulsifier and wetting/conditioning agent used to emulsify or solubilize silicones into water-based skin and hair products, to give light slip and a smooth after-feel, and to improve spreading in cleansers, sprays, antiperspirants and color cosmetics. This describes formulation behavior — wetting, emulsification and feel — not a skin-health claim. Technical / I&I. The same surface-activity makes it a wetting, spreading and antifoam-compatible additive in cleaning and coating formulations. Match the grade to the HLB and performance your formula needs.
Forms and grades
Supplied as a fluid; confirm the active silicone content, the degree of ethoxylation and any carrier on the RFQ. Related silicone surfactants and conditioning silicones are part of the same line — see the bulk silicone supplier hub.
Handling and documentation
Each lot ships with a Certificate of Analysis (CoA); request the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for physical-property and handling data, which are sourced from the SDS rather than reproduced here.
Bulk supply and RFQ
RawSource supplies PEG-12 dimethicone in drums and totes from domestic US stock to personal-care and specialty formulators, with CoA and SDS per lot. Submit an RFQ with your target quantity and packaging. Related silicones: dimethicone, dimethiconol, phenyl trimethicone.
Typical Properties
Typical reference values, not a specification; the Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for the lot governs.
| Property | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| INCI Name | PEG-12 Dimethicone |
| CAS Number | 68937-54-2 |
| Chemical type | Polyether (PEG)-modified, water-dispersible polydimethylsiloxane |
| Appearance | Clear to hazy fluid |
| Solubility | Water-dispersible / water-soluble (PEG-modified) |
| Function | Silicone emulsifier, surfactant, wetting & conditioning agent |
| Flammability / handling | Refer to the current SDS |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PEG-12 dimethicone used for?
PEG-12 dimethicone (CAS 68937-54-2) is a water-dispersible silicone used as an emulsifier, surfactant, wetting agent and conditioning agent — mainly to emulsify silicones into water-based personal-care products and to give light slip and spreading; also as a wetting additive in technical formulations.
Is PEG-12 dimethicone water soluble?
Yes — unlike plain dimethicone, the grafted PEG chains make PEG-12 dimethicone water-dispersible/soluble, which is what lets it act as a silicone surfactant and emulsifier bridging silicone and water phases.
What does the “12” mean in PEG-12 dimethicone?
It denotes the average number of ethylene-oxide (PEG) units grafted to the dimethicone, which sets the hydrophilic/lipophilic balance and therefore the emulsifying behavior.
How does PEG-12 dimethicone differ from dimethicone?
Dimethicone is a water-insoluble silicone fluid; PEG-12 dimethicone is the same silicone backbone modified with hydrophilic PEG chains, making it water-dispersible and surface-active rather than a simple oil.
How is bulk PEG-12 dimethicone supplied and quoted?
RawSource supplies it in drums and totes from domestic US stock, with CoA and SDS per lot. Pricing is quote-based on grade, active content, volume and packaging; 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.