{{Chembox | Verifiedfields = changed | verifiedrevid = 443883744 | ImageFile = isoceteth.png | ImageAlt = | IUPACName = | OtherNames = Polyethylene glycol monoisohexadecyl ether; Polyethylene glycol isocetyl ether |Section1={{Chembox Identifiers | CASNo_Ref = {{cascite|correct|CAS}} | CASNo = 69364-63-2 | PubChem1 = 16492 | index1_label = n=1 | EC_number = 218-373-5 | UNII_Ref = {{fdacite|correct|FDA}} | UNII = O020065R7Z | ChemSpiderID_Ref = {{chemspidercite|changed|chemspider}} | ChemSpiderID = none | InChI1=1S/C18H38O2/c1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-17-20-18-16-19/h19H,2-18H2,1H3 | InChIKey1 = FSAMVJAGJWGWTQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N | SMILES1 = CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCOCCO | SMILES = CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCOCCOCCOCCOCCOCCOCCOCCOCCOCCOCCOCCOCCOCCOCCOCCOCCOCCOCCOCCOCCO }} |Section2={{Chembox Properties | Properties_ref = <ref name=Ash1991>{{cite book |last=Ash |first=Michael |title=Handbook of Industrial Chemical Additives |publisher=Wiley-VCH |publication-place=New York, NY |date=1991 |isbn=978-1-56081-521-1 |page=53 |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781560815211/page/53/mode/2up?q=isoceteth}}</ref> | Formula = HO(C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub>O)<sub>''n''</sub>C<sub>16</sub>H<sub>33</sub>; ''n'' ≈ 20 | MolarMass = variable | Appearance = White waxy solid | Density = 1.0 | MeltingPt = | BoilingPt = | Solubility = | SolubleOther = Soluble in water, propylene glycol, ethanol | HLB = 15.7}} |Section3={{Chembox Hazards | MainHazards = | FlashPt = | AutoignitionPt = }} }}
'''Isoceteth-20''' is a polyethylene glycol ether formed by the ethoxylation of isocetyl alcohol (branched C<sub>16</sub> fatty alcohols); with the general formula HO(C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub>O)<sub>''n''</sub>C<sub>16</sub>H<sub>33</sub> where ''n'' has an average value of 20. It is a nonionic surfactant used as an oil-in-water emulsifier (e.g. perfume solubilizer), skin cleanser, and {{ill|foam stabilizer|de|Schaumstabilisator}} in personal care products.<ref name=SurfactantsEuropa>{{cite book |last=Hollis |first=Gordon L. |title=Surfactants Europa |volume=3 |publisher=Royal Society of Chemistry |date=31 October 2007 |isbn=978-1-84755-197-9 |page=169 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WG0oDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA169&q=isoceteth-20&redir_esc=y#v=onepage |doi=10.1039/9781847551979}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Kumar |first1=Promod |last2=Mittal |first2=K. L. |title=Handbook of Microemulsion Science and Technology |publisher=CRC Press |date=2 May 2018 |isbn=978-1-351-44234-3 |page=777 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3EsPEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA777&q=isoceteth-20&redir_esc=y#v=onepage}}</ref><ref name=INCIDecoder>{{cite web |title=Isoceteth-20 (Explained + Products) |work=INCIDecoder |url=https://incidecoder.com/ingredients/isoceteth-20 |access-date=20 December 2025}}</ref>
==See also== *Polyethylene glycol cetyl ether - a similar material made from cetyl alcohol
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Cosmetics chemicals Category:Glycol ethers Category:Non-ionic surfactants