| HS Code | 446355 |
| Product Name | Emulsifier TDA-5 |
| Chemical Type | Nonionic surfactant |
| Chemical Composition | Tridecyl alcohol ethoxylate with 5 ethylene oxide units |
| Cas Number | 24938-91-8 |
| Appearance | Colorless to pale yellow clear liquid |
| Ionic Character | Nonionic |
| Active Matter | ≥99% |
| Eo Units | 5 |
| Hlb Value | ≈10.5 |
| Cloud Point | 50–60 °C (1% aqueous solution) |
| Ph | 5.0–7.0 (1% aqueous solution) |
| Density | 0.96–0.98 g/cm³ at 20 °C |
| Viscosity | 30–60 mPa·s at 25 °C |
| Solubility | Dispersible in water; soluble in ethanol, acetone, and aromatic solvents |
| Flash Point | >100 °C (closed cup) |
| Pour Point | ≤0 °C |
| Hydroxyl Value | 125–145 mg KOH/g |
| Surface Tension | ≈29–32 mN/m (0.1% aqueous solution) |
| Moisture | ≤0.5% |
| Color | ≤50 APHA |
As an accredited Emulsifier TDA-5 factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Emulsifier TDA-5 is supplied in sealed 200 kg drums, clearly labeled with product name, batch number, and safety information. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | Emulsifier TDA-5 is loaded in a 20′ FCL container, securely packed, labeled, and documented for safe chemical transport. |
| Shipping | Emulsifier TDA-5 is typically shipped as a non-hazardous industrial liquid in sealed, labeled containers. Verify classification against the current SDS before transport. Store cool, dry, and well-ventilated, away from oxidizers and freezing; comply with applicable ADR/IMDG/IATA and local shipping regulations. |
| Storage | Store Emulsifier TDA-5 in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, heat, ignition sources, strong oxidizers, and acids. Keep containers tightly closed, clearly labeled, and protected from freezing and moisture. Use secondary containment to prevent spills. Avoid inhaling vapors or mists and contact with skin and eyes. Follow local regulations and SDS. |
| Shelf Life | Stored sealed in a cool, dry, ventilated place away from sunlight, Emulsifier TDA-5 typically has a shelf life of about two years. |
A 5,000 L jacketed stainless-steel reactor fitted with a 45° pitched-blade impeller and operated at 80–85 °C is the reference production configuration. TDA-5 is introduced into the monomer pre-emulsion at 0.8–1.5 wt% based on total monomer, in combination with an anionic emulsifier such as sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate or an ethoxylated sulfosuccinate at 2.0–3.0 wt% on monomer. The pre-emulsion is sheared in a separate vessel with a rotor–stator homogenizer at 1,200–1,800 rpm for 20–30 min and fed semi-batch over 3–4 h into the reactor. Free-radical initiation uses ammonium persulfate at 0.3–0.5 wt% on monomer, with reactor pH held at 4.5–5.5 by buffered initiator feed. The 1% aqueous cloud point of TDA-5 lies in the 55–62 °C range; therefore the polymerization temperature exceeds the cloud point, and the nonionic ethoxylate alone cannot maintain particle stability. Its function is steric stabilization and shear stability, not primary electrostatic repulsion. Pre-emulsion age is limited to 120 min to reduce hydrolytic drift of the ethoxylate under mildly acidic conditions. Terminal products are exterior architectural latex coatings, pressure-sensitive adhesives, and construction mastics. Compliance for latex raw materials is evaluated under ISO 3251 for non-volatile matter, ISO 2811-1 for density, and ASTM D2196-20 for Brookfield viscosity. REACH Annex XVII controls residual monomer limits where applicable.
