Ethoxylated Castor Oil Supplier in Malaysia
- Also known as
- Castor Oil Ethoxylate
- PEG Castor Oil
- Polyoxyethylene Castor Oil
- Polyethoxylated Castor Oil
Ethoxylated castor oil is a non-ionic surfactant made by reacting castor oil with ethylene oxide, bought in Malaysia by agrochemical, textile, metalworking and personal-care formulators. It is also written castor oil ethoxylate, and INCI ingredient lists carry it as PEG castor oil with the mole count attached, for example PEG-25 or PEG-30 castor oil. Commercial material runs from a pale yellow viscous liquid to a soft paste.
Ethylene oxide level is the whole selection axis. Traded grades commonly sit between 20 and 60 moles, and as the mole count rises the material moves from oil compatible to freely water soluble, with the consistency thickening as it goes. Buyers therefore specify the EO number, or describe the oil phase and let the band be worked out.
Agrochemical formulators use it as the principal non-ionic emulsifier in emulsifiable concentrates, usually beside an anionic partner. Textile mills take it into scouring, dyeing and finishing baths, metalworking blenders into soluble and semi-synthetic fluids, and cosmetic formulators use the higher grades to solubilise fragrance and oil-soluble ingredients.
This page covers the non-hydrogenated ethoxylate. Material based on hydrogenated castor oil is a different family with its own page, and single-grade trade products are ordered under their own names. Send the mole count, application, quantity and delivery point with your enquiry and the commercial detail follows at the quotation stage.
- Appearance
- pale yellow viscous liquid to soft paste according to ethoxylation level
Ethoxylated Castor Oil grades and forms
We supply several forms to suit different formulating and dosing setups. If you need a size that is not listed, ask us.
| Grade | Form | Assay | Typical use | Packing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-EO ethoxylated castor oil, around 20 to 25 moles | pale yellow viscous liquid | — | Oil-phase and low-HLB duty in emulsifier blends, where the ethoxylate has to stay compatible with a solvent or oil carrier rather than dissolve fully in water. | Confirm the required drum, pail or IBC pack format with the quotation. |
| Mid-EO ethoxylated castor oil, around 30 to 36 moles | pale yellow viscous liquid | — | The band agrochemical formulators most often pair into emulsifiable concentrate systems, balanced between oil compatibility and water dispersibility. | Confirm the required drum, pail or IBC pack format with the quotation. |
| High-EO ethoxylated castor oil, around 40 to 50 moles | pale yellow viscous liquid to soft paste | — | Solubilising and wetting work in water-based systems, including textile auxiliaries and aqueous cleaning blends that need a readily water-soluble non-ionic surfactant. | Confirm the required drum, pail or IBC pack format with the quotation. |
| Very high-EO ethoxylated castor oil, around 54 to 60 moles | pale yellow soft paste | — | Selected at the top of the range where maximum water solubility and a high cloud point matter more than oil compatibility, and a paste consistency is acceptable in handling. | Confirm the required drum or pail pack format with the quotation. |
How to buy ethoxylated castor oil from ChemTrade
Request a quote for ethoxylated castor oil
Use the form below to request a quotation. You can also email sales@chemtrademalaysia.com or send us a message on WhatsApp.
Specifications
| Parameter | Value | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | pale yellow viscous liquid at lower ethoxylation, thickening towards a soft paste as the mole count rises | — |
| Ionic character | non-ionic surfactant | — |
| Chemistry | castor oil reacted with ethylene oxide; the ricinoleic triglyceride is not hydrogenated, which separates it from the hydrogenated ethoxylate family | — |
| Ethoxylation range traded | commonly 20 to 60 moles ethylene oxide, and the parameter that defines the grade | — |
| Water behaviour | dispersible at low ethoxylation and increasingly water soluble as the mole count rises; HLB and cloud point are grade dependent and confirmed against the grade quoted | — |
| Solvent solubility | soluble in ethanol and compatible with many organic solvents and oils | — |
Ethoxylated Castor Oil applications
Safety and handling
Keep containers closed in a cool, dry store away from strong acids, alkalis and oxidising agents. Higher-EO pastes stiffen when cold and may need warming to pump, so allow for handling temperature at the receiving point. Work from the safety information issued with the grade quoted.
Common questions about ethoxylated castor oil
Is ethoxylated castor oil the same as PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil?
No. This page covers the ethoxylate of ordinary castor oil, while the hydrogenated version is made from castor oil whose double bonds have been saturated first. The two behave differently in a formulation and the hydrogenated material has its own page, so name the one your specification requires.
What does the EO number in a castor oil ethoxylate mean?
It is the nominal number of moles of ethylene oxide reacted onto each mole of castor oil. More ethylene oxide raises hydrophilicity, so a low mole count stays oil compatible while a high one dissolves readily in water. That single number drives most of the selection decision.
How does ethoxylated castor oil differ from unmodified castor oil?
Unmodified oil is a triglyceride with no surfactant behaviour and is bought as an oil. Reacting it with ethylene oxide produces a non-ionic surfactant that emulsifies and solubilises, which is a separate product ordered by its own name and EO level.
Can it replace a nonylphenol ethoxylate in an agrochemical concentrate?
Sometimes, and this is one of the common reasons buyers ask about it, but the two are different ethoxylate families with different HLB profiles and emulsion behaviour. Any substitution needs emulsion stability and dilution trials on the actual concentrate.
Which grade suits an emulsifiable concentrate?
Emulsifiable concentrates usually pair a mid-range castor oil ethoxylate with an anionic co-emulsifier, then adjust the ratio against the active ingredient and solvent. Send the active, the solvent and the target emulsion quality and the band can be narrowed with you.
Why is the material sometimes a paste rather than a liquid?
Consistency follows the ethoxylation level. Lower mole counts stay pourable liquids at ambient temperature, while higher ones thicken towards a soft paste, which affects pumping, dosing and whether warming is needed before use.
What information should an enquiry include?
Give the EO mole count or INCI grade, the hydrogenation state required, the application, the quantity, the delivery point and any document needs. Commercial detail is settled at the quotation stage, so an enquiry that states the mole count moves fastest.