Span 80, also known as Sorbitan Monooleate, is a nonionic surfactant commonly used as an emulsifier, dispersant, and wetting agent in a variety of industries, including lubricants.
🧪 Chemical Profile
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Chemical Name | Sorbitan Monooleate |
| Common Trade Name | Span 80 |
| CAS Number | 1338-43-8 |
| Molecular Formula | C₂₄H₄₄O₆ |
| HLB Value | ~4.3 (lipophilic) |
| Appearance | Amber to yellow viscous liquid |
| Solubility | Soluble in oils, insoluble in water |
🔧 Functions & Uses
🔹 In Lubricants & Greases:
- Acts as a dispersant or emulsifier for additives in oil-based systems.
- Improves compatibility of additives like calcium sulfonate or molybdenum.
- Enhances wetting and anti-rust properties in greases or rust preventives.
✅ Key Benefits
- Excellent emulsifying properties for W/O systems
- Thermally stable in many formulations
- Biodegradable and considered relatively low in toxicity
- Compatible with other surfactants (often paired with Tween 80 for fine-tuning emulsions)
⚠️ Considerations
- Should be used in correct ratios for stable emulsions (often tested with HLB blending)
- Not suitable for applications requiring high water solubility
- Sensitive to oxidation over time—antioxidants may be added in long-shelf-life systems
Span 80 (Sorbitan Monooleate) is a versatile, oil-soluble surfactant with widespread applications in lubrication, emulsification, and dispersion systems—particularly valuable for water-in-oil emulsions and hydrophobic formulations.
Span 80 Sorbitan Monooleate is a nonionic surfactant commonly used as an emulsifier, dispersant and stabilizer in various industries.
Span 80 sorbitan monooleate is an important surfactant and is widely used in many fields. Its molecular structure consists of sorbitol, oleic acid and oxidizing agents, giving it unique properties and advantages.
Span 80 sorbitan monooleate is a low-foaming, nonionic surfactant with excellent emulsifying, dispersing, wetting, and antistatic properties. It has high surface activity and can effectively reduce the surface tension of water, form a thin film, and reduce the interaction between water and non-polar substances. In addition, it has good chemical stability, is resistant to acids and alkalis, oxidants and reducing agents, and is not easy to deteriorate.
Span 80 sorbitan monooleate is widely used in many fields. In the field of medicine, it is used as a drug carrier, which can help drugs penetrate better into the skin or mucous membranes and improve drug efficacy. In the field of cosmetics, it serves as an emulsifier and stabilizer, which can improve the stability and efficacy of the product and extend the shelf life of the product. In the field of coatings, it serves as a wetting agent and leveling agent, which can improve the fluidity and flatness of coatings and reduce the occurrence of defects.
In addition, Span 80 sorbitan monooleate can also be used in metal processing, petroleum, textile, printing and dyeing and other fields. However, it also has certain shortcomings, such as being irritating and may cause skin allergies or eye irritation. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the usage amount and compatibility in practical applications to avoid adverse effects on the human body.
Looking to the future, with the continuous advancement of science and technology and the continuous expansion of applications, Span 80 sorbitan monooleate will continue to play an important role. It is expected that the demand for it will continue to grow in the future and the market size will also continue to expand. At the same time, with the improvement of people’s health awareness and the strengthening of environmental protection regulations, the surfactant industry will face higher safety and environmental protection requirements. Therefore, the development of low-irritation, environmentally friendly surfactants will become an important development direction in the future.
In short, Span 80 sorbitan monooleate, as an important surfactant, has a wide range of applications and good development prospects. Understanding its properties, advantages, disadvantages and future development trends will help to better understand and use this material and contribute to its development.