| Application sector | Standard/method | Controlled parameter |
|---|---|---|
| Styrene–acrylic latex | ISO 3251, ISO 2811-1, ASTM D2196-20 | Non-volatile matter, density, Brookfield viscosity |
| Soluble-oil metalworking fluids | ASTM D1401-20, ASTM D4627-12, ASTM D92-18 | Oil separation, iron chip corrosion, flash point |
| Synthetic filament spin finish | OEKO-TEX Standard 100, ZDHC MRSL v3.2 | Restricted substances, fiber compatibility |
| Agrochemical emulsifiable concentrates | CIPAC MT36.3, CIPAC MT47 | Emulsion stability, persistent foam |
| Industrial hard-surface cleaning | EU Detergent Regulation (EC) No 648/2004, OECD 301B | Surfactant biodegradability, labeling |
| Polyurethane mold release | ISO 2409, US EPA Method 24 | Coating adhesion, VOC content |
For soluble-oil machining-fluid concentrate production, TDA-5 is blended into naphthenic base oil at 60–75 wt%, with TDA-5 at 5–12 wt% and an anionic calcium sulfonate or triethanolamine sulfonate at 8–15 wt%. Mixing occurs in a low-shear turbine-agitated vessel at 40–50 °C; the ethoxylate is added after the base oil and before the anionic emulsifier to avoid localized viscosity excursions. Final dilution at 3–8 vol% in water produces a milky macroemulsion for flood-cooling of turning, milling, and grinding. Emulsion stability is checked by ASTM D1401-20 oil separation and ASTM D4627-12 iron chip corrosion; concentrate flash point is reported under ASTM D92-18. Fresh emulsion pH is maintained at 8.5–9.5 with alkanolamine buffers. The major processing boundary is water hardness above 400 ppm CaCO₃ in central coolant lines; at this hardness, TDA-5-rich concentrates without a chelating agent or hydrotrope can undergo additive partitioning and shortened sump life. Blending temperature is not allowed to exceed 55 °C when acidic phosphate esters are present, because prolonged heat history can accelerate ester hydrolysis and shift acid number. Terminal products are general-purpose soluble cutting oils for ferrous and aluminium alloys, multi-metal semi-synthetic fluids, and high-pressure coolant concentrates.
When spin finish concentrates are diluted for application to polyester pre-oriented yarn at 0.3–0.5 wt% on fiber, TDA-5 is incorporated at 8–15 wt% into the neat oil concentrate together with alkoxylated fatty acid esters, silicone lubricants, and antistatic compounds. The concentrate is emulsified with deionized water at 30–35 °C using a low-shear propeller mixer; the temperature is deliberately kept below the cloud point to prevent phase inversion before delivery to the applicator. Metering pumps feed the dilute finish to a kiss roller or ceramic guides at filament take-up speeds of 2,800–3,500 m/min for polyester POY and 2,000–2,800 m/min for polyamide 6. The main incompatibility is with quaternary ammonium antistats at pH below 4.0, where ethoxylate–cationic complexes deposit on heater plates and draw rolls. Emulsion stability is monitored by centrifugation at 3,000 × g for 30 min, with acceptance set at less than 2 vol% creaming. Terminal products are polyester POY/DY filament yarns, polyamide 6 apparel yarns, and bicomponent sheath-core nylon/polyester yarns. Compliance is documented under OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and ZDHC MRSL v3.2 restricted-substance lists.
Solvent-based emulsifiable concentrate manufacture charges TDA-5 at 2–6 wt% into a total surfactant loading of 5–10 wt% together with calcium dodecylbenzene sulfonate. Mixing is performed in a jacketed stainless-steel vessel at 25–35 °C; the technical active ingredient is first dissolved in the aromatic solvent, then the premixed surfactant pair is added, and the batch is circulated through a static mixer for 30–45 min. The TDA-5 fraction is increased toward 6 wt% when the formulation contains high emulsifiable solvent fractions or when end-use dilution occurs in hard water above 500 ppm CaCO₃. Emulsion stability is assessed by CIPAC MT36.3 using CIPAC Standard Water D at 342 ppm hardness and 5 vol% dilution in a 100 mL graduated cylinder; creaming and oil separation are recorded at 30 min, 2 h, and 24 h. Persistent foam is checked by CIPAC MT47. Terminal products are emulsifiable concentrate herbicides, insecticide EC formulations, and oil-in-water emulsion formulations. Published data for the exact dynamic interfacial tension of this specific TDA-5/calcium sulfonate pair in multicomponent solvents is limited; therefore formulation adjustments rely on comparative emulsion-stability testing rather than predictive HLB calculation alone.
