Select from our vetted line of advanced rubbers, electronic gases, inorganic binders, and specialty functional polymers manufactured under tight lot-to-lot tolerances.
Polyethylene Glycol 6000 (CAS No. 25322-68-3) represents the critical molecular weight boundary between moldable semi-crystalline waxy solids and high-tensile polyether resins, serving as an irreplaceable functional backbone in modern chemical manufacturing.
Polyethylene Glycol 6000 (PEG 6000), also referred to as macrogol 6000 in pharmacopeial monographs, is a linear condensation polymer synthesized via catalyzed anionic ring-opening addition polymerization of ethylene oxide to mono-ethylene glycol or diethylene glycol initiators. Its chemical structure, H-(OCH2CH2)n-OH (where n ≈ 136), imparts strong non-ionic surfactant characteristics, exceptional hydrophilic solvation power, and precise temperature-dependent transition kinetics.
Unlike lower molecular weight analogues (such as PEG 400 or PEG 1500) which persist as clear liquids or soft pastes at room temperature, PEG 6000 crystallizes into hard, white flakes, pellets, or micronized powders. This solid morphology prevents agglomeration during dry blending operations while maintaining virtually instantaneous dissolution in cold and warm aqueous environments.
Procurement directors in pharmaceutical and technical ceramic sectors evaluate PEG 6000 suppliers based on trace contaminant minimization. Ethylene oxide (EO) and 1,4-dioxane are carcinogenic by-products of uncontrolled polycondensation reactions. Premium manufacturing setups utilize rigorous multi-stage falling film degassing to drive residual free EO below 1 ppm and 1,4-dioxane below 5 ppm, comfortably surpassing USP, Ph. Eur., and JP standards.
Furthermore, controlled polymerization ensures a hydroxyl value strictly managed between 16.0 and 22.0 mg KOH/g, eliminating unreacted low-mass oligomers that can destabilize thermal debinding or cause erratic plasticization in powder compaction metallurgy.
Verify lot-to-lot consistency against our verified multi-compendial release parameters. Every commercial batch includes ISO-audited testing documentation.
| Analytical Parameter | Testing Method | Pharma / Cosmetic Grade (USP/Ph. Eur.) | Industrial & Metallurgy Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance (25°C) | Visual Inspection | White flakes, spherical beads, or fine powder | White to light-cream waxy flakes |
| Average Molecular Weight | Hydroxyl Value Calculation | 5,400 – 6,600 g/mol | 5,200 – 6,800 g/mol |
| Hydroxyl Number | Potentiometric Titration | 16.0 – 22.0 mg KOH/g | 15.0 – 24.0 mg KOH/g |
| Solidification Point | Thermocouple Solidification | 56.0°C – 61.0°C | 55.0°C – 62.0°C |
| Dynamic Viscosity (20°C, 50% aq.) | Capillary Ubbelohde | 200 – 270 mPa·s | 180 – 300 mPa·s |
| pH Value (5% aqueous solution) | Electrometric pH Meter | 5.0 – 7.5 | 4.5 – 7.5 |
| Water Content (Karl Fischer) | Coulometric Titration | ≤ 0.50% w/w | ≤ 1.00% w/w |
| Residue on Ignition (Sulfated Ash) | Gravimetric Muffle Furnace | ≤ 0.10% | ≤ 0.20% |
| Ethylene Oxide & Dioxane | Headspace Gas Chromatography (GC-MS) | EO ≤ 1 ppm; Dioxane ≤ 5 ppm | EO ≤ 10 ppm; Dioxane ≤ 20 ppm |
| Heavy Metals (as Pb) | ICP-OES Spectrometry | ≤ 5 ppm | ≤ 20 ppm |
From oral pharmaceutical drug delivery to advanced battery separator matrix design, PEG 6000 fulfills vital chemical processing mandates.
In oral solid dosage formulations, PEG 6000 functions as an efficient dry binder, plasticizer for enteric film coating, and hydrophilic matrix former. Its clean crystal lattice allows for the creation of solid amorphous dispersions via hot-melt extrusion (HME), radically increasing the bio-availability of poorly water-soluble BCS Class II and IV Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs).
Moreover, in osmotic tablet delivery systems, PEG 6000 generates controlled osmotic driving pressure within the core, allowing precise zero-order drug release rates over 24-hour cycles without enzymatic dependency.
Advanced engineering ceramics (Al2O3, ZrO2, Si3N4) and precision powder metallurgy injection molding require temporary binder systems that bestow high green mechanical strength without leaving residual carbon contamination. PEG 6000 acts as a clean-burning processing aid that dissolves easily in spray-drying slips.
During the thermal debinding cycle between 280°C and 420°C, the polyether chains depolymerize and combust cleanly into volatile H2O and CO2, yielding zero residual ash and preventing microscopic crack propagation during final high-temperature sintering.
