Fatty Alcohol Ethoxylates (FAE)

What is Fatty Alcohol Ethoxylates (FAE)?

Fatty alcohol ethoxylates (FAE) are nonionic surfactants produced by the ethoxylation of fatty alcohols ranging from C8 to C22. Common alcohol sources include lauryl, lauryl–myristyl, cetyl, stearyl, cetostearyl, oleyl, and behenyl fractions—derived from coconut, palm kernel, rapeseed, and petrochemical oxo routes.…

What is Fatty Alcohol Ethoxylates (FAE) used for?

The dual hydrophilic–lipophilic nature of FAE reduces surface and interfacial tension at oil–water boundaries, stabilizing emulsions and suspensions. Degree of ethoxylation sets HLB, cloud point, foam height, and solubility: low-mole grades (e.g. 2–5 EO) are lipophilic wetting agents; mid-mole (7–12 EO) are… Venus Ethoxyethers manufactures and supplies in India; request a quote for your requirements.

Fatty alcohol ethoxylates (FAE) are nonionic surfactants produced by the ethoxylation of fatty alcohols ranging from C8 to C22. Common alcohol sources include lauryl, lauryl–myristyl, cetyl, stearyl, cetostearyl, oleyl, and behenyl fractions—derived from coconut, palm kernel, rapeseed, and petrochemical oxo routes. Controlled addition of ethylene oxide (EO) yields molecules combining a hydrophobic alkyl tail with a hydrophilic polyoxyethylene (POE) chain.

Properties and HLB tuning

The dual hydrophilic–lipophilic nature of FAE reduces surface and interfacial tension at oil–water boundaries, stabilizing emulsions and suspensions. Degree of ethoxylation sets HLB, cloud point, foam height, and solubility: low-mole grades (e.g. 2–5 EO) are lipophilic wetting agents; mid-mole (7–12 EO) are general-purpose detergents; high-mole grades act as solubilizers and dispersants. Venus offers narrow-range ethoxylates for sharper homologue distribution and consistent performance.

Alcohol ethoxylate grades at Venus

Lauryl myristyl alcohol ethoxylate (C12–C14 cut) — fast wetting and balanced detergency for laundry liquids, dishwash, and light-duty cleaners; typically 3–9 EO.

Cetyl alcohol ethoxylate (C16) — creamier foam and emulsification for fabric softeners, cosmetic O/W emulsions, and textile scouring; 5–15 EO.

Stearyl alcohol ethoxylate (C18) — higher melting, stronger emulsification of long-chain oils; used in heavy-duty cleaners and wax emulsions.

Cetostearyl alcohol ethoxylate (C16–C18 blend) — workhorse emulsifier matching ceteareth-style performance in creams, lotions, and institutional cleaners.

Behenyl alcohol ethoxylate (C22) — high-melting structuring agent for sticks, wax dispersions, and specialty emulsions.

Industry applications

• Home and institutional care — primary surfactants in laundry, dishwash, and hard-surface cleaners; see homecare ingredients.
• Personal care — emulsifiers and foam boosters in shampoos, shower gels, and lotions.
• Textile and leather — scouring, wetting, and degreasing auxiliaries.
• Agriculture — emulsifiers for crop-protection concentrates and adjuvants.
• Paints and coatings — pigment wetting and emulsion stabilization.

Product families at Venus

Explore chain-length-specific lines including C9–C11 ethoxylates, C12–C15 ethoxylates, oxo alcohol ethoxylates, and narrow-range ethoxylates. Custom EO moles and alcohol cuts are available for export and domestic formulators.

For technical depth, read the fatty alcohol ethoxylates guide and nonionic surfactants overview. Contact Venus for samples, SDS, and HLB-matched recommendations.

Regulatory and sustainability

Fatty alcohol ethoxylates from Venus are available with RSPO-certified palm-derived feedstocks and documentation supporting EU Detergents Regulation, REACH, and major retailer restricted-substance requirements. Biodegradability and aquatic toxicity profiles support eco-label and green-seal submissions for household and institutional products.