Leading Block Polyether (Poloxamer) Manufacturer | 7+ High-Performance Grades
ISO 9001 Certified Manufacturer of Block Polyethers. Custom EO/PO ratios available with full TDS & COA technical support for global supply.
Two Blocks, One Dial, Thirty Points of HLB
Block polyethers — also called poloxamers or Pluronic-type copolymers — are EO-PO-EO triblock structures. A hydrophobic polypropylene-oxide core sits between two hydrophilic polyethylene-oxide ends.
Changing the size of those blocks moves HLB from 3 to 30 and turns the same chemistry into a defoamer, a low-foam detergent surfactant, a dispersant or a pharmaceutical-grade emulsifier. The L series is liquid, P is paste and F is flake or solid.
- CAS Number9003-11-6
- INCI NamePoloxamer
- StructureEO-PO-EO block copolymer
- Ionic TypeNonionic
- HLB Range3 – 30
- SeriesL (liquid) / P (paste) / F (flake or solid)
Block Polyether Technical Specifications
| Grade | Appearance (25°C) | Avg. Molecular Weight | Viscosity (25°C, mPa·s) | Cloud Point (°C, 1% aq.) | Melting Point (°C) | Moisture (%) | pH (1% aq.) | HLB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L31 | Colorless transparent liquid | 1100 | 200 | 37 | — | ≤ 1.0 | 5.0–7.0 | 3.5 |
| L35 | Colorless transparent liquid | 1900 | 320 | 70–85 | — | ≤ 1.0 | 5.0–7.0 | 18.5 |
| F38 | White solid | 5000 | — | > 100 | 45 | ≤ 1.0 | 5.0–7.0 | 30 |
| L42 | Colorless transparent liquid | 1630 | 250 | 37 | — | ≤ 1.0 | 5.0–7.0 | 8 |
| L43 | Colorless transparent liquid | 1850 | 310 | 42 | — | ≤ 1.0 | 5.0–7.0 | 10 |
| L44 | Colorless to light yellow liquid | 2200 | 140–190 | 45–60 | — | ≤ 0.5 | 5.0–7.0 | 12 |
| L45 | Colorless transparent liquid | 2400 | — | 75–85 | — | ≤ 1.0 | 5.0–7.0 | 15 |
| L61 | Colorless to light yellow liquid | 2000 | 100–150 | 35–45* | — | ≤ 0.5 | 5.0–7.0 | 3 |
| L62 | Colorless to light yellow liquid | 2500 | 180–230 | 35–45* | — | ≤ 0.5 | 5.0–7.0 | 7 |
| L63 | Colorless to light yellow liquid | 2650 | 550 | 34 | — | ≤ 1.0 | 5.0–7.0 | 11 |
| L64 | Colorless to light yellow liquid | 2900 | 200–250 | 55–65 | — | ≤ 0.5 | 5.0–7.0 | 13 |
| P65 | Milky white paste | 3500 | — | 75–85 | 29.5 | ≤ 1.0 | 5.0–7.0 | 15 |
| F68 | White solid | 8350 | — | > 100 | 50 | ≤ 1.0 | 5.0–7.0 | 29 |
*Cloud point measured under standard conditions. F68 is Poloxamer 188. Custom EO/PO ratios and molecular weights available.
Where Block Polyethers Are Used
Low-Foam Detergency & Defoaming
L61, L64 and F68 suit synthetic detergents requiring a low foam profile with high detergency. L61 is widely used as a defoamer in papermaking and microbial fermentation.
Pharmaceutical & Cosmetic Grade
Low toxicity makes poloxamers established excipients — emulsifying agents in oral preparations, nasal sprays, eye and ear drops, and high-end shampoos. F38 serves as a viscosity modifier, gelling agent and rinsing aid.
Industrial Lubrication & Textiles
High-performance coolants and lubricants for cutting and grinding. L44 provides durable antistatic protection for synthetic fibres, and P65 acts as a wool protective agent — adding 0.3% during carbonisation reduces scale damage and increases single-fibre strength by around 10%.
Dispersants, Coatings & Oilfield
F68 is a powerful emulsifier in vinyl acetate emulsion polymerisation and a wetting agent in sugar mills. L64 and F68 also serve as crude-oil demulsifiers and help prevent hard scale deposition in pipelines.
Selection & Handling Notes
⚠ Match the series letter to the job
L series (liquid, low HLB) for defoaming and low-foam wetting; F series (solid, high EO) for pharmaceutical emulsification and gelling. Substituting across series rarely works.
⚠ Cloud point drives defoaming efficiency
Foam control peaks above the cloud point. If a grade under-performs, check whether your process actually runs above it before changing product.
⚠ Pharmaceutical use needs the right grade and documentation
Confirm purity requirements for your market and request the corresponding documentation before formulating a regulated product.
⚠ Dose antifoam to the minimum effective level
Over-dosing wastes product and, in aerated biological systems, can reduce oxygen transfer.
Packaging, Storage & Shipping
Packaging: Liquid and paste grades in 200 kg steel drums or 50 kg plastic drums. Solid and flake grades (F38, F68) in 25 kg paper bags or fibre drums with inner plastic liner.
Storage: Cool, dry and well-ventilated conditions with containers kept closed. Shelf life 2 years from date of manufacture.
Shipping: FOB, CIF and CFR as FCL or LCL via Shanghai Port, with TDS, MSDS and COA supplied for customs clearance and REACH filing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are block polyethers (poloxamers)?
They are EO-PO-EO triblock copolymers with a hydrophobic propylene-oxide core and hydrophilic ethylene-oxide ends. Adjusting the block sizes sets HLB, foam behaviour and solubility across a very wide range.
What is F68 / Poloxamer 188 used for?
F68 (MW about 8350, HLB 29) is a high-EO grade used as a shear protectant in sparged cell culture, an emulsifier in vinyl acetate emulsion polymerisation, and a wetting agent in industrial processes.
Which grade works best as a low-foam defoamer?
Low-HLB liquid grades such as L61 (HLB 3) and L62 (HLB 7) collapse foam effectively while limiting oxygen-transfer loss. For formulated foam control see our polyether defoamer range.
What is the difference between the L, P and F series?
L grades are liquids used mainly for low-foam detergents and defoamers; P grades are pastes offering balanced performance for oilfield and textile use; F grades are flakes or solids with high EO content, used as pharmaceutical emulsifiers and gelling agents.
What HLB range do the block polyethers cover?
From about 3 (hydrophobic, low-foam) to 30 (highly hydrophilic), so grades can be matched to defoaming, wetting, dispersing or solubilizing duty.
Can you customise the EO/PO ratio?
Yes. We synthesise block polyethers in-house, so EO/PO ratio, molecular weight and cloud point can be tuned to a specific application requirement.
Need a Specific HLB or EO/PO Ratio?
Tell us whether you need foam control, low-foam detergency, dispersing or shear protection — we will recommend the grade, supply TDS and COA, and send 200–500 g samples.