Silsurf® A008-UP-CG

Silsurf A008-UP-CG lowers the surface tension of water to between 20-22 mN/m at use levels of 0.01% (by weight.) This very low surface tension allows the aqueous solution to spontaneously spread on or wet-out most surfaces.

Silsurf A008-UP-CG and other trisiloxane based materials additionally exhibit the very unique property of super spreading. Super spreading occurs when the solution covers a surface area much greater than that of normal surfactant solutions. This unique behavior is believed to be driven by the forces set up when the surfactant molecules are slow to repopulate a surface that has been stretched. Contact angles on most surfaces are 0° or nearly 0° and spreading is halted only by competition with evaporation of the water. Very few surfactants can do this; even fluoroalkyl surfactants which reduce surface tension to lower values do not super spread.

Silsurf A008-UP-CG and other ethoxylated methicones provide outstanding wetting in personal care applications when used at levels between 0.1% and 0.6% by weight. The superior wetting properties provide excellent performance in skin and hair care products and the low usage requirement translates to superior efficiencies. The lubricity of skin creams and hair care products can be dramatically improved with the addition of Silsurf A008-UP-CG.

Silsurf A008-UP-CG is ideally suited for personal care applications as the highly specialized manufacturing process for this material results in a finished product with very low or undetectable odor.

In the chart below Silsurf A008-UP-CG surfactant and two other trisiloxane ethoxylates are compared to pure water, an SLS solution and and a strongly performing organic nonionic control (nine mole ethoxylated linear alcohol). Silsurf A008-UP-CG and the two other trisiloxane ethoxylates show much lower equilibrium surface tension, improved Draves wetting times, lower foam height, and extraordinary spreading on surfaces.
They also have low critical micelle concentrations (CMC) which is an indicator of minimum effective use levels.

¹LAE =Rhodasurf LA-9
²SLS = Jeelate SLS-30
³dual CMCs were apparent in this experiment

When compared to a potent anionic surfactant, SLS, again one sees much lower equilibrium surface tension, dramatically improved Draves wetting times, lower foam height, and extraordinary spreading on surfaces. The CMCs are an order of magnitude lower as well.
Even though Silsurf A008-UP-CG surfactant can cost more per pound than organic surfactants, the much lower use level can translate to less expensive costs and the unique properties can allow new and interesting claims.

Silsurf A008-UP-CG is available in 20kg and 200kg containers.

When stored in the original, unopened containers between 10 and 400C, Silsurf A008-UP-CG has a shelf life of 36 months from date of manufacture.