In concentrated hard-surface degreasers and vehicle wash detergents, TDA-5 is used at 1–5 wt% in ready-to-use products and at 8–15 wt% in super-concentrates diluted from 1:20 to 1:80 with water. Cold mixing is conducted in a closed stainless-steel or HDPE vessel at 15–35 °C with a single-stage propeller agitator; sodium metasilicate pentahydrate and tetrasodium EDTA are added after the ethoxylate to avoid localized exotherm above 45 °C. The performance target is removal of mineral oil–carbon soil from metal parts and wheel rims. Cleaning performance is screened by Tergotometer or Gardner scrub test methods, while environmental compliance is anchored to EU Detergent Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 and OECD 301B ready biodegradability. The critical formulation threshold is electrolyte load: a 10 wt% metasilicate or sodium hydroxide load can depress the cloud point below 30 °C and cause phase separation. Commercial concentrates therefore combine TDA-5 with sodium cumene sulfonate at 1–3 wt% or a higher-EO alcohol ethoxylate at 2–4 wt%. Terminal products are alkaline parts-washer detergents, manual vehicle wash soap concentrates, and low-foam industrial degreasers.
Water-borne mold release dispersions for polyurethane molding incorporate TDA-5 at 3–6 wt% to emulsify paraffin wax or fatty acid ester lubricant phases at 10–25 wt% in water. The manufacturing process uses a jacketed high-shear homogenizer at 70–80 °C to melt the wax phase, followed by cooling to 30 °C under low-shear agitation to prevent re-coalescence of the dispersed phase. The liquid dispersion is applied by airless spray or accumulator-fed electrostatic spray to mold surfaces at 0.5–3 g/m² wet film. Demolding force is measured by load cell on a laboratory platen press; coating adhesion after mold transfer is checked by ISO 2409 cross-cut testing, and volatile organic compound content is reported under US EPA Method 24. Terminal products are flexible polyurethane seat cushions, rigid spray foam panels, and automotive steering wheels. The formulation must avoid free silicone phases above 1 wt% unless a co-surfactant is added, because uncontrolled silicone coalescence can transfer to molded parts and reduce post-mold adhesion.
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Tridecyl alcohol ethoxylate TDA-5 is a nonionic surfactant obtained by base-catalyzed ethoxylation of a tridecyl alcohol feedstock. The commercial identifier TDA-5 denotes an average of five moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol; the product is registered under CAS 69011-36-5 and INCI Trideceth-5. The theoretical ethylene oxide mass fraction for a linear C13 backbone is approximately 52.4 wt%, corresponding to a theoretical hydroxyl value of 133 mg KOH/g; commercial batches vary according to alkyl-chain branching and oligomer polydispersity. At 25 °C, TDA-5 is a clear to slightly turbid liquid with a density of 0.96–0.98 g/cm³ and a calculated HLB of 10.5–10.8. The cloud point of a 1% aqueous solution is reported by suppliers in the 55–65 °C range using ISO 1065, above which the surfactant separates into a surfactant-rich phase and the formulation loses optical clarity. Water dispersibility at ambient temperature is moderate; the product dissolves readily in ethanol, isopropanol, xylene, butyl acetate, and low-viscosity mineral oil, but concentrated aqueous gels may form if water is added to neat surfactant without sufficient agitation. These solubility and thermal boundaries define the primary processing window for TDA-5 in downstream formulations.
The ethoxylate distribution determines both equilibrium and dynamic surface tension. TDA-5 contains a Poisson-like distribution of homologs centered near 5 EO; low levels of unreacted tridecyl alcohol and homologs above 10 EO remain in commercial material. The lower homologs depress dynamic surface tension on freshly formed interfaces, while the higher homologs contribute to wetting and electrolyte tolerance. In a homologous series, increasing EO number shifts the HLB upward and raises the cloud point. TDA-5 therefore sits below the 12–13 HLB range commonly used for oil-in-water emulsions but above the 7–8 range associated with water-in-oil emulsifiers. This intermediate position makes TDA-5 useful as a co-emulsifier where low-foam emulsification is required and the oil phase has a required HLB near 10.