In high-density interconnect (HDI) printed circuit board manufacturing and semiconductor through-silicon via (TSV) copper metallization, PEG 6000 functions as an essential suppressor additive. In the presence of trace chloride ions, it forms an adsorbed polymer monolayer on the outer copper surface.
This barrier selectively inhibits over-accelerated copper deposition on flat regions, driving bottom-up superfilling inside micro-vias without void formations, guaranteeing micro-structural integrity in high-frequency computational hardware.
Next-generation all-solid-state lithium-metal batteries require electrolyte membranes featuring high ionic conductivity combined with dendrite-suppressing mechanical stiffness. Polyethylene Glycol 6000 serves as a functional macromolecular precursor and plasticizing segment in poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based composite electrolytes.
Its high dielectric constant and ether oxygen spacing coordinate effectively with Li+ salts (such as LiTFSI), optimizing lithium-ion transference numbers while preventing mechanical degradation under broad electrochemical operating windows.
Within elastomer processing plants compounding natural rubber (NR) and nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), highly active silica fillers can prematurely absorb zinc oxide and amine accelerators, resulting in incomplete crosslinking. PEG 6000 is introduced as a dynamic vulcanization activator.
It shields the acidic silanol groups on the silica surface via hydrogen bonding, protecting the cure accelerator package and ensuring rapid, uniform sulfur crosslink density without scorching or viscosity anomalies.
Due to its non-irritating toxicological profile and high physiological compatibility, PEG 6000 serves as a consistency modifier, moisture retention agent, and solubilizer in shampoos, toothpaste, and decorative makeup sticks. When modified via esterification with fatty acids (such as stearic acid), it yields PEG-150 distearate, a premier non-ionic thickening agent widely utilized in sulfate-free cleansing systems.
Explore our automated ethoxylation plant workflows. Controlled polymerization dynamics ensure uniform chain growth with negligible side-product accumulation.
Pure mono-ethylene glycol (MEG) or diethylene glycol (DEG) is charged into a stainless-steel 316L autoclave alongside an advanced double metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst complex or ultra-pure potassium hydroxide (KOH) catalyst. The reactor undergoes thorough vacuum de-aeration and multiple high-pressure nitrogen purges to achieve an oxygen-free processing chamber (< 5 ppm O2), preventing thermal-oxidative scission during chain propagation.
Gaseous ethylene oxide (EO) is continuously dosed under strictly monitored isobaric (0.2–0.4 MPa) and isothermal (120°C–145°C) conditions. Because the addition of EO onto aliphatic polyether backbones is strongly exothermic (∼ 100 kJ/mol EO), high-efficiency external plate heat exchangers cycle the reaction slurry continuously, ensuring uniform temperature dissipation and narrow, monodisperse molecular weight distribution.
Upon reaching the stoichiometric molecular weight benchmark (5,400–6,600 g/mol confirmed via in-line viscometry and hydroxyl index analysis), the raw polymer melt is neutralized. When basic catalysts are deployed, stoichiometric phosphoric or lactic acids precipitate catalyst ions into insoluble salts, which are subsequently purged via depth filtration using diatomaceous earth, leaving catalyst residues under 5 ppm.
The molten polyether is introduced into a continuous high-vacuum thin-film evaporator operated at pressures below 10 mbar and temperatures up to 140°C. This dynamic stripping procedure rapidly separates trace residual ethylene oxide, moisture, and cyclic volatile dimers (such as 1,4-dioxane), guaranteeing complete pharmacopeial and environmental compliance.
The stripped molten stream is conveyed to stainless-steel rotary cooling flakers or prilling towers chilled via closed-loop refrigeration. The polymer solidifies instantaneously into uniform, non-dusting flakes or micro-granules. Products are automatically weighed and sealed into multi-wall polyethylene-lined craft bags or 500 kg bulk super-sacks under dry nitrogen blankets to ensure moisture-proof storage.
Mitigate your international supply chain volatility through structural insights into petrochemical feedstocks, sea freight handling, and global regulatory frameworks.
Wholesale quotations for Polyethylene Glycol 6000 are intrinsically correlated with the regional upstream upstream ethylene cracker capacity and ethylene oxide (EO) monomer pricing. Contract models generally divide into:
Exporting high-purity chemical auxiliaries demands exhaustive regulatory substantiation. We provide full compliance dossiers verifying adherence to:
Direct technical clarifications from our chemical engineering and global logistics divisions.
Complement your core polymer procurement with our specialized inorganic salts, functional nitrile rubbers, and certified electronic etching gases.
Connect directly with our chemical engineering and commercial export department. Specify your molecular weight target, intended application (Pharma, Ceramics, Batteries, or Metallurgy), volume, and target port of destination for an authoritative factory quote within 24 business hours.