Span-80 (Sorbitan Oleate)
Lipophilic nonionic surfactant (sorbitan oleate). Functions as a water-in-oil (W/O) emulsifier for cosmetic, food and industrial systems.
Span-80
Metal Processing
Additives for metalworking fluids — emulsification, rust inhibition and degreasing agents.
Why metalworking fluids need surfactants
Metalworking fluids cool, lubricate and flush chips at the cutting edge, and their performance depends on emulsifiers and wetting agents that keep oil and water working together. A stable emulsion protects the tool, the workpiece and the operator — instability shows up as rancidity, corrosion or poor surface finish.
The surfactants we supply help formulators build water-miscible fluids: emulsifiers that hold the concentrate, wetting agents that spread the fluid evenly, and polyether components that control foam and rinse-off.
- Emulsifiers for oil-in-water and water-in-oil systems
- Wetting and dispersing aids for concentrate stability
- Polyether components for foam control
Metalworking chemistry is also a safety and cost issue: unstable emulsions promote bacterial growth, corrosion and higher fluid consumption. Formulators use anionic and nonionic systems to balance cleaning power, foam and emulsion life, and they qualify raw materials carefully because a small change in emulsifier chemistry shifts the behaviour of the whole fluid.
Metal Processing
Representative imagery
What we supply
Products from our catalogue relevant to metalworking and industrial formulations:
Polyethylene Glycol 4000 (PEG-4000)
High-molecular-weight polymer, white solid. Used in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food and industrial applications.
polyethylene glycol 4000
Random Polyether BPE-1600
Random polyether used in coatings and industrial cleaning formulations as a defoaming / levelling / wetting component.
random polyether BPE-1600
Application examples
- Emulsifiable concentrates — Span-80 (sorbitan oleate) provides water-in-oil emulsification for industrial systems and heavy emulsions.
- Foam control — Random Polyether BPE-1600 acts as a defoaming and wetting component in industrial cleaning and fluid systems.
- Process aids and humectants — PEG-4000 serves as a water-soluble process aid in industrial applications.
- Alkaline parts cleaning — wetting agents improve soil removal and rinsing in metal pre-treatment baths.
How to engage our team
Getting from inquiry to production batch is a four-step process:
- Send your application, target market and required volume through the inquiry form.
- Our technical team shortlists the relevant grades and confirms regional suitability.
- Free 500 g to 1000 g samples are shipped for evaluation; the buyer covers freight, deductible from a future bulk order.
- Once validated, we confirm pricing, lead time and shipping for volume supply.
Frequently asked questions
Can I request a metalworking additive sample?
Yes — free 500 g to 1000 g samples are available for evaluation. The buyer covers freight, and the sample value is deducted from a future bulk order.
Do you supply complete metalworking fluid formulations?
We supply the surfactant and polyether components and advise on grade selection; the finished fluid formulation is developed by the formulator.
How do I choose between W/O and O/W emulsifiers for a fluid?
The choice depends on whether the fluid is oil-continuous (W/O) or water-continuous (O/W) and on the machining operation. Share your concentrate type and application and our team will shortlist candidates.
Request a quote or technical sample
Share your application, target market and required volume — our team responds with selection and lead time.
Contact us