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Plurafac LF 431 offers excellent caustic stability and does not yellow when in direct contact with NaOH beads.
The choice of final surfactant depends on the formulation and temperature of the cleaning process.
Its essential properties include wetting, low-foaming, or even defoaming.
CAS Number: 111190-40-0 (also cited as 168255-97-8 in specific regional inventories)
Product Number (PRD): 30044045
Physical Form: Clear or slightly cloudy liquid.
Foam Behavior: Low-foaming to defoaming.
Viscosity: Approximately 45 mPa⋅s at 23°C.
Stability: Highly stable in caustic environments; will not yellow upon direct contact with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) beads.
Synonyms: Fatty Alcohol Alkoxylate 7, Alkoxylated Fatty Alcohol, Alkyl-Capped Fatty Alcohol Alkoxylate, End-Capped Fatty Alcohol Alkoxylate, Low-Foaming Nonionic Surfactant, Nonionic, Surfactant, Alcohol Alkoxylate, Fatty Alcohol Ethoxylate/Propoxylate, Modified Fatty Alcohol Alkoxylate.
Plurafac LF 431 is a low-foaming, nonionic surfactant designed primarily for industrial, institutional, and household cleaning applications.
Plurafac LF 431 belongs to the chemistry of end-capped alcohol alkoxylates, which provides Plurafac LF 431 with unique chemical stability and high performance under harsh or highly alkaline environments.
Plurafac LF-431 is a low foaming nonionic surfactant.
Plurafac LF-431 consists of alkoxylated, predominantly unbranched fatty alcohols, and contains higher alkene oxides alongside ethylene oxide.
This product has a viscosity of approximately 45 mPa·s at 23°C.
Plurafac LF 431 is a low-foaming, nonionic surfactant manufactured by BASF, primarily used in industrial and institutional cleaning applications.
Plurafac LF-431 is an alkoxylated, end-capped fatty alcohol known for its excellent caustic stability, wetting abilities, and grease-cutting power.
Plurafac LF 431 is a complex, proprietary commercial polymer mixture rather than a simple single-molecule chemical, its "synonyms" span across formal chemical descriptions, regulatory registry names, and general industrial classifications.
1. IUPAC / Technical Chemical NamesThese names describe the molecular architecture of the compound (an unbranched fatty alcohol chain, ethoxylated and propoxylated, and capped with a methyl group):
Alcohols, C_13-15 branched and linear, ethers with polyethylene-polypropylene glycol mono-Me ether (Official regulatory name for its primary CAS number)
Alcohol-(C_13-C_15), ethoxylated, propoxylated & methylated
C_13-15 Alkyl alcohol, ethoxylated, propoxylated, methyl ether
Alkoxylated linear fatty alcohol, alkyl end-capped
2. CAS Registry Numbers
Depending on regional chemical inventories (like US TSCA or European REACH), the identical underlying polymer structure is tracked under these specific registry numbers:
CAS No: 111190-40-0 (Most widely recognized globally)
CAS No: 168255-97-8 (Used interchangeably in specific regional environmental profiles)
3. Generic Industrial & Functional Classifications
When sourcing alternatives or documenting ingredients in industrial safety files, formulations often list Plurafac LF 431 under these generic chemical classes:
End-capped alcohol alkoxylate
Methyl-capped alcohol ethoxylate propoxylate
Low-foaming nonionic surfactant
Narrow-range alkoxylated fatty alcohol
4. Primary Commercial Alternatives
If a formula requires a substitute with similar dynamic defoaming and ultra-high alkaline stability, chemists typically look for alternatives within these product families:
Dehypon GRA or Dehypon LT series (Also from BASF)
Antarox BL series (Manufactured by Solvay / Syensqo)
Tergitol MinFoam series (Manufactured by Dow Chemical)
Chemical Composition & Structure
Chemical Class: Alkoxylated, predominantly unbranched (linear) fatty alcohol.
