Polysorbate 60

About This Product

Polysorbate 60 is produced by ethoxylating sorbitan monostearate with around 20 units of ethylene oxide. It carries CAS number 9005-67-8 and the INCI name Polysorbate 60, and is supplied as a pale yellow waxy semi-solid or paste rather than a free-flowing liquid. The difference from Polysorbate 20 and 80 lies in the fatty chain and the HLB that follows from it. At roughly 14.9 its HLB sits just below the threshold at which a surfactant forms transparent micellar solutions, so it functions as a genuine oil-in-water emulsifier, producing opaque, stable creams rather than clear solutions. The stearic C18 chain is long and fully saturated, which anchors firmly in an oil phase and packs well at the droplet interface, giving better emulsion stability and more body than the shorter-chain grades. It is normally paired with a low-HLB co-emulsifier such as sorbitan stearate, and the ratio between them is adjusted to match the required HLB of the specific oil phase. It is also the polysorbate most often paired with cetearyl alcohol in pre-blended emulsifying waxes. It is used in creams and lotions, hair conditioners, sun care, colour cosmetics, and as an emulsifier in food and pharmaceutical products. Bio Green Chem supplies Polysorbate 60 to specification on hydroxyl and saponification value, acid value, water content, colour and heavy metals.