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Tween 80 is a nonionic surfactant/emulsifier and is commonly used as such in many pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food and industrial preparations. It's also known as Polysorbate 80 and helps oil and water mix better, improves the dispersion of ingredients and helps with formulation stability.
Tween 80 (Polysorbate 80) Tween 80 is a nonionic surfactant which is mainly used as an emulsifier, solubilizer, dispersing agent and stabilizer.
Its commonly referenced chemical name is polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate. Commercial Tween 80 is a mixture of related compounds rather than a single, perfectly uniform molecular species.
The molecule contains both hydrophilic and lipophilic portions. The hydrophilic part interacts with water and the lipophilic part interacts with oils and other relatively nonpolar substances. This structure allows Tween 80 to stabilize mixtures that would otherwise separate.
Tween 80 is normally supplied as a yellow to amber oily liquid with a characteristic mild odor. Actual appearance and performance may vary depending on grade, manufacturer and storage conditions.
Property | Description |
Common name | Tween 80 |
Chemical name | Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate |
Alternative name | Polysorbate 80 |
CAS number | 9005-65-6 |
Chemical class | Nonionic surfactant |
Appearance | Yellow to amber oily liquid |
Main functions | Emulsification, solubilization, dispersion, and stabilization |
Common application areas | Cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food processing, and industrial formulations |
The above information is typical of commercial material. Product-specific specifications should be obtained from the current technical data sheet (TDS), certificate of analysis (COA), and applicable regulatory documentation provided by the manufacturer.
Tween 80 reduces the interfacial tension between oil and water and thus helps the two phases to form and remain as a more uniform dispersion.
Oil and water don't mix very well, and tend to separate if you don't have a good emulsifier. Tween 80 can accumulate at the oil-water interface and thus facilitates dispersion of the oil into smaller droplets and helps reduce the tendency of the droplets to coalesce.
The main functions are:
Emulsification: Aids in the combination of oil and water to create an emulsion for creams, lotions and other products.
Solubilization: May aid incorporation of some poorly water soluble ingredients into aqueous systems, dependent on ingredient and formulation.
Dispersion: Helps distribute selected ingredients evenly throughout a liquid or semi-solid product.
Wetting Better contact between liquids and certain solid surfaces or particles.
Stabilization: assists in preserving uniformity of formulation, and can prevent phase separation under proper conditions.
Tween 80 is a nonionic hydrophilic surfactant used in oil-in-water emulsion system. The final performance depends on the oil phase, temperature, pH, electrolyte content, processing conditions and presence of other ingredients.
Tween 80 is used in many industries to enhance the compatibility, dispersion and stability of a variety of ingredients.
Tween 80 is one of the most widely used in cosmetic and personal care formulations.
Many cosmetics have oils, fragrances, botanical extracts and other components that don't readily disperse in water. Tween 80 can be used as a means to help in the incorporation of some selected ingredients and to get a more uniform formulation.
The typical applications are:
Skin care products: Helps emulsify or solubilize selected oils and other ingredients in creams, lotions and serums.
Hair Care Products: Helps spread fragrance oils and certain conditioning ingredients.
Cleansing formulations: Acts as a surfactant or solubilizer in appropriate products.
Fragrance products: Helps to incorporate selected fragrance oils in water-based systems.
Personal Care Formulations: Helps to ensure consistency of formulations when used with compatible ingredients.
For example, a producer of a water-based body lotion might employ Tween 80 as part of an emulsifier system to enhance the dispersion of selected oil-soluble ingredients.
Testing of the formulation should define the concentration and combination of emulsifiers and include stability and compatibility testing.
Tween 80 is commonly used as a pharmaceutical excipient to solubilize certain ingredients and stabilize formulations.
Its functions may include reducing adsorption at interfaces, improving the dispersion of selected active ingredients, and helping protect sensitive biological products against some forms of aggregation or interfacial stress.
Applications include:
Oral liquid formulations.
Selected topical pharmaceutical preparations.
Certain injectable formulations.
Biopharmaceutical and protein-based formulations.
