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Pluronic PE 6400 is a 100% active, low-foaming, nonionic block copolymer surfactant manufactured by BASF.
Pluronic PE 6400 features a central polypropylene glycol (PPG) group sandwiched between two polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains.
Structurally, it is a difunctional block copolymer terminating in primary hydroxyl groups.
CAS Number: 9003-11-6
Alternative CAS Number: 691397-13-4
Product Number (PRD): 30044133
Linear Formula: HO(C2H4O)x(C3H6O)y(C2H4O)xH
Molar Mass: Approximately 2900 g/mol
Physical Form: Clear to slightly cloudy liquid at room temperature (25°C).
Synonyms & Technical Identifiers
IUPAC / Technical Chemical Names
Oxirane, 2-methyl-, polymer with oxirane (Official regulatory name for CAS 9003-11-6)
Ethylene oxide / Propylene oxide block copolymer
Poloxamer 184 (Common pharmaceutical and cosmetic nomenclature)
Poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(propylene oxide)-block-poly(ethylene oxide)
PEG-PPG-PEG Block Copolymer
Block copolymer of EO and PO
Synthetic block copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide
Generic Industrial & Functional Classifications
Low-foaming nonionic surfactant
Nonionic block copolymer surfactant
Defoaming agent / Foam inhibitor / Foam depressant
Wetting agent and dispersant
Polyalkylene glycol ether
Hydrohydroxyl block polymer
Primary Commercial Alternatives & Competitors
Synperonic PE/L 64 (Manufactured by Croda)
Antarox L-64 (Manufactured by Solvay / Syensqo)
Tergetol L-64 (Manufactured by Dow Chemical)
Pluronic L-64 (North American designation)
Supronic L 64
General Overview & Chemistry
Pluronic PE 6400 is a 100% active, low-foaming, non-ionic surfactant belonging to the block copolymer family, manufactured globally by BASF.
Pluronic PE 6400 is synthesized through the controlled sequential addition of propylene oxide (PO) and ethylene oxide (EO) to a propylene glycol base.
The core of the molecule consists of a hydrophobic polyoxypropylene (POP) block, flanked on both sides by hydrophilic polyoxyethylene (POE) blocks.
The nomenclature PE 6400 follows a specific BASF coding system:
The first hane (6) indicates the molar mass of the hydrophobic base (polypropylene glycol block), which is approximately 1800 g/mol on a scale of 1 - 10.
The second hane (4) indicates the percentage of polyethylene glycol in the total molecule multiplied by 10 (approximately 40% EO content).
Compared to PE 6100 (which has only 10% EO), Pluronic PE 6400 has a higher degree of ethoxylation.
This gives Pluronic PE 6400 increased water solubility and better wetting and dispersing effects, while still maintaining a very low foaming tendency and good foam suppression properties.
Pluronic PE 6400 is an advanced, low-foaming nonionic surfactant designed specifically for demanding industrial, institutional, and commercial applications.
Developed by chemical manufacturer BASF, this 100 percent active block copolymer stands out within the Pluronic PE product family for delivering the highest level of detergency under heavy mechanical action.
Pluronic PE 6400 is engineered to function exceptionally as a high-performance wetting, dispersing, defoaming, and emulsifying agent in highly agitated industrial environments.
Thanks to Pluronic PE 6400 balanced chemical architecture, Pluronic PE 6400 offers superb thermal and chemical stability across a wide pH range, maintaining top-tier performance where traditional surfactants typically fail.
Key Specifications & Properties
Chemical Structure: (PEG)₁₃ - (PPG)₃₀ - (PEG)₁₃
Appearance: LiquidViscosity: ~ 1000 mPa⋅s at 23 °C
pH Level: ~ 7 (in 5% water)
Cloud Point: 60 °C (in water)
Chemical Identification and Core Data:
Product Commercial Name: Pluronic PE 6400
Chemical Description: Oxirane, methyl-, polymer with oxirane (PO-EO block polymer)
Chemical Nature: Ethylene oxide / propylene oxide block copolymer
Molecular Structure: Central polypropylene glycol group flanked by two polyethylene glycol groups
Polyethylene Glycol Content in Molecule: Approximately 40 percent
Polypropylene Glycol Base Molar Mass: Approximately 1750 g/mol
Active Matter Concentration: Approximately 100 percent
Manufacturer: BASF
Introduction:
Pluronic PE 6400 is a high-performance, low-foaming nonionic surfactant designed primarily for industrial and institutional cleaning applications.
Developed by BASF, this 100 percent active block copolymer stands out within Pluronic PE 6400 product family for delivering the highest detergency under heavy mechanical action.
Pluronic PE 6400 functions excellently as a wetting, dispersing, and emulsifying agent across various specialized sectors.
Thanks to Pluronic PE 6400 balanced chemical structure, Pluronic PE 6400 provides outstanding stability and performance even in demanding mechanical and thermal environments.
