Polyoxyethylene Derivatives of Polyoxypropylene Cetyl Ether. I.

Abstract

Polyoxyethylene derivatives (1, 5, 10 and 20 moles of ethylene oxide, E, in a molecule) of polyoxypropylene cetyl ethers (1, 2, 4 and 8 moles of propylene oxide, P, in a molecule, respectively) were prepared and the change in properties of these 16 kinds of alkylene oxide derivatives, varying the number of moles of P and E was studied.(1) Solubility : Increase in hydrophobic property was observed with increase of the mole number of P in these derivatives and at the same time, a tendency to decrease the affinity against oil, having low polarity, was observed.(2) Surface tension of aqueous solution : A tendency to lower the concentration, at which reduction in surface tension will occur, was observed with increase of the mole number of P in a molecule. Except certain samples, the lowering power of surface tension was reduced with increase of the added mole number of E in a molecule, at a definite concentration.(3) Foaming power of aqueous solution : Foaming power of aqueous solution of these derivatives became larger according to the increase in added mole number of E in the molecule. By increasing the mole number of P, foaming power decreased for the cases of the derivatives having 1 and 20 moles of E in their molecules, and for the cases of those having 10 moles of E it increased contrary.(4) Foam stability of aqueous solution : Foam stability generally became worse with increase of the mole number of P. And it is expected to exist an optimum mole number of E which will show a good stability among the derivatives of E from 1 to 20 moles.(5) Wetting power of aqueous solution : With increase of the mole number of P, wetting power became greater for the derivatives having 20 moles of E and became lower for those having 10 moles of E.