Alkoxylates

Collaborative Chemistry. Alkoxylates

Alkoxylates Creative Solutions.
Alkoxylates
Collaborative Chemistry. Creative Solutions.
stry. Creative Solutions.
stry. Creative Solutions.

Stepan Company
EO/PO Block
Copolymers

1
 Stepan EO/PO Block Copolymers
Block copolymers provide a broad range of physical properties that make them versatile, low-foam nonionic
surfactants made from ethylene oxide and propylene oxide.

MAKON® L-Series: Liquid EO/PO Block Copolymers

MAKON P-Series: Paste EO/PO Block Copolymers
MAKON R-Series: Liquid Reverse EO/PO Block Copolymers

MAKON L-Series & P-Series MAKON R-Series

EO PO EO PO EO PO

The MAKON L-Series and P-Series EO/PO The MAKON R-Series Reverse EO/PO Block
Block Copolymers are both made by addition of Copolymers are made by addition of hydrophobic
hydrophilic ethylene oxide (EO) to both ends of a propylene oxide (PO) to both ends of a
polypropylene glycol (PPG) hydrophobe. polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrophile.

Typical Properties

Average Cloud Point

Pour Viscosity
Stepan Molecular at 1 wt%
INCI Name Form at 25oC HLB Point, at 38oC,
Tradename Weight, aqueous, o
o C cps
g/mol C
MAKON L61 Poloxamer 181 Liquid 3 2,000 24 -32 162
MAKON L62 Poloxamer 182 Liquid 7 2,500 32 -41 268
MAKON L64 Poloxamer 184 Liquid 15 2,900 58 18 312
MAKON L101 Poloxamer 331 Liquid 1 3,800 15 -36 392
MAKON P65/75 N/A Paste 17 3,800 82 27 2222
MAKON P104 Poloxamer 334 Paste 13 5,900 82 32 4482
MAKON P105 Poloxamer 335 Paste 15 6,500 63 1
36 6262
MAKON 17R2 Meroxapol 172 Liquid 6 2,150 35 -39 224
MAKON 17R4 Meroxapol 174 Liquid 12 2,650 46 10 333
MAKON L-Series and R-Series products contain <100 ppm ash catalyst
For unfiltered grades of the MAKON L-Series, please contact your Stepan Sales Representative
1
1 wt% in 10 wt% NaCl (sodium chloride)
2
At 60oC

2
 Molecular Structure Guide

MAKON L-Series & P-Series MAKON R-Series

Liquid Paste Solid Liquid Paste Solid
4000 4000

3500 3500

3000 3000
4000

2500 2500
3500

0 10 20 30 2000
40 50 60 70 80 2000
3000

1500 1500
2500

1000 1000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 0 10 20 30 2000
40 50 60 70 80

1500

MAKON L-Series & P-Series Naming Structure: The naming and molecular structure for EO/PO block
copolymers use the following rules: The first digit (the first two digits in a three digit 1000
number) multiplied by
300 indicates the approximate molecular weight of the hydrophobe (PO content). The last0 digit 10 multiplied
20 30 40
by 50 60

ten gives the percentage of hydrophile (EO content) in the molecule. For example, MAKON L64 indicates a
hydrophobe molecular weight of approximately 1,800 g/mol and a hydrophile molecular weight of 40% of the
molecular mass.

MAKON R-Series Naming Structure: The naming and molecular structure for reverse EO/PO block
copolymers use the following rules: The first two digits multiplied by 100 indicate the approximate molecular
weight of the hydrophobe. The last digit multiplied by ten gives the percentage of hydrophile in the molecule.
For example, MAKON 17R2 indicates a hydrophobe molecular weight of approximately 1,700 g/mol and a
hydrophile molecular weight of 20% of the molecular mass.

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 Solubility

Perchloroethylene
Mineral Oil (light)
Propylene Glycol
Ethylene Glycol
Distilled Water

Ethanol (95%)

Isopropanol

Methanol

Kerosene
Toulene

Xylene
Stepan
Tradename

MAKON L61 Insoluble >10 >10 >10 Insoluble >10 >10 >10 Insoluble >10 >10
MAKON L62 >10 >10 >10 >10 Insoluble >10 >10 Insoluble Insoluble >10 >10
MAKON L64 >10 >10 >10 >10 Insoluble >10 >10 Insoluble Insoluble >10 >10
MAKON L101 Insoluble >10 >10 >10 Insoluble Insoluble >10 Insoluble Insoluble >10 >10
MAKON P65/75 >10 >10 >10 >10 Insoluble >10 >10 Insoluble Insoluble >10 >10
MAKON P104 >10 >10 >10 >10 Insoluble <10 >10 Insoluble Insoluble >10 >10
MAKON P105 <10 >10 <10 >10 Insoluble <10 >10 Insoluble Insoluble <10 <10
MAKON 17R2 <10 >10 >10 >10 Insoluble <10 >10 <10 Insoluble >10 >10
MAKON 17R4 >10 >10 >10 >10 Insoluble >10 >10 Insoluble <10 >10 >10
Solutions evaluated at 22oC
<10 indicates the surfactant forms a clear solution at less than 10 wt% in solvent
>10 indicates the surfactant forms a clear solution at greater than 10 wt% in solvent
Insoluble indicates the surfactant does not form a clear solution at 1 wt%

