News & Updates

Critical Micelle Concentration: Measuring Surfactant Efficiency

Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC) values are important indicators when considering which surfactant will provide optimal performance benefits for your formulation. But what is CMC and why is it important for formulators? When a certain amount of surfactant is added to water, the molecules will begin to form micelles. Micelles consist of agglomerates of surfactant molecules …

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Material Update: Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO)

DMSO is used as a polar aprotic solvent in several applications, including electronics (photoresist stripping and cleaning), polyurethane coating formulations, fiber manufacturing and as a general purpose clean-up solvent. Due to lower toxicity concerns and minimal regulatory constraints, DMSO has been found to be an effective alternative to other polar solvents such as dimethyl acetamide …

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Revisions to the DfE Standards for Safer Cleaning Products

Specialty Chemical News & Product Updates The EPA released a revised version of the Standards for Safer Cleaning Products in April 2011. Formulators adhering to DfE standards or seeking to pursue DfE certification in the future may benefit from an overview of the revisions. Specific updates include: Ingredient Communication: addressing ingredient disclosure requirements – Section …

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Supplier Focus: Stepan

As a specialty chemical distributor of Stepan products for over 30 years, we are excited to promote their versatile surfactant offerings and add to our growing list of safer and more compliant alternatives for the consumer and industrial sectors. Two relatively new Stepan products of note – and with greener attributes and Cleangredients approval – are …

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New Partnership . . .

Specialty Chemical News & Product Updates John R. Hess & Co., Inc. is proud to announce its recent distribution agreement with StarChem, LLC, a specialty chemical company delivering innovative solutions and chemistries for a broad range of market applications. Hess is now an authorized distributor of the StarChem, LLC product line for the Northeast. Receive …

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Surfactant Focus – Ethoxylated Alcohols

Our selection of nonionic surfactants includes a wide range of high performance ethoxylated alcohols ideal for use as wetting agents, emulsifiers, and detergents. Ethoxylated alcohols are also used as functional alternatives for formulators seeking alkyl phenol ethoxylate replacements. Whether your product development efforts focus on foaming properties, surface tension, viscosity, cloud point, or natural v.s. …

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