Kemaix Surfactant R&D Laboratory
Laboratory Testing and Custom Formulation to Stabilize Your Chemical Products.
We Test Before We Recommend
Most suppliers answer a formulation question with a product code. Our R&D department answers it with data — because we can measure the property you actually care about before proposing a grade.
Established in 2013, the laboratory supports custom synthesis and precise molecular-weight control across our full portfolio. Where no standard grade fits, we synthesise a trial batch and test it against your criteria.
That capability is why we can commit to tuning HLB, cloud point and EO/PO ratio to a process rather than selling from a fixed list.
Nine Standard Test Methods
Run on your formulation, not just on our raw material.
| Test Method | What It Tells You |
|---|---|
| Surface & Interfacial Tension (CMC) | Determines critical micelle concentration and the surface tension a surfactant can reach — the baseline for wetting and emulsification performance. |
| Cloud Point Determination | Identifies the temperature at which a nonionic surfactant loses solubility. Decisive for both detergency windows and defoaming efficiency. |
| HLB Value Calculation & Mapping | Maps the required HLB of your oil phase and calculates the Span/Tween or ethoxylate blend needed to reach it. |
| Ross-Miles Foam Height Analysis | Standard method for quantifying foam generation and decay — the core test behind our low-foam and defoamer grade selection. |
| Wetting Speed (Draves Test) | Measures how fast a surfactant solution wets a standard substrate, used for scouring, penetrant and adjuvant selection. |
| Emulsion Particle Size Distribution | Droplet size drives emulsion stability. We measure distribution to predict creaming and coalescence before you scale up. |
| Freeze-Thaw Stability Testing | Cycles the formulation through low temperature to expose cold-storage separation before it reaches your customer. |
| Alkali & Acid Stability Trials | Confirms a surfactant holds up at the pH extremes of your process, particularly for industrial cleaning and textile systems. |
| Customised Synthesis Trials | Where no standard grade fits, we synthesise a trial batch with adjusted EO/PO ratio or molecular weight and test it against your criteria. |
Send a sample of your formulation with the property you need measured, and we will return the data with a grade recommendation.
Creating Real Value for Global Customers
Performance
We develop high-efficiency surfactants that perform reliably across complex industrial applications — validated by measurement, not assumption.
Cost Reduction
Solutions optimised for low dosage and cost-effective use. Finding the minimum effective dose often pays for the consultation on the first trial.
Sustainability
Committed to greener chemistry — APEO-free ethoxylates and low-VOC, water-based routes that align with tightening environmental standards.
Where Our Engineers Work Most
Agrochemical Formulations
Optimising emulsion stability for EC, SC and OD systems, with HLB matching for complex pesticide tank mixes.
Industrial & Metal Cleaning
Developing low-foam, alkali-stable surfactants for precision degreasing and high-pressure spray cleaning systems.
Detergents & HI&I
Solving rheology and stability problems in high-active concentrated liquid detergents and laundry pods.
Oilfield Chemicals
Demulsifier development for rapid oil-water separation in high-salinity and variable-temperature environments.
Foam Control
Grade selection for fermentation, papermaking, water treatment and concrete admixtures, validated by Ross-Miles foam analysis.
Textile Auxiliaries
Scouring, wetting and levelling agent development that holds up under extreme pH and temperature.
Frequently Asked Questions
What testing can the Kemaix laboratory run on my formulation?
Our laboratory runs surface and interfacial tension (CMC), cloud point determination, HLB calculation and mapping, Ross-Miles foam height analysis, Draves wetting speed, emulsion particle size distribution, freeze-thaw stability, alkali and acid stability trials, and customised synthesis trials.
Can Kemaix synthesise a grade that does not exist in the standard range?
Yes. Because we operate our own ethoxylation and propoxylation lines, we can adjust EO/PO ratio, molecular weight and cloud point to produce a trial grade against your specification, then test it in our laboratory before scale-up.
How long does a technical consultation take?
Technical enquiries receive a response within 12 hours. For formulation work, our engineers review your process conditions and return a molecular-level analysis with a sample recommendation, typically within 24 hours.
Do you provide free samples for laboratory evaluation?
Yes. We supply 200-500 g free samples with the corresponding COA, shipped by international courier for your own trials.
Which industries does the R&D team support most often?
Agrochemical formulation (EC, SC, EW and OD systems), industrial and metal cleaning, concentrated liquid detergents, oilfield demulsification, textile auxiliaries and foam control in fermentation, papermaking and water treatment.
Have a Stability Problem We Can Measure?
Send us your formulation challenge — emulsion separation, foam carryover, cold-storage failure — and our R&D engineers will propose a test plan, run it, and come back with data and a sample recommendation.