Rishit Polysurf LLP is a premier manufacturer and supplier of Polysorbate 20 (also known as Tween 20), 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 for exports.
Polysorbate 20 (also Known as Tween 20 or Polyoxyethylene (20) Sorbitan Monolaurate) is a nonionic surfactants and emulsifier widely used to stabilize oil-in-water emulsions, improve solubility, and enhance the compatibility of oil-based ingredients with aqueous formulations.
Polysorbate 20 is the common and INCI name for polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate — a nonionic surfactant made by esterifying sorbitan (derived from sorbitol) with lauric acid, then reacting that ester with roughly 20 moles of ethylene oxide. The product is still widely known by its original trade name, Tween 20, and is registered under CAS Number 9005-64-5.
The table below lists typical, generally accepted reference values for Polysorbate 20 (Tween 20, CAS 9005-64-5). Actual batch values can vary slightly by manufacturing process and grade — always confirm exact figures against the current Technical Data Sheet (TDS) and Certificate of Analysis (COA) before finalizing a specification.
Common Polysorbate 20 uses span industrial cleaning, textile processing, agrochemical formulation, and several specialty chemical systems, each drawing on the same core emulsifying and solubilizing behavior described above.
In industrial and institutional cleaning formulations, Polysorbate 20 works as a nonionic co-surfactant and emulsifier that helps lift and disperse oily soils into the wash solution. Its tolerance for both acidic and alkaline conditions makes it useful in metal cleaning, degreasing, and hard-surface cleaner formulations where bath pH may vary, and its moderate foam profile suits applications where heavy foaming is unwanted.
Textile wet-processing depends on wetting agents to get treatment liquors into the fiber quickly and evenly. Polysorbate 20 reduces the surface tension of scouring, dyeing, and finishing baths, helping liquors penetrate cotton, polyester, and blended fabrics uniformly. This supports more even dye uptake and helps reduce defects such as patchy color caused by inconsistent liquor penetration.
Polysorbate 20 is used as a wetting and dispersing agent in agrochemical formulations, including emulsifiable concentrates (ECs) for insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides. Its high HLB helps the active ingredient disperse into spray-tank water at field dilution, while its wetting action helps the spray solution spread across the leaf surface instead of beading off — supporting more consistent coverage of the target crop.
Polysorbate 20 is a well-established emulsifier and solubilizer in personal care formulations — cleansers, toners, and lightweight lotions — where it disperses fragrance oils or a small oil phase into a clear or near-clear aqueous base. We supply this grade in bulk to personal care manufacturers and contract formulators; it is not sold as a finished consumer product.
In pharmaceutical formulation, polysorbates are widely used as excipients to solubilize and disperse active ingredients in oral liquids and topical preparations. If your application requires a pharmacopeial grade (USP/EP/IP) or is intended for parenteral use, contact our technical team directly to confirm what compliance documentation is available for the batch — these applications carry stricter purity and testing requirements than general industrial use.
Beyond the categories above, Polysorbate 20 is used as a dispersant and wetting agent in water-based paints, coatings, and inks, where it helps stabilize pigment dispersions, and as a component in metalworking-fluid emulsions, where it supports stable emulsification of the oil phase. Formulation chemists also use it as a general-purpose nonionic building block in custom blends, where a high-HLB, water-soluble component is needed to balance a lower-HLB co-emulsifier.
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.
Download the Safety Data Sheet for Polysorbate 20 below.
File: Polysorbate 20 Safety Data Sheet
Rishit Polysurf manufactures Lauryl Alcohol Ethoxylates in India, including LA-1 to LA-30 grades for detergents, SLES, textile, agrochemical and industrial cleaning formulations. Request TDS, MSDS, samples and bulk pricing.
Rishit Polysurf manufactures Nonyl Phenol Ethoxylates in India, including NP-4 to NP-40 grades for detergents, textiles, agrochemicals, cleaning and industrial formulations. Request TDS, MSDS, samples and bulk pricing.
Card Phenol Ethoxylate / Cardanol Ethoxylate manufacturer in India. Rishit Polysurf supplies CP series grades for agrochemical, textile, cleaning and industrial formulations. Request TDS, MSDS, samples and bulk pricing.