Surfactants

Surfactants are essential additives in cleaning products, reducing surface tension and enhancing wetting.

With both hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties, surfactants break down and emulsify greasy substances, aiding in the removal of dirt and stains. Their versatile nature stabilizes dispersed particles, preventing reattachment to surfaces and contributing to the overall efficacy of cleaning solutions. In laundry detergents and household cleaners, surfactants play a key role in achieving thorough and efficient cleaning across various surfaces.

726™A quaternary ammonium based surfactant for emulsification of mineral seal oil and other hydrocarbons for use in transportation rinse aids
  • Rinse aids for car and truck wash
  • Drying agents for car and truck wash
AFA™Non-silicone glass additive with excellent anti-fog properties
  • Eye glasses cleaners
  • Bathroom mirrors
  • Sports goggle/face mask treatment
AS™Amphoteric coupling agent / hydrotrope for solubilizing nonionic surfactants into highly alkaline / caustic systems
  • Heavy duty degreasers
  • Metalworking cleaners
  • Acid cleaners
  • Transportation presoaks
BSH™An excellent hypochlorite stable hydrotrope
  • Hard surface cleaners (acid or alkaline emulsions)
  • Industrial cleaners
  • Bathroom and bowl cleaners
  • Low foam parts washing (companion for LFQ™)
BVM™Excellent low cost choice for modifying viscosity in bleach formulations
  • Hard surface cleaners (acid or alkaline emulsions)
  • Industrial cleaners
  • Bathroom and bowl applications
  • Foam booster in transportation cleaning
CHD4™Naturally derived, DEA-free liquid surfactant system for building viscosity
  • Hand Soap (lotions, gels, foaming) and Body Washes
  • Automotive Bucket Wash
  • High Foam Automatic Car Wash Detergents
  • Self-Serve Foaming Brush
  • Tri Color Foamers for Automatic Car Washes
CK™An easy to use emulsifier for producing low cost waterless hand cleaners with excellent stability and uniform consistency
  • Waterless hand cleaners
DAN™A green, non-ionic surfactant for use in foaming and hydrotroping
  • Hydrotroping, even in green certified formulae
  • Oil field down hole foaming
  • Wheel cleaning
  • Glass cleaning
  • Laundry (enzyme stabilization)
EGM™Concentrated surfactant for VOC exempt, streak-free glass cleaning
  • VOC exempt glass cleaners
  • Multi-surface cleaners
  • Super concentrates
  • TV and electronics screen cleaners
  • Summer windshield wash
EQI™A highly economical surfactant with superior degreasing performance.
  • Oil and Gas Industry Degreasing
  • Household/Retail Cleaners
  • Industrial/Institutional heavy duty cleaners & degreasers
  • Transportation Presoaks – Car and Truck
  • Wheel Cleaners
ES1Nonionic surfactant system for extremely high electrolyte/high alkaline systems
  • Printing press cleaners
  • Asphalt release agent
  • Frictionless/touchless presoaks
  • Truck wash
  • Heavy equipment cleaners
GTQ™A highly economical, multidimensional surfactant with superior performance
  • Degreasers (of all types)
  • VOC exempt formulas that can compete with VOC based formulas
  • Machine shop cleaning solutions
  • All types of industrial degreasing and soot removal
  • Consumer based cleaners (APC’s, Degreasers, etc.) with 'green claims'
HFC™Superior hydrotrope where high foam is needed
  • Hard surface cleaners (acid or alkaline emulsions)
  • Industrial cleaners (emulsions or as-is)
  • Transportation cleaning
ILBTSurfactant blend used to build thixotropic viscosity in hypochlorite based formulations
  • Bowl/urinal cleaners
  • Tub & tile cleaners
  • Drain openers
  • Mildew removers
  • Floor cleaners
IPB4™Cost effective, concentrated surfactant for producing VOC free daily shower cleaner
  • Daily Shower cleaner
  • Bathroom / Kitchen Sinks & Faucets (Preventative Maintenance)
  • Bathtub (Preventative Maintenance)
  • Outdoor Window Cleaners
  • Glass Cleaners
IQLF™A breakthrough in high detergency, low foam cleaning
  • Parts Washers
  • Floor cleaning
  • High pressure cleaning and degreasing
  • Metal Working cleaners
  • Industrial cleaners
JK50™Outstanding coupling/hydrotroping surfactant for use in high alkaline/caustic systems
  • High Caustic CIP Cleaners
  • Oven Cleaners
  • Water Based Degreaser
  • Parts Washers
  • Frictionless/Touchless Presoaks
KDC3™A high foaming hydrotrope that results in a very mild feel to skin
  • Transportation presoaks (alkaline and acidic)
  • Hand dish detergents
  • Hand soaps
LCF™Highly economical surfactant system for building foam and lubricity
  • Self-serve car wash (foaming brush)
  • Automatic car wash (soft touch)
  • Tri-poly foamers
  • Bucket wash (for hand use)
  • Dish wash
LFQ™A truly low foam surfactant with powerful detergency
  • Floor Cleaners
  • Carpet Cleaners
  • CIP Cleaners
  • Cabinet/Parts Washers
  • Metalworking
ME80™A one component emulsifier for producing pH neutral solvent microemulsions
  • Graffiti Removers
  • Bug / Tar / Wax Removers
  • Solvent Degreasers
  • Printing, Pulp and Paper cleaners
  • Engine Degreasers
NHD2™Naturally derived surfactant for producing hand dish and hand soap formulations
  • Hand dish
  • Hand soap (lotions, gels, foaming) and body washes
  • High foam automatic car wash detergents
  • Self-serve foaming brush
  • Automotive bucket wash
NLS90™Highly economical and environmentally friendly surfactant, excellent for laundry and floor formulations
  • Laundry applications
  • Floor cleaners
  • Industrial cleaners
  • Hand dish
NQ3™Naturally derived, exceptionally versatile surfactant system
  • Spray ’n wipe all-purpose cleaners
  • Carpet spotters
  • Oven cleaners
  • Floor cleaners
  • Frictionless/touchless car & truck pre-soaks
NSW4™A foaming bucket wash concentrate with superior water beading properties that leaves a durable, wax-like finish
  • Wash and Wax - hand/bucket
  • Coin - Op Car Wash
  • Foaming Spray Wax for Auto Car Wash
OGAMP™A high foaming hydrotroping surfactant with corrosion inhibition properties in certain acidic formulae
  • Automotive drying agents
  • Aluminum brighteners
  • Metal cleaning and descaling
  • Wheel cleaning
PF2™Surfactant system developed for triple/poly foamers and clear coat protectorants
  • Clear coat protectorants
  • Triple / poly foamers
PPS™A nonionic surfactant developed for use in transportation pre-soak detergents, wheel cleaners and hard surface cleaners
  • One and two step touchless transportation wash
  • Alkaline wheel cleaners
  • Hard surface cleaners/degreasers
Q3™The most versatile surfactant chemistry available
  • Hydrogen Peroxide Based Cleaners
  • Industrial Heavy Duty Degreasers
  • Retail/Institutional Acid and Alkaline Cleaners
  • Laundry – spotters/boosters
  • Pulp, Paper, and Printing cleaners
QHD™A powerful surfactant system for heavy duty degreasing
  • Heavy duty degreasing
  • Oil and gas industry
  • Laundry pre-treaters
  • Engine and machine cleaners
  • Parts washing
QNG™A superior degreasing surfactant derived from natural feedstocks
  • Hydrogen Peroxide Based Cleaners
  • Industrial Heavy Duty Degreasers
  • Retail/Institutional Acid and Alkaline Cleaners
  • Laundry – spotters/boosters
  • Pulp, Paper, and Printing cleaners
QX9™Unique surfactant blend used In aqueous based cleaning
  • Neutral floor cleaners
  • Oil rig degreasing
  • Oven cleaners
  • Aircraft cleaners
  • Tanker cleaners
R49™Use as a drop-in replacement for 91-6/ 91-8 alcohol ethoxylate or similar chemistries
  • Hard surface cleaners
  • Transportation wash
  • Neutral floor cleaning
  • Peroxide cleaners
SS™Superior surfactant system for use in acidic based formulae for soap scum removal
  • Tub and tile cleaners
  • Grout cleaners
  • Bowl cleaners
  • All purpose cleaners
  • Floor cleaners