Complete Physical and Technical Properties:
Physical Form at 25 Degrees Celsius: Colorless to slightly cloudy liquid
Molar Mass (Calculated from OH number): Approx. 2900 g/mol
Viscosity (Brookfield, 23 Degrees Celsius): Approx. 1000 mPa.s
pH Value (5 percent solution in water): Approx. 7 (Neutral)
Cloud Point (Method A: 1g surfactant in 100g distilled water): Approx. 60 Degrees Celsius
Cloud Point (Method B: 1g surfactant in 100g NaCl solution 50g/l): Approx. 88 Degrees Celsius
Cloud Point (Method C: 1g surfactant in 100g NaCl solution 100g/l): Approx. 72 Degrees Celsius
Density at 23 Degrees Celsius: Approx. 1.05 g/cm3
Surface Tension (1g/l in water at 23 Degrees Celsius): Approx. 41 mN/m
Setting Point: Approx. 16 Degrees Celsius
Wetting Performance (EN 1772, 23 Degrees Celsius): Greater than 300 seconds
Solubility: Soluble in water, ethanol, toluene, isopropyl alcohol, and various other polar and non-polar organic solvents
Common Industrial Applications
Hard Surface Cleaners: Highly effective at dispersing sparingly soluble calcium and magnesium salts in dairy and heavy-duty cleaners.
Metalworking: Extensively used in cutting and grinding fluids.
Formulations: Serves as an emulsifier, wetting agent, and defoamer in household, institutional, and industrial products.
Exhaustive List of Industrial and Operational Applications:
1-Industrial Detergency and Commercial Cleaning:
Pluronic PE 6400 holds the benchmark for the highest detergency within the entire Pluronic PE line.
Because Pluronic PE 6400 is inherently low-foaming and performs best under intensive mechanical stress, Pluronic PE 6400 is widely utilized in automated dishwashers, industrial bottle-washing operations, and commercial dairy pipeline cleaners.
Pluronic PE 6400 removes tough organic residues without creating excessive foam blankets that could choke high-pressure spray pumps.
2-Water Treatment and Scale Dispersion:
This copolymer exhibits an extraordinarily high dispersing capacity for sparingly soluble calcium and magnesium salts.
In hard water applications, Pluronic PE 6400 acts as a crystal growth modifier and anti-precipitation agent, preventing the formation of scale and mineral crusts on boiler tubes, heat exchangers, and sensitive machine components.
3-Metalworking Fluids and Mechanical Engineering:
In the metalworking sector, Pluronic PE 6400 is a core constituent in synthetic cutting fluids, grinding fluids, and coolant formulations.
Pluronic PE 6400 reduces friction by acting as a high-load lubricant while simultaneously providing cooling performance and protecting metal surfaces against early flash rust.
4-Chemical Polymerization and Emulsion Processes:
Due to Pluronic PE 6400 well-defined amphiphilic block structure, the product serves as a highly effective emulsifier and stabilizer in emulsion polymerization.
Pluronic PE 6400 helps control particle size distributions during the synthesis of plastics, resins, and synthetic rubber lattices, preventing unwanted coagulation.
5-Agricultural Adjuvants and Crop Protection:
Pluronic PE 6400 is incorporated into agricultural formulations to serve as a wetting agent and suspension stabilizer for crop protection products.
Pluronic PE 6400 ensures that active herbicidal, fungicidal, or insecticidal ingredients remain evenly dispersed in spray tanks and spread uniformly across hydrophobic plant foliage.
6-Textile and Leather Processing:
The product is applied as a wetting agent, leveling assistant, and scouring additive in textile manufacturing.
Pluronic PE 6400 facilitates deeper dye penetration and helps remove residual spinning oils and industrial soilings from raw leather and fabrics without breaking down under high-temperature washing cycles.
7-Home Care, Kitchen Hygiene, and Hospitality:
Beyond heavy industry, Pluronic PE 6400 is a crucial ingredient in institutional kitchen hygiene products, heavy-duty liquid laundry detergents, and floor cleaning concentrates where low-foaming characteristics and maximum degreasing power are mandatory.
Key Performance Features
Advanced Foam Inhibition & Wetting Balance
Pluronic PE 6400 offers a perfect balance between wetting, dispersing, and low foaming. While products with a lower degree of ethoxylation (like PE 6100) have a slightly superior absolute foam suppression effect, PE 6400 provides much better wetting action and easier rinsing while keeping foam exceptionally low under high mechanical agitation.
Thermal & Chemical Stability
Because Pluronic PE 6400 is a nonionic polyether block copolymer terminating in hydroxyl groups, Pluronic PE 6400 remains highly stable across a broad pH spectrum.
Pluronic PE 6400 does not decompose or lose performance in the presence of diluted mineral acids, organic acids, alkalis, hard water ions (calcium/magnesium), or active chlorine compounds.
Synergistic Blending & Compatibility
Pluronic PE 6400can be freely combined with other nonionic surfactants (frequently recommended to co-formulate alongside the Plurafac LF product range or other varieties within the Pluronic PE series) as well as anionic and cationic surfactants to optimize cleaning and defoaming synergy.
Handling, Storage, and Safety Instructions:
Storage Conditions:
Containers must be stored tightly sealed in a dry, cool place.
The product has a shelf life of at least two years if stored in Pluronic PE 6400 original sealed packaging at room temperature.
Exposure to extreme cold may cause the liquid to set or become highly viscous, but warming Pluronic PE 6400 gently to around 30 to 40 Degrees Celsius and stirring thoroughly restores Pluronic PE 6400 original fluid state without damaging Pluronic PE 6400 performance properties.
Safety and Hazards:
According to the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) and OSHA Hazard Communication Standards, Pluronic PE 6400 is classified as a non-hazardous substance or mixture as supplied.
Oral toxicity is very low, with experimental data showing Oral LD50 in rats greater than 15000 mg/kg.
Pluronic PE 6400 does not present acute toxicity risks, but standard industrial hygiene practices should be followed, including avoiding contact with eyes and prolonged contact with skin.
Pluronic PE 6400 is readily biodegradable in accordance with OECD standards.
