Poloxamine

Poloxamine (CAS 110617-70-4) is a tetrafunctional block copolymer surfactant built on an ethylenediamine core with polyethylene oxide–polypropylene oxide arms. Individual grades such as Tetronic 304 and Poloxamine 1107 differ in molecular weight and hydrophilic–lipophilic balance.

Grade selection is a critical procurement decision for this material. It functions as a non-ionic surfactant for emulsification, wetting, and surface modification across multiple industrial sectors and specialized manufacturing processes.

In pharmaceutical formulations, specific grades are used to stabilize drug suspensions and improve wetting of poorly soluble actives. It is also utilized to modify surface properties of nanoparticles or advanced drug delivery systems.

Personal care manufacturers incorporate it into skin creams, cleansers, and conditioning products. These applications rely on the material for controlled emulsification and consistent moisturizing performance in high-end cosmetic formulations.

In industrial and household cleaning formulations, it delivers low-foam wetting and soil dispersion across a range of pH conditions. Agricultural formulations use it as a dispersant and wetting agent in pesticide and herbicide concentrates.

These agricultural applications help to improve spray coverage and active ingredient uptake on various crops. Poloxamine is supplied as a liquid or solid depending on the specific grade, with higher molecular weight variants available as waxy solids.

Grades are differentiated by their polyoxypropylene–polyoxyethylene ratio, and buyers should specify the target grade by name. Pharmaceutical-grade material is available to USP and Ph. Eur. standards for select grades.

Technical-grade supply remains the standard for most industrial applications. The material is valued for its versatility and stability in complex chemical environments, making it a staple for global chemical procurement teams.