Equilibrium surface tension values measured by Du Noüy ring according to ASTM D1331 for 0.1% active solutions are frequently reported between 28 and 30 mN/m. The critical micelle concentration is typically one to two orders of magnitude lower than that of sodium dodecyl sulfate, although absolute values depend on the tridecyl alcohol isomer distribution. Because TDA-5 is nonionic, surface activity is less sensitive to pH and divalent cations than anionic surfactants; however, it loses surface activity reversibly above the cloud point, which must be considered in heated process streams.
| Property | TDA-3 | TDA-5 | TDA-7 | TDA-9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average ethylene oxide units | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 |
| Calculated HLB range | 7.8–8.2 | 10.5–10.8 | 12.0–12.5 | 13.0–13.5 |
| Water dispersibility at 25 °C | Poor; milky dispersion | Dispersible; translucent to turbid | Dispersible to soluble | Soluble; clear solution |
| Oil solubility in mineral oil | High | Moderate | Low | Very low |
| Typical cloud point, 1% aqueous, ISO 1065 | <40 °C | 55–65 °C | 70–80 °C | >90 °C |
These ranges are representative of tridecyl alcohol feedstocks with branched isotridecyl chains; linear tridecyl alcohol grades may show slightly higher cloud points and lower pour points. Formulators should request the specific oligomer distribution from the supplier when a narrow processing temperature window is specified.
Batch-release testing for TDA-5 in industrial supply chains normally includes water content, hydroxyl value, color, pH, and cloud point. Water content by ISO 760 Karl Fischer titration is controlled below 0.5% to prevent esterification or hydrolysis of co-formulated esters in metalworking fluids. Hydroxyl value by ASTM E222 or DIN 53240 provides a direct estimate of the average molecular weight and, together with the known molecular weight of the starting alcohol, the average EO adduct number. Commercial certificates of analysis commonly list hydroxyl values in the 130–140 mg KOH/g range; deviations above 145 mg KOH/g indicate under-ethoxylation or carry-over of free alcohol, while values below 125 mg KOH/g suggest higher average EO content than specified. Viscosity is measured on a Brookfield rotational viscometer under ISO 2555 at 25 °C with spindle LV 2 at 60 rpm; supplier-published values typically fall between 40 and 60 mPa·s. Color is assessed against the platinum-cobalt scale by ASTM D1209, with a maximum of 100 APHA common for industrial grade material. The pH of a 1% aqueous dilution tested by ISO 4316 is maintained between 5.0 and 7.0; more acidic material can degrade ester solvents, while more alkaline material may contain residual catalyst and increase the risk of side reactions with acid-labile pesticides. In tank storage, the product should be blanketed with dry nitrogen and maintained below 40 °C; extended exposure to air and moisture can increase peroxide formation, particularly in unsaturated oil-containing blends.
In acrylic and styrene-acrylic emulsion polymerization, TDA-5 functions as a primary or co-surfactant where the oil phase requires an HLB value near 10–11. The surfactant partitions between the aqueous phase and monomer droplets, lowering interfacial tension and influencing nucleation. In production-scale semibatch reactors with pitched-blade agitation at tip speeds of 2–5 m/s, the addition of 0.5–3.0 wt% TDA-5 based on total monomer is documented in starting formulations for poly(acrylate) latexes. When TDA-5 is used as the sole emulsifier, the resulting particle size distribution may be bimodal; pairing with an anionic surfactant such as sodium lauryl sulfate at a nonionic-to-anionic ratio of 2:1 to 4:1 narrows the distribution and improves shear stability in the outlet filter skid.
The cloud point between 55 and 65 °C must be accounted for during thermal stripping of residual monomers. Above this temperature the surfactant phase-separates, and the resulting coalesced surfactant droplets can redeposit on latex particles or foul plate heat exchangers. Production sites that run stripping at 70 °C may observe increased coagulum and pressure drop across the stripping column packing; switching to TDA-7 or adding a hydrotrope such as sodium xylene sulfonate is a documented corrective action. Batch-to-batch variability in TDA-5 oligomer distribution can change nucleation rates, but quantitative correlations between hydroxyl value drift and final particle size are not consistently published; sites therefore qualify each lot in a stirred minireactor before full-scale charging.