More Information

Surfactants, short for surface-active agents, play a pivotal role as chemical additives in product cleaning and descaling processes. These compounds are essential for their unique ability to modify the surface properties of liquids, enabling them to disperse, emulsify, and break down various types of contaminants. The importance of surfactants in cleaning solutions lies in their versatile and effective nature, contributing significantly to the success of industrial and commercial cleaning and descaling efforts.

Surfactants are particularly adept at breaking down the interface between water and oils or other organic substances. This property makes them highly effective in removing greases, oils, and other hydrophobic contaminants from surfaces. In cleaning applications, surfactants act as emulsifying agents, allowing oil and water to mix and form stable emulsions. This emulsification process enhances the solubility of greasy substances, facilitating their removal from surfaces and ensuring a more thorough cleaning.

Surfactants improve the wetting ability of cleaning solutions, enabling them to spread more easily across surfaces. This increased wetting action enhances the contact between the cleaning solution and the contaminants, promoting better penetration and coverage. This is crucial in descaling applications, where mineral deposits may adhere tightly to surfaces. Surfactants help break the water's surface tension, allowing the cleaning solution to reach and interact with the deposited substances effectively.

One of the key functions of surfactants is to reduce the surface tension of liquids. This property facilitates the spreading of the cleaning solution over the target surface, ensuring that it reaches all areas for a more uniform cleaning process. In descaling applications, where mineral deposits often form unevenly, reducing surface tension becomes crucial for achieving comprehensive and consistent scale removal.

Surfactants contribute significantly to the overall effectiveness of cleaning solutions. Their ability to promote emulsification, wetting, and penetration ensures that the cleaning agents can effectively target and eliminate a wide range of contaminants. In descaling efforts, surfactants aid in breaking down mineral deposits and preventing their re-agglomeration, facilitating their suspension in the cleaning solution for easy removal.

Finding the correct combination of surfactants and other cleaning agents is crucial for achieving peak productivity in industrial and commercial cleaning applications. The diverse nature of contaminants and scaling issues demands a customized approach. The synergistic interaction of surfactants with other chemicals, such as alkalinity, chelants, and dispersants, ensures a comprehensive and effective cleaning process. This tailored approach not only maximizes the cleaning efficiency but also minimizes the need for aggressive mechanical methods, reducing the risk of damage to sensitive equipment components.

Surfactants are indispensable chemical additives in the realm of product cleaning and descaling. Their unique properties contribute to the overall efficacy of cleaning solutions by enhancing emulsification, wetting, and penetration. The correct combination of surfactants and other chemicals is essential for achieving peak productivity, ensuring thorough cleaning, and prolonging the lifespan of industrial and commercial equipment.