Application Selection Guide

Due to the wide range of physical properties, EO/PO block copolymers can be utilized for many different industries and
applications. Some of the industries they can be utilized for include paints & coatings, household & industrial cleaning,
agricultural chemicals, metalworking fluids, textiles, pulp & paper and personal care.

MAKON MAKON MAKON MAKON MAKON MAKON MAKON MAKON MAKON

Applications
L61 L62 L64 L101 P65/75 P104 P105 17R2 17R4
Adhesives X X
Agrochemical X X X X X X
Clean-in-Place X X X X X
Detergent X X
Foam Control X X X X
Food Processing X X X X
Iodophor X X X X
Machine Dishwash X X X X
Metalworking Fluids X X X X
Paints & Coatings X X X X X X
Personal Care X X X X
Pulp & Paper X X X X X
Rinse Aid X X X X
Sanitizing Solutions X X X X X X
Textiles X X X X
Water Treatment X X X X X
4Wetting Agent X X X X
 0.1%
0.1%
0.1% 1.0%
1.0%
1.0% 0.1%
0.1%
0.1% 1.0%1.0%
1.0%
L61L61
L61MAKON
MAKON
MAKON
L61L61L61 INSINS
INS INSINSINS 63 6363 16 1616
L62L62
L62MAKON
MAKON
MAKON
L62L62L62 300300300 32 3232 - - - - - -
L64L64
L64MAKON
MAKON
MAKON
L64L64L64 300300300 15 1515 - - - - - -
L101
L101
L101MAKON
MAKON
MAKON
L101
L101
L101 INSWetting
INSINS INSINS
INS - - - - - -
P65/75
P65/75
P65/75
MAKON
MAKON
MAKON
P65/75
P65/75
P65/75 300300300 300300300 - - - - - -
Draves Wetting describes
P104
P104 aMAKON
surfactant’s
P104MAKON
MAKON
P104 P104 ability to
P104 penetrate
300300300 and
13 1313 wet -cotton.
- - Based
- - - on the data shown below, MAKON
L64, MAKON P104 and
P105
P105 MAKON
P105MAKON
MAKON
MAKON17R4
P105
P105 show good
P105 wetting
300300300 30and
3030penetrating
- - - properties.
- - - MAKON L61 and MAKON L101
o
are both insoluble17R2
in17R2
water atMAKON
17R2MAKON2517R2
MAKON C.17R2
17R2 300300300 300300300 - - - - - -
17R4
17R4
17R4MAKON
MAKON
MAKON
17R4
17R4
17R4 69 6969 0 00 - - - - - -
Draves Wetting at 25oC
>90 >90 >90 >90 >90 >90
90 9090

75 7575 69
Wetting Time (sec)
Wetting Time (sec)
Wetting Time (sec)

60 6060

45 4545
32 30
30 3030
15 13
15 1515
INS3 INS 0

0 00

0.1%
0.10.1%
0.1%1.0%
wt% 1.0%
1.0%
1.0 wt%
3
INS = Insoluble
Draves Wetting Method:
ASTM D2188-10, 5-g skein, 3-g hook, 0.1 wt% nonionic, deionized water, 25°C

Surface Tension and Interfacial Tension

Surface Tension (ST): Surface tension is a measure of the amount of energy (work) required to expand surface area
between air and water. Lowering the surface tension of water improves its capability to wet surfaces and solubilize
liquids or disperse solids. Surfactant performance such as detergency is often correlated with lower surface or
interfacial tension.
Interfacial Tension (IFT): Interfacial tension is a measure of the work required to expand the interfacial area between
two immiscible liquids, such as water and mineral oil. Lower IFT values correlate to better wetting and increased
detergency, solubilization, or emulsification.
Surface Tension, Interfacial Tension with Light Mineral Oil,
Stepan dynes/cm (wt%) dynes/cm (wt%)
Tradename
0.1% 0.01% 0.001% 0.1% 0.01% 0.001%
MAKON L61 Insoluble 43.7 46.9 Insoluble 17.0 24.1
MAKON L62 42.3 44.6 48.6 13.9 24.1 27.7
MAKON L64 41.5 44.4 48.0 13.9 17.4 20.4
MAKON L101 Insoluble 34.8 39.2 Insoluble 4.5 25.1
MAKON P65/75 41.8 45.0 47.9 15.6 21.7 23.8
MAKON P104 35.7 38.9 42.9 4.3 12.6 31.9
MAKON P105 35.7 38.5 42.9 5.6 9.3 12.8
MAKON 17R2 43.0 45.8 48.8 15.1 19.1 23.3
MAKON 17R4 45.2 48.1 51.1 17.5 21.6 24.3 5
 15 MAKON L101
10