Replacement of nonylphenol ethoxylates with TDA-5 alters both regulatory status and performance. The branched tridecyl alcohol ethoxylates are not included in REACH Annex XVII Entry 46 restrictions on nonylphenol and nonylphenol ethoxylates, but harmonized classification for the tridecyl alcohol ethoxylates may still apply based on aquatic chronic endpoints. Ready biodegradability under OECD 301F is commonly reported in the 60%–80% ThOD range for unbranched fractions; branched feedstocks degrade more slowly, so the specific CAS version must be evaluated. Compared with nonylphenol ethoxylates, TDA-5 shows lower foam and less yellowing in latex films, but may require a co-emulsifier in hard-surface cleaners because the shorter tridecyl chain and low EO number provide slower wetting on glass and ceramic substrates.
The absence of a phenolic ring reduces UV-induced discoloration in clear coatings and reduces estrogenic activity in aquatic screening tests; however, formulators should not interpret this as automatic regulatory equivalence. Under updated EU REACH restrictions, intentional use of nonylphenol ethoxylates in textile processing is prohibited above the specified detection limit, while TDA-5 is permitted provided the registration dossier demonstrates safe use. Published data for TDA-5 in tropical freshwater sediment systems is limited; chronic ecotoxicity assessments therefore rely on read-across from structurally similar C12–C15 alcohol ethoxylates. This data gap can delay registration in certain geographies.
In soluble oil and semi-synthetic metalworking fluid concentrates, TDA-5 serves as a coupling agent and emulsifier for naphthenic base stocks and chlorinated paraffins. The concentrate is typically blended in a high-shear rotor-stator mixer at tip speeds of 10–15 m/s; TDA-5 is added after the oil-soluble corrosion inhibitors to maintain a transparent microemulsion upon dilution to 2%–5% in hard water. Electrolyte tolerance is lower than that of alkylphenol ethoxylates: when calcium ion concentrations exceed 400 ppm as CaCO3, phase separation may occur above the cloud point. Operational boundaries include pH 8.5–10.0 in the diluted fluid; below pH 7.5, amine carboxylate inhibitors may protonate and reduce the emulsifying contribution of TDA-5. The product should not be mixed with strong oxidizing agents or cationic biocides such as quaternary ammonium compounds in the concentrate, because the resulting ion pair can destabilize the emulsion and reduce antibacterial activity of the biocide. Quantitative electrolyte tolerance curves for TDA-5 in specific base stocks are proprietary; formulators must generate aqueous phase stability maps for each oil package.
In comparison with sorbitan monolaurate or polysorbate types, TDA-5 lacks a sugar-derived hydrophilic head group and therefore exhibits lower thermal discoloration potential in ester-rich systems. The tridecyl alcohol ethoxylate is less prone to hydrolysis than sorbitan esters under neutral and moderately acidic conditions, but is more sensitive to oxidative degradation at elevated temperatures. It is also structurally different from castor oil ethoxylates, which have higher molecular weight and stronger anchoring in long-chain triglyceride oils. For short-chain ester and aromatic solvents, TDA-5 provides faster droplet break-up under high-shear dispersion; for long-chain triglycerides, a castor oil ethoxylate with 30–40 EO may be required. This distinction is critical in microemulsion formulations where the oil phase is a mixture of mineral oil and ester-based lubricity agents.
A further use pattern is in agrochemical emulsifiable concentrates, where TDA-5 is combined with calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate as the anionic partner at a total emulsifier loading of 8%–12% by weight in the concentrate. The nonionic component improves cold-water emulsion spontaneity, while the anionic provides salt tolerance. Standard CIPAC MT 36 emulsion stability testing is used to confirm no creaming or oil separation after 24 h at 30 °C in standard hard water. In textile scouring, TDA-5 is limited to low-foam processes below 60 °C; above this temperature the inverse solubility can produce spotting on hydrophobic synthetic fabrics. Published data for high-temperature jet dyeing with TDA-5 is limited, and formulations above the cloud point require defoamers or higher EO homologs. The product differs from fatty alcohol ethoxylates of similar HLB by its branched tridecyl chain, which lowers pour point and improves oil compatibility but can reduce the maximum wetting speed on cellulose; this trade-off must be evaluated by standardized wetting tests before large-scale substitution.
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