Nonylphenol Ethoxylates
Rishit Polysurf LLP is a premier manufacturer of specialty chemicals, operating from a state-of-the-art facility in GIDC Dholka, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. We deliver high-purity chemical intermediates formulated to meet rigorous global industrial standards.
Product Overview
Nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPE) is a highly versatile and critical nonionic surfactant widely utilized across industrial manufacturing and chemical formulations. Synthesized through the precise ethoxylation of high-purity nonyl phenol, this powerful class of surface-active agents offers a highly tunable range of HLB values to meet exact formulation requirements. These nonyl phenol ethoxylates are essential for their exceptional emulsifying, wetting, dispersing, and detergency properties in numerous applications, ranging from agrochemical EC formulations to textile wet processing and heavy-duty industrial cleaners. Manufactured under stringent quality control at our Gujarat facility, our comprehensive PLXOL™ NP series ensures optimal stability, consistent performance, and superior solubility for your most demanding industrial systems.
Technical Specifications — PLXOL™ Product Range
Our comprehensive portfolio of nonylphenol ethoxylates spans from NP-2 to NP-40, tailored to diverse industrial applications. All grades meet stringent purity and quality benchmarks.
| Grade | EO Moles | HLB | Appearance (25 °C) | Moisture (%) | pH (1% aq.) | Hydroxyl Value (mg KOH/g) | Cloud Point (°C) | Surface Tension (mN/m) | Pour Point (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NP-2 PLXOL NP 200 | 2 | 5.6 | Clear Liquid | 0.5 | 6.0–7.5 | 173–193 | 85–91 | 50 max | <0 |
| NP-4.5 PLXOL NP 450 | 4.5 | 9.8 | Clear Liquid | 0.5 | 6.0–7.5 | 123–133 | 58–63 | 50 max | <0 |
| NP-6 PLXOL NP 600 | 6 | 10.9 | Clear Liquid | 0.5 | 6.0–7.5 | 112–120 | 65–70 | 50 max | <0 |
| NP-8.8 PLXOL NP 880 | 8.8 | 12.7 | Clear Liquid | 0.5 | 6.0–7.5 | 90–96 | 44–49 | 50 max | 0 |
| NP-9 PLXOL NP 900 | 9 | 12.8 | Clear Liquid | 0.5 | 6.0–7.5 | 90–95 | 52–56 | 50 max | 0 |
| NP-9.5 PLXOL NP 950 | 9.5 | 13.1 | Clear Liquid | 0.5 | 6.0–7.5 | 85–91 | 57–60 | 50 max | 4 |
| NP-9.8 PLXOL NP 980 | 9.8 | 13.3 | Clear Liquid | 0.5 | 6.0–7.5 | 81–95 | 60–65 | 50 max | 5 |
| NP-10 PLXOL NP 1000 | 10 | 13.3 | Clear Liquid | 0.5 | 6.0–7.5 | 82–88 | 65–68 | 50 max | 5 |
| NP-12 PLXOL NP 1200 | 12 | 14.1 | Pasty Liquid | 0.5 | 6.0–7.5 | 72–82 | 76–80 | 50 max | 12 |
| NP-13 PLXOL NP 1300 | 13 | 14.4 | Pasty Liquid | 0.5 | 6.0–7.5 | 69–73 | 57–63 | 50 max | 15 |
| NP-15 PLXOL NP 1500 | 15 | 15.0 | Waxy solid to paste | 0.5 | 6.0–7.5 | 64–69 | 64–69 | 100 max | 25 |
| NP-20 PLXOL NP 2000 | 20 | 16.0 | Waxy solid | 0.5 | 6.0–7.5 | 49–53 | 73–76 | 100 max | 30 |
| NP-26 PLXOL NP 2600 | 26 | 16.8 | Solid | 0.5 | 6.0–7.5 | 38–43 | 72–76 | 100 max | 38 |
| NP-30 PLXOL NP 3000 | 30 | 17.1 | Waxy solid | 0.5 | 6.0–7.5 | 34.5–38.5 | 76–80 | 100 max | 40 |
| NP-40 PLXOL NP 4000 | 40 | 17.8 | Waxy solid | 0.5 | 6.0–7.5 | 23–33 | 76–81 | 100 max | 40 |
Core Applications
- Industrial Cleaners & Degreasers: Used in Heavy-Duty Cleaning & Degreasing Formulations, Nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPE) surfactants are incorporated as primary nonionic emulsifiers in industrial degreasers, metal-cleaning compounds, and hard-surface cleaners, where their low CMC and broad pH stability deliver superior soil displacement at both alkaline and neutral wash conditions.