5
High Shear Foam Behavior
0
40
MAKON EO/PO Block and Reverse Block Copolymers exhibit low foaming characteristics. Traditionally, the Ross-
Miles Method (ASTM35D1173-53, 2001) has been used to show the foam profile of surfactants. However, it is hard to
differentiate the products with this method due to their low levels of foam from a lack of shear. The Blender Foam
30
Method shows the foam behavior under high shear conditions and is able to differentiate product performance.
25
MAKON
The charts shown below describe the foaming characteristics of aqueous solutions at 0.1% active P65/75
concentration at
o
a temperature of 25 20 C in a Waring blender. The MAKON L-Series and R-Series exhibit the bestMAKON
low-foam
P104properties.
In general, the initial foam generation (flash foam) of block copolymers increases as the molecule has increasing
15 MAKON P105
amounts of EO. Additionally, as a block copolymer increases hydrophobe molecular weight (PO), while EO remains
constant, foam stability increases. Low foaming is dependent upon surfactant cloud point and application-use
10
temperature. When deciding on a formulation component, it is recommended that a formulator use a block copolymer
whose cloud point is below
5 the intended use temperature.

0
40 High Shear Blender Foam at 25oC
40
35 Liquids
35
30
30
MAKON L61
25
25 MAKON 17R2
L62
MAKON
Type20
20 Name 0.1%, 25 C 0.1%, 50 C MAKON 17R4
L64
120 MAKON
Initial 5 min Initial 5 min
15
15 MAKON L101
(mm) (mm) (mm) (mm)
100
L61 MAKON L61 INS INS 0 0
10
10
L62 MAKON L62 16 1 20 8
Foam Height (mm)

L64805 MAKON L64 13 0 88 16

L101 MAKON L101 INS INS INS INS
40
60
P65/75 0 MAKON P65/75 44 14 104 37
P104 0
MAKON P104 30 92 60 90 6990 Reverses
67 120
35
P10540 MAKON P105 82 Time (sec)
73 91 77
17R230 MAKON 17R2 0 0 0 0
17R420 MAKON 17R4 2 0 0 0
25
0 MAKON 17R2
20
MAKON 17R4
15

10
Initial 5 min
5
120

0
100 0 30 60 90 120
Time (sec)
Foam Height (mm)

80
Under the conditions described, MAKON L61, MAKON L101, MAKON 17R2 and MAKON 17R4
exhibit60
the best low-foaming properties.

