Ether phosphates and related

Formula Others

NA

Content
Synonyms
NA
EP, FAEO Phosphate

Commercial names

Teric (Huntsman), Sinonate 1100HP

Charge

Anionic

Supplied as

100%

Incompatibility

Cationics?

pH stability

Great, Higher than sulfated analogs, pH 1-

14

Uses/properties

Hydrotrope
Defoamer (diester)
Cleansing
Foam less than homolog sulfate, less
than parent alcohol

Similar/related products

Sulphate/Sulphonates, alkyl phospates,

diether phosphate

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Data
Chemistry and technology of surfactant p 123 and p137-139

Composition vs. performance. Given the variety of alcohols, degree of esterification and
salts that can be prepared, the surfactant properties that can be obtained from this group
of surfactants are very wide. The predominant types use feed materials which are also
used as non-ionics or as sulphation feedstocks for improved economics and these would
typically be in the range C1216 with 015 mol of ethylene oxide. Increasing the degree of
ethoxylation will, as might be expected, increase solubility, and tolerance to hard water and
electrolytes. Foam generation will also increase with EO addition, though not as much as
with sulphate. Generally, the foaming of phosphate esters is intermediate between the parent
alcohol/ethoxylate (often regarded as low foaming) and the sulphated alcohol/ethoxylate.
Wetting is better with lower molecular weight alcohols and the shorter chains (e.g. C8) have
hydrotroping powers.
Applications. As medium foaming/hydrotropic surfactants, PEs can be used in detergent
cleansing applications with the short chain alkyl esters being effective hydrotropes for nonionic
surfactants. Application of PEs in detergents is relatively limited, due to their cost
compared to a sulphate/sulphonate, or non-ionic but long chain diesters can be used as
effective de-foamers in anionic systems.

Phosphate esters are widely used in metalworking and lubricants. A C1214 with 6 mol
of ethylene oxide (diester) can be used as an emulsifier but also as an extreme pressure
additive it can reducewear where there is high pressure metal to metal contact. PEs can also
show corrosion inhibiting properties, as with petroleum sulphonates and the emulsifying
power of PEs with low foam is used in agrochemical formulations. PEs can act as dispersants
or hydrotropes in plant protection formulations, allowing the development of easy-tohandle
and dilute formulations of both poorly miscible and insoluble herbicides.
The surfactant and anti-corrosion properties of PEs also find use in textile auxiliaries
low foaming gives further benefits and C8 diesters are also reported to give antistatic effects
on synthetic fibres.

Lakeland

Very good hydrotroping properties which enable high active products to be produced without
the use of additional auxiliary hydrotropes.
Stability in alkali and builders enabling heavy duty cleaners to be formulated.
Lubricating properties that enable phosphate esters to be used in metal working fluids
and water based lubricants.
Excellent free rinsing properties leading to smear free surfaces.
Corrosion inhibition and prevention as well as load carrying properties make phosphate
esters ideal for use in metalworking.
In general low orders of toxicity and relatively low orders of irritation for the potassium
salts.

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 Some phosphate esters exhibit solvent solubility.
Lakeland Ether Phosphates

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