Alcohol ethoxylates, which are produced via the ring-opening oligomerization of ethylene oxide via a fatty alcohol initiator, are a special class of nonionic surfactants that are commonly used in a variety of industrial and commercial applications.  Uses of such alcohol ethoxylates can varying depending on the sourcing of the fatty alcohol itself, as the structure […]

When choosing a surfactant for a particular use, it is imperative to understand how a surfactant’s molecular structure governs its physical and application properties. As all surfactants contain a hydrophilic ‘head’ that is covalently bound to a hydrophobic ‘tail’, one can envision the endless possibilities of physical attributes by combining these two critical components of […]

Corrosion is the process in which a refined metal reacts with its environment, resulting in a gradual degradation and destruction of the original metal substrate. An everyday example of corrosion exists on the rusty gears of a bicycle that has been left outside. Rust, which is the most familiar example of corrosion, is a consequence […]

What is Sodium Isethionate? Sodium isethionate is the organic salt isethionic acid (C2H6O4S), which is an organosulfur compound that has many uses throughout the home and personal care industries. Isethionic acid was originally discovered in 1833 upon reacting solid sulphur trioxide with ethanol, which can then be neutralized to form the sodium salt. Since the […]

Alcohol ethoxylates are a class of compounds that are commonly used throughout many industrial practices and commercial markets.  These compounds are synthesized via the reaction of a fatty alcohol and ethylene oxide, resulting in a molecule that consists of two main components, (1) the oleophilic, carbon-rich, fatty alcohol and (2) the hydrophilic, polyoxyethylene chain. Due […]