Blender Method:
40 & Beverage blender with 40-oz cloverleaf carafe
Equipment: Waring Food
Test solution: 0.1 wt% surfactant in deionized water
test solution and blender carafe at 25°C, blend 200 mL on high speed for 30 seconds, allow foam to settle, use
Procedure: Incubate 20
video camera to record foam during blending and for 5 minutes after, measure foam height in mm
6 0
 Defoaming
Type Name Foam Height (mm) @ Time (se
In addition to having low-foam profiles, some of the0 MAKON 5 EO/PO Block
10 and Reverse
15 Block
30 Copolymers60 exhibit
10
defoaming characteristics. The Defoaming Method shows the 5.5
foam behavior
L61 MAKON L61 5.5 5.5 under high 5 shear 4.5conditions with
3 food
soil (egg white) and alkalinity at elevated
MAKON L62 temperatures.6 This is relevant
6 to Clean-in-Place
6 6 (CIP) and6 machine 6dishwash
L62
applications.
L64 MAKON L64 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5
The charts shownL101 MAKON L101
below describe 7.5
the defoaming characteristics 7.5of block copolymers
6 6
added MAKON
at 5 L61active
0.02% 4.5
aqueousMAKON
concentration toP65/75 solutionsP65/75 17.5and 1%17.5
with 3% alkalinity egg white17.5 17.5
at a temperature 17.5C inL62
ofMAKON
50 o 17.5 blender.
a Waring
P1045the MAKON
The blank represents foam levelP104
generated from15 the alkaline 15egg white 15solution with
15 no surfactant
MAKON L64 14.5 The
15 added.
MAKON L-SeriesP105 and R-Series
MAKON exhibit
P105the best defoaming
21 properties.
21 Defoaming
21 is dependent
21 upon surfactant
21 cloud
MAKON L101 21
point and application-use temperature.
17R2 MAKON 17R2 When deciding 7 on a defoamer,
7 it is recommended
7 7 that a formulator
6.5 use
6.5 a block
copolymer whose cloud point is below the intended use temperature.
17R4 MAKON 17R4 5 4.5 4 3.5 3 2.5
Type Name Foam Height (mm) @ Time (se
0
10
High Shear Defoaming with Egg White at 50oC
0 5 10 15 30 60
40
Blank 26 26 26 26 25.5 25.5
Liquids
L61
35 MAKON L61 5.5 5.5 5.5 5 4.5 3
L62 MAKON L62 6 6 6 6 6 6
30
L64 MAKON L64 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5
MAKON L61
L101 MAKON L101
25 7.5 7.5 6 6 5
MAKON 17R2
4.5
MAKON MAKON L62
P65/75
Type 20
5 Name P65/75 0.1%, 2517.5
C 17.5
0.1%, 50 C 17.5 17.5 17.5 17.5
120 MAKON 17R4
P104 MAKON P104 Initial
Defoaming 15
5 min 15
Initial 5 min15 15 15 L64 14.5
MAKON
15
P105 MAKON P105 (mm) (mm)
21 (mm)21 (mm)21 21 21 L101 21
100 MAKON L61 MAKON
L61
17R2 MAKON 17R2 INS 7INS 7 0 0
7 7 6.5 6.5
10 Blank
L62 MAKON L62 16 1 20 8
Foam Height (mm)

17R4
80 MAKON 17R4 5 4.5 4 3.5 3 2.5
L64 5 MAKON L64 13 0 88 16
L101 MAKON L101 INS INS INS INS
0 MAKON P65/75
6040
P65/75 44 14 104 37
0
P104 MAKON P104 15 92 30 90 69 45 Reverses
67 60
35
P10540 MAKON P105 82 Time (sec)
73 91 77
17R2 30 MAKON 17R2 0 0 0 0
17R420 MAKON 17R4 2 0 0 0
25
0
MAKON 17R2
20
Defoaming MAKON 17R4
15
Blank
10
Initial 5 min
1205

0
100
0 30 60 90 120
Foam Height (mm)

80
Time (sec)
Under the conditions described, MAKON L61, MAKON L101, MAKON 17R2 and MAKON 17R4
exhibit
60
the best defoaming properties.

Defoaming Blender Method:

Equipment: Waring40 Food & Beverage blender with 40-oz cloverleaf carafe
Test solution: 0.02 wt% surfactant, 3 wt% NaOH (sodium hydroxide), and 1 wt% fresh egg white in deionized water
Blank test solution:20
3 wt% NaOH, 1 wt% fresh egg white in deionized water, no surfactant added
Procedure: Incubate test solution and blender carafe at 50°C, blend 200 mL on high speed for 30 seconds, allow foam to settle, use
video camera to record foam during blending and for 5 minutes after, measure foam height in mm 7
0
 Visit www.stepan.com/alkoxylates for Stepan’s full product portfolio.

For further information, contact North America Technical Service at

techserv@stepan.com or (800) 745-7837.

2018 © Stepan Company. All Rights Reserved.

MAKON® is a registered trademark of Stepan Company.
The information contained herein is based on the manufacturer’s own study and the works of others and is subject to change without prior notice. The
information is not intended to be all-inclusive, including as to the manner and conditions of use, handling, storage or disposal or other factors that may
involve additional legal, environmental, safety or performance considerations. Nothing contained herein grants or extends a license, express or implied,
in connection with any patents issued or pending of the manufacturer or others, or shall be construed as a recommendation to infringe any patents.
STEPAN COMPANY MAKES NO PRODUCT WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR USE, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED,
AND NO OTHER WARRANTY OR GUARANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IS MADE, INCLUDING AS TO INFORMATION REGARDING PERFORMANCE,
SAFETY, SUITABILITY, STABILITY, ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, OR ADEQUACY. Stepan Company (and its employees, subsidiaries and affiliates) shall
not be liable (regardless of fault) to the vendee, its employees, or any other party for any direct, indirect, special or consequential damages arising out
of or in connection with the accuracy, completeness, adequacy, furnishing, use, or reliance upon information provided herein. The vendee assumes and
releases Stepan Company (and its employees, subsidiaries and affiliates) from all liability, whether in tort, contract or otherwise to the fullest extent
possible under the relevant law.
June 2018
8