Polyethylene glycol tetradecyl ether

Polyethylene glycol tetradecyl ether (CAS 27306-79-2), commercially recognized as Myreth, is a nonionic surfactant produced by ethoxylating tetradecyl alcohol. It functions as an emulsifier, wetting agent, and detergent across personal care, cleaning, and industrial processing applications.

In cosmetic formulations, Myreth grades are used to stabilize oil-in-water emulsions in lotions, creams, and conditioning products. The ethoxylation degree is carefully selected to match the required HLB value for specific stability needs.

Household and industrial cleaners rely on this chemical to reduce surface tension and improve soil removal from hard surfaces and fabrics. It is highly effective in removing grease and organic residues in various cleaning environments.

Textile processors apply it as a wetting and scouring agent to ensure uniform dye penetration and fiber preparation. This ensures that the final textile products maintain consistent color and quality throughout the manufacturing cycle.

In leather and paper manufacturing, it supports surface modification and dispersing functions during wet processing stages. These applications benefit from the surfactant's ability to manage interface interactions between different materials.

Polyethylene glycol tetradecyl ether is supplied as a liquid or paste, depending on the degree of ethoxylation. Lower EO variants tend toward waxy solids while higher EO grades remain fluid at ambient temperature.

Common commercial grades are differentiated by the number of ethylene oxide units, typically ranging from Myreth-3 to Myreth-10. The EO count is always specified in the technical product documentation for precise formulation.

Both cosmetic-grade and technical-grade material are available to meet personal care and industrial sourcing requirements. This versatility makes it a staple ingredient for manufacturers seeking reliable surfactant performance.