Polyethylene glycol decyl ether

Polyethylene glycol decyl ether (CAS 26183-52-8), also known commercially as 2-(Decyloxy)ethanol, is a nonionic surfactant and solvent used across personal care, textile, and industrial cleaning applications.

It functions as an emulsifier, foam modifier, and dispersing agent in formulated systems where controlled interfacial activity is required. In personal care formulations, it acts as an emulsifier and solubilizer.

It helps stabilize oil-in-water systems in both rinse-off and leave-on products. Textile and leather processors use it as a scouring and degreasing agent, removing oils and sizing agents from fiber surfaces.

This occurs during wet processing to ensure material quality. Industrial and institutional cleaning formulations incorporate it for its degreasing performance and compatibility with other surfactant blends.

It also functions as a foam-control additive in paper processing, where managing foam levels is critical to production efficiency. The material is supplied as a liquid, typically at technical or industrial grade.

Personal care-grade material is available where formulation purity requirements apply. Buyers should confirm ethylene oxide chain length and purity specifications directly with suppliers for their specific needs.

These parameters affect performance across end-use applications. Ensuring the correct grade and specification is essential for maintaining consistency in large-scale industrial and chemical manufacturing processes.