- Agrochemical Emulsifiers: Nonyl phenol ethoxylate grades (NP-4 to NP-10) are extensively used as emulsifiers and co-solvents in EC (emulsifiable concentrate) formulations for insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides, enabling stable oil-in-water dispersions at field-application dilution ratios.
- Textile Processing: In textile wet processing, nonylphenol ethoxylate surfactants function as wetting agents, scouring auxiliaries, and leveling agents, reducing interfacial tension on hydrophobic fiber substrates and ensuring uniform dye uptake across cotton, polyester, and blended fabrics.
- Paints & Coatings: NPE surfactants serve as emulsifying agents in emulsion polymerization for acrylic and vinyl acetate latex systems, while also functioning as pigment dispersants and wetting agents in water-borne industrial paints, primers, and architectural coatings.
- Metalworking & Lubricants: NPE surfactants serve as emulsifying agents in emulsion polymerization for acrylic and vinyl acetate latex systems, while also functioning as pigment dispersants and wetting agents in water-borne industrial paints, primers, and architectural coatings.
Packaging & Supply
Rishit Polysurf LLP offers robust and compliant logistics infrastructure to supply materials globally. Standard packaging options include 50 kgs HDPE carboys, 200 kgs, 210 kgs, 220 kgs, 230 kgs, 235 kgs, 1000 kgs in IBC containers, ISO tanks & Tankers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPE) is a highly tunable nonionic surfactant synthesized via the controlled ethoxylation of nonylphenol (CAS 9016-45-9). In industrial manufacturing, NPEs are engineered to precisely manipulate interfacial tension, acting as process-critical emulsifiers, wetting agents, and pigment dispersants across heavy-duty chemical systems.
By selecting specific moles of ethylene oxide (EO) to target exact Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB) requirements, manufacturers utilize NPEs to solve complex formulation challenges in four primary sectors:
- Agrochemical EC Formulations: NPEs prevent emulsion failure and hard-water precipitation and act as indispensable co-solvents in emulsifiable concentrates, ensuring technical actives maintain oil-in-water stability during field-application dilution.
- Textile Wet Processing: NPEs eliminate uneven dye uptake by functioning as high-penetration scouring and wetting auxiliaries that rapidly reduce surface tension and guarantee uniform chemical saturation across fiber substrates.
- Industrial Cleaners & Metal Treatment: NPEs prevent heavy soil redeposition; their exceptionally low Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC) delivers superior soil displacement and phase separation in highly alkaline metal-degreasing baths and heavy-duty detergents.
- Polymer & Coating Synthesis: NPEs prevent pigment agglomeration and serve as stabilizers during emulsion polymerization (acrylic/vinyl systems) and as structural dispersants in water-borne architectural coatings.
Rishit Polysurf LLP manufactures the complete PLXOL™ NP series (NP-2 through NP-40) at our Gujarat facility, guaranteeing batch-verified stability. For precise HLB matching, technical data sheets, or bulk supply inquiries, contact Rishit Polysurf LLP's Technical Team.
- Low HLB (5.7–9.0 | NP-2 to NP-4): Lipophilic W/O emulsifiers. Critical for stable water-in-oil dispersion in agrochemical emulsifiable concentrates (ECs) and industrial lubricants.
- Mid HLB (10.0–12.3 | NP-5 to NP-8): High-penetration wetting agents. Engineered to rapidly reduce interfacial tension as co-emulsifiers in textile wet processing and metal-treatment baths.
- High HLB (12.9–14.1 | NP-9 to NP-12): Hydrophilic O/W emulsifiers. The industrial standard for oil-in-water systems and heavy detergency. Note: PLXOL N 900 (NP-9, HLB 12.9) is our most frequently specified grade for broad-spectrum industrial cleaning.
- Very High HLB (15.0–17.8 | NP-15 to NP-40): Solid-state solubilizers. Utilized for high-performance pigment dispersion and structural stabilization in complex polymer matrixes.