Alkoxylation Type: Plurafac LF 431 contains ethylene oxide (EO) alongside higher alkene oxides (such as propylene oxide, PO).
End-Capping: The fatty alcohol chains terminate in an alkyl group (end-capped).
This structural modification eliminates the terminal hydroxyl (-OH) group, resulting in significantly lower foaming tendencies and superior chemical stability compared to standard alcohol ethoxylates.
Detailed Solubility & Compatibility
The chemical performance of Plurafac LF 431 is heavily defined by its behavior across different solvents and temperatures:
Solubility in Water: It dissolves cleanly in cold water, but like all nonionic surfactants, its solubility decreases as the temperature rises.
If a solution becomes cloudy when heated, adding hydrotropes (such as sodium cumene sulfonate) or glycols will readily restore clarity.
Organic Solvents: Highly soluble in polar organic solvents including alcohols, glycols, and aromatic hydrocarbons.
Plurafac LF 431 has limited solubility in pure mineral oils or aliphatic hydrocarbons.
Acid & Salt Compatibility: Highly compatible with diluted mineral acids and organic acids (such as citric or acetic acid).
Plurafac LF 431 performs exceptionally well in high-salt, high-electrolyte environments without separating or salting out.
Primary Applications
Automatic Dishwashing: Prevents foam generation and aids in rinsing.
Industrial & Institutional (I&I) Cleaners: Used in heavy-duty cleaners, hard surface cleaning, and bottle washing.
Metal Processing: Serves as a surfactant and emulsifier.
Major Applications
Plurafac LF 431 is widely integrated into cleaning systems where dynamic agitation, high spraying pressures, or heavy alkali levels would otherwise cause excessive foaming:
Industrial & Institutional (I&I) Cleaning: Used in heavy-duty alkane cleaners, metal surface treatments, and CIP (Cleaning-In-Place) systems.
Food & Beverage Processing: Ideal for automatic bottle washing detergency, crate washers, and dairy/brewery pipeline cleaning.
Commercial Kitchen & Food Service: Used in automatic dishwashing (ADW) detergents and rinse aids.
Commercial Laundry: Formulated into liquid industrial laundry detergents to suppress foam under high mechanical action.
Hard Surface Cleaners: Formulations meant for floor scrubbers, pressure washers, and vehicle care systems.
The basic properties and fields of use of the product are as follows:
Structure: Plurafac LF 431 is an alkoxylated fatty alcohol mixture containing high alkene oxides in addition to ethylene oxide.
Foam Control: Plurafac LF 431 is a highly popular chemical that minimizes or keeps under control (low foaming) foaming in formulas.
Fields of Use: Plurafac LF 431 is frequently preferred in automatic dishwasher detergents, general household cleaning products, and industrial and institutional (I&I) cleaning applications.
Physical Structure: They are generally clear or slightly turbid liquids at room temperature.
Manufacturer: Plurafac LF 431 is the manufacturer of this substance and its global supplier as an industrial formulation component.
Key Performance Features
1. Superior Caustic & Alkaline Stability
Thanks to its end-capped structure, Plurafac LF 431 possesses excellent resistance to highly alkaline media.
Plurafac LF 431 remains stable in formulations with high electrolyte loads and does not discolor (yellow) when in direct contact with solid sodium hydroxide (NaOH) beads or pellets.
2. Low Foaming and Defoaming
Plurafac LF 431 is specifically engineered to control or suppress foam.
Plurafac LF 431 generates minimal foam during dynamic processes (like spraying or jetting) and acts as a foam depressant against proteinaceous or soil-induced foam.
3. Excellent Wetting & Emulsification
Despite being low-foaming, it exhibits powerful wetting properties on hard surfaces and serves as an efficient oil-in-water (O/W) emulsifier to break down greasy or oily soils.
The physical-chemical properties derived from its Technical Data Sheet (TDS) include:
Property: Value / Specification
Appearance: Clear to slightly cloudy liquid
Water Content: Traces / Virtually water-free.
