Sodium Laureth Sulfate Surfactant
Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) is a versatile and effective anionic surfactant used in a wide variety of household products and personal care products. As a trusted supplier, Polyventive offers high-quality SLES and other surfactants like sodium lauroamphoacetate to meet your formulation needs. This guide will explore everything you need to know about this popular surfactant.
Chemical Composition & Manufacturing Process
While not sulfate free, sodium laureth sulfate is composed of safe and effective ingredients. Chemically, it is made by combining n-dodecyl alcohol and ethylene oxide, then completing a sulfuric acid half ester neutralization with sodium hydroxide.
The dodecyl alcohol used can be derived from coconut oil, palm kernel oil, or petroleum sources. Ethylene oxide, a colorless gas used in various chemical manufacturing processes, must be introduced through a process called ethoxylation. This extra step helps reduce toxicity levels, making SLES safer for human use
Properties of Sodium Laureth Sulfate
As a surfactant, sodium laureth sulfate works to lower surface tension between ingredients. This makes it an excellent foaming and cleansing agent in various formulations. You’ll commonly find SLES in shampoos, conditioners, body wash, household cleaners, and facial cleansers, which we’ll explore more below.
Despite not being sulfate free, sodium laureth sulfate is often praised for its gentle nature and suitability for those with sensitive skin. It can provide a smooth, nourished feel thanks to complementary natural extracts introduced during manufacturing.
Various Applications
With its anionic surfactant properties, sodium laureth sulfate has many household and commercial applications. Its foaming abilities make it a popular ingredient in shower gels, bubble baths, facial cleansers, and more. You’ll also find it in dish detergents, toothpaste, hand soaps, shampoos, and hair conditioners.
Beyond personal care, SLES is used in the textile industry as a whitening agent to protect fabrics from stains. It can also play a role in printing, dyeing leather conditioning, and degreasing during production. When formulated into herbicides, sodium laureth sulfate helps improve the absorption of active ingredients.
As you can see, this versatile surfactant has a place in both consumer and industrial manufacturing processes. Its ability to lower surface tension and create lush foam makes it a staple in cleansing and sudsing formulations.
Prioritizing Quality & Safety
Responsible sourcing and manufacturing are top priorities when producing surfactants like SLES. Polyventive adheres to stringent safety and quality control standards.
Our sodium laureth sulfate is EOGM free and made without any animal-derived ingredients. We maintain full supply chain traceability and conduct rigorous contaminant testing. This gives you confidence in the safety and reliability of our SLES.
By partnering with Polyventive, you gain peace of mind knowing your products are ethically sourced and thoroughly tested for quality.
Example Formulations
The basic chemical structure of sodium laureth sulfate is CH3(CH2)11(OCH2CH2)nOSO3Na. The number of ethoxylate groups is represented by “n” and may be specified in the ingredient name, such as laureth-2 sulfate.
Laureth-3 sulfate is the most common formulation found in heavy-duty cleaning products. Extensive testing in the United States has shown sodium laureth sulfate to be safe at typical usage levels. Still, those wishing to avoid sulfates may prefer sulfate free alternative surfactants.
Customizing Concentrations For Your Needs
Sodium laureth sulfate is used at varying concentrations depending on the desired application. For example, hair care products often use 10-20% SLES while hand soaps may only need 1-5%.
The good news is that Polyventive can supply custom SLES concentrations tailored to your unique product. We have robust capabilities to manufacture sodium laureth sulfate within a wide range of percentages.
No matter what concentration you require, our SLES delivers unmatched purity and quality. Get in touch with our team to discuss creating a custom sodium laureth sulfate solution for your needs.
Exploring Sulfate-Free Options
While sodium laureth sulfate is a safe and effective surfactant, some consumers prefer to avoid sulfates in their cosmetic and personal care products. The good news is that sulfate-free alternatives exist!
Some options include decyl glucoside, cocamidopropyl betaine, and sodium cocoyl isethionate. These provide foaming and cleansing properties similar to those of SLES without the sulfate component.
We offer a full line of specialty surfactants to formulate sulfate free products. Our technical experts can help you select the right solutions to meet your goals.
Choosing the Right SLES Supplier
When searching for a sodium laureth sulfate supplier, it’s important to partner with a reliable company that prioritizes quality and safety. Polyventive has over 50 years of experience manufacturing high-purity surfactants and specialty chemicals.
Our state-of-the-art ISO 9001 certified facility follows strict quality control procedures. We can provide SLES in a range of concentrations and packages sized for your needs. Our experts also offer formulation guidance to help you achieve your desired end product.
Discover the Polyventive Difference
With over 50 years of experience, Polyventive is the trusted supplier of choice for high-quality surfactants and specialty chemicals. Here are some key reasons to choose us:
- Stringent quality control procedures
- Multiple package sizes to fit your needs
- Custom manufacturing capabilities
- Formulation expertise and technical support
- Ethical and sustainable manufacturing
- Superior customer service every step of the way
Regardless of your project scope or formulation challenges, we have the solutions. Reach out to our experts today to discuss how Polyventive can deliver the ideal sodium laureth sulfate or other surfactants to meet your exact specifications. We are pleased to offer a variety of anionic surfactants. Call us today to learn more about the products we offer and how to place an order for your business today.