Selected ophthalmic and other specialized pharmaceutical products.
Polysorbate 80 might be useful in biopharmaceutical manufacture to reduce protein adsorption at interfaces and to reduce aggregation due to mechanical handling. However, it can also be oxidized and hydrolyzed affecting the quality of the product.
Tween 80 is also used as an emulsifier and formulation aid in certain food applications where permitted by the relevant regulations.
It helps to spread the oil based ingredients, provides a more uniform formulation and helps to keep the product consistent.
Potential applications include:
Selected bakery products.
Certain beverage and flavor systems.
Some confectionery formulations.
Selected sauces, dressings, and processed food systems.
Other permitted food formulations requiring emulsification or solubilization.
For example, a food manufacturer may evaluate Tween 80 to help disperse a permitted flavoring component in a formulation containing both aqueous and oil-based ingredients.
It is determined by the food category, the technical function it is intended to fulfill, the permitted level of use and local regulatory requirements.
In the United States, Polysorbate 80 is addressed under specific provisions of the FDA's food-additive regulations. Its listing does not mean that it can be used without restrictions in every food product or at any concentration.
Food manufacturers should verify the applicable rules for their target market before use.
Tween 80 may be used as a wetting agent, dispersant, or emulsifier in selected agricultural formulations.
Its surface active properties can assist in spreading liquids on certain surfaces and help to disperse compatible ingredients.
Possible application areas include:
Selected pesticide formulations.
Agricultural research solutions.
Certain plant-treatment preparations.
Formulations requiring improved wetting or ingredient dispersion.
For example, a formulation developer may test Tween 80 to improve the wetting of a hydrophobic ingredient during dilution or application.
However, performance depends on the active ingredient, formulation type, crop, method of application, and regulatory status. Before any practical use, compatibility, phytotoxicity and field performance tests must be carried out.
Beyond food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, Tween 80 can serve as a functional ingredient in selected industrial systems.
Possible applications are:
Textile processing: assists wetting, emulsifying or dispersing in appropriate processing formulations
Industrial Cleaning: Aids in the emulsification of some oil-based contaminants.
Laboratory use: Functions as a surfactant in certain analytical, microbiological and experimental procedures.
Specialty chemical formulations: Assists in dispersing or solubilizing compatible ingredients.
Coatings and related formulations: May be evaluated as a formulation aid where its properties are suitable.
If you are considering Tween 80 for industrial applications you will want to compare it to other surfactants in terms of cost, compatibility, foaming characteristics, processing conditions and performance of the final product you want.
Tween 80 offers several advantages for formulation development and manufacturing.
The HLB value of Tween 80 is relatively high, being frequently quoted at around 15, and it finds utility in numerous oil-in-water emulsification systems.
Actual HLB value and performance to be checked with supplier specifications and formulation requirements.
Tween 80 can be used as an emulsifier, solubilizer, dispersing agent or wetting agent. Such multifunctionality makes it useful in a wide variety of formulations.
Tween 80 is a nonionic surfactant and is generally less sensitive to some ionic ingredients than are some ionic surfactants. Compatibility should however be checked under the real conditions of the formulation.
Good selection and formulation of Tween 80 can minimize phase separation and improve the distribution of compatible ingredients.
Different grades and specifications for different markets and applications. The selection of the product by buyers can be based on purity requirements, regulatory documentation and intended use.
The effects of Tween 80 should be evaluated when considering the entire formulation, not just the surfactant.
Tween 80 (also known as Polysorbate 80) is a versatile nonionic surfactant used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, some food applications and industrial formulations.
Its emulsifying, solubilizing, wetting and dispersing properties make it a valuable ingredient for manufacturers looking to improve formulation performance and product consistency.
Buyers of Tween 80 should consider application, grade, quality specifications, regulatory compliance and supplier reliability. Good quality documentation and thorough testing of the formulation helps to ensure the material chosen will meet the needs of the end product.
If you are buying Tween 80 for commercial production, ask for the latest TDS, COA and SDS and compare qualified suppliers before making a purchasing decision.
