Oleth-20 belongs to surfactants that, due to their properties, are used not only in the cosmetics industry, but also in the pharmaceutical industry. Its solubilising, wetting, dispersing and thickening actions are the main features that determine the use of this chemical compound.
Oleth-20 (as given in the international INCI system) is a compound that acts as an emulsifier due to the structure of the molecule. The chemical name of Oleth-20 is polyoxyethylene monoolein ether. It is also known as oleyl ether macrogol. Its CAS number is 9004-98-2.
The basic physical and chemical characteristics of Oleth-20 are:
Oleth-20 meets many restrictive requirements set by the pharmacy code, which are collected and published in the latest edition of the European Pharmacopoeia. For this reason, Oleth-20 is classified as a so-called macrogol.
The main function of Oleth-20 in products is the formation of an O/W emulsion (oil-in-water, the oil phase is dispersed in a homogeneous water phase). The ability of Oleth-20 to form stable O/W emulsions is caused by the degree of ethoxylation of the oleic alcohol. It is especially recommended for the preparation of emulsions at room temperature. This is extremely important when the active ingredients of the formulation are heat sensitive.
The dispersing and stabilising properties of Oleth-20 play a significant role in ointments. They support the creation of stable formulations, in which the active substance is in a solid form. Sufficiently good dispersion of the active substance in the product ensures its homogeneous delivery at the application area, which affects the effectiveness of use.
Cosmetic products containing Oleth-20:
