Selecting Right Personal Care Surfactant

Surface-active agents, known as surfactants, are chemical compounds that play a vital role in various industries by reducing surface tension between two substances, such as a liquid and a gas, or a liquid and a solid. These agents are classified into several types, each with unique properties and applications.

1. Anionic Surfactants:

-- Soap-Based Surfactants: These are salts of long-chain fatty acids, such as sodium or potassium salts of stearic, oleic, or lauric acid. They are effective emulsifiers and cleaners but are susceptible to precipitation in hard water due to calcium and magnesium ions. Commonly used in household cleaning products, soaps can range from solid bars to liquid forms.

-- Sulfates and Sulfonates: Examples include sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate. These compounds offer excellent foaming and cleaning properties and are widely employed in detergents, shampoos, and toothpaste. They maintain stability across a range of pH levels, making them versatile for various cleaning tasks.

2. Cationic Surfactants:

These surfactants are characterized by their positive ionic nature, which allows them to bind effectively to negatively charged surfaces, such as fabrics and skin. Quaternary ammonium compounds, like benzalkonium chloride and cetylpyridinium chloride, are prominent examples. They exhibit potent antimicrobial properties, making them suitable for use as disinfectants, fabric softeners, and hair conditioners.

3. Amphoteric Surfactants:

These can function as either anionic or cationic surfactants depending on the pH of the surrounding environment. Notable for their mildness, they are often included in personal care products such as shampoos and facial cleansers that require gentle cleaning action without irritation. Examples include betaine (i.e. cocamidopropyl betaine) and amino acid-based surfactants (i.e. sodium lauroyl sarcosinate) , which help maintain moisture and soothe the skin. Amino acid-based surfactants is utilizing natural amino acids, these surfactants offer excellent biodegradability and mildness. They are increasingly used in environmentally friendly personal care and cleaning products, where performance must be balanced with sustainability considerations.

4. Non-ionic Surfactants:

These surfactants do not ionize in solution, providing high stability and compatibility with other surfactant types. They are less affected by water hardness and are often used in formulations where product stability is crucial. Common applications include cosmetic products, pharmaceuticals, and food-grade applications where low irritation and high compatibility are desirable. The typical surfactant of this series is APG surfactant.

5. Polymeric Surfactants:

Derived from or based on high molecular weight compounds, these surfactants can provide superior stabilizing abilities in emulsions and suspensions. They find use in industries like food, textiles, and paints, where they assist in thickening or providing texture modifications. These surfactants may also improve product shelf life by enhancing the consistency of formulations.

6. Specialty Surfactants:

-- Fluorosurfactants: These contain fluorine atoms, providing them with exceptional thermodynamic stability and low surface tension. They are useful in high-performance coatings and cleaners, especially in sectors requiring resistance to extreme conditions.

-- Silicone Surfactants: Based on siloxane structures, these surfactants excel at spreading and wetting, often used in personal care for enhanced skincare and in textile applications for water repellency.

-- Biosurfactants: Produced by microbial activity, these surfactants are gaining attention for their ecological benefits. Used in bioremediation, they help in breaking down pollutants, offering an alternative in environments where natural degradation is advantageous. 

ShengQing Materials is mainly produce mild surfactant like APG surfactant, latest product is SQ-SUR PG68 which could replace SLES 70% partially, for example, current SLES 70% price is 1350USD/MT, while SQ-SUR PG68 price is less than 1000USD/MT, it will help clients to offset the effect of palm oil price increment. Please feel free to contact ShengQing Materials if needed.