Technical Information

TI/ES 1470 e
June 2004 Page 1 of 12

Supersedes edition dated May 2003

Lutensol
XL types
® = Registered trademark of
BASF Aktiengesellschaft

Lutensol® XL 40
Lutensol® XL 50
Lutensol® XL 60
Lutensol® XL 70
Lutensol® XL 79
Lutensol® XL 80
Lutensol® XL 89
Lutensol® XL 90
Lutensol® XL 99
Lutensol® XL 100
Lutensol® XL 140

Nonionic surfactants for detergents and cleaners, and for the

chemical and allied industries
TI/ES 1470 e June 2004 Page 2 of 12 Lutensol® XL types
TI/ES 1470 e June 2004 Page 3 of 12 Lutensol® XL types

Chemical character The Lutensol ® XL types are nonionic surfactants. They are alkyl poly-
ehtlyene glycol ethers made from a C10-Guerbet Alcohol and ethylene
oxide. These products contain also higher alkylene oxides in small
amounts.

They conform to the following formula:

RO(CH 2CH 2O) XH

R = C 10H 21

x = 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14

The numeric code in the product name indicates in general the degree of
ethoxilation.

Properties
Lutensol ® XL 40, XL 50, XL 60, XL 70, XL 80 and XL 90 are cloudy liquids
at room termperature, and they tend to form a sediment. Lutensol ® XL 100
and XL 140 are soft, clourless or slightly yellowish pastes at 23 °C.

Lutensol ® XL 70, XL 80, XL 90, XL 100 and XL 140 become clear liquids at
50 °C.

Lutensol ® XL 79, XL 89 and XL 99 are clear liquids at room temperature.

TI/ES 1470 e June 2004 Page 4 of 12 Lutensol® XL types

Lutensol® XL 40 XL 50 XL 60 XL 70 XL 79

Physical form (23 °C) Liquid Liquid Liquid Liquid Liquid

Degree of ethoxilation ca. 4 ca. 5 ca. 6 ca. 7 ca. 7

Concentration % ca. 100 ca. 100 ca. 100 ca. 100 ca. 85

Cloudpoint (EN 1890)*

Method A °C <5 <5 <5 <5 <5
Method B °C <5 <5 <5 <5 <5
Method C °C <5 <5 <5 <5 <5
Method D °C ca. 54 ca. 64 ca. 69 ca. 71 ca. 71
Method E °C ca. 43 ca. 58 ca. 65 ca. 68 ca. 68

Average molar mass g/mol ca. 380 ca. 440 ca. 490 ca. 560 ca. 560
(from OH number

pH (EN 1262, solution B)** ca. 7 ca. 7 ca. 7 ca. 7 ca. 7

Density (DIN 51757, 23 °C) g/cm3 ca. 0.95 ca. 0.97 ca. 0.98 ca. 0.99 ca. 1.01

Dropping point (DIN 51801) °C <0 <0 <0 ca.18 <0

Solidification point (ISO 2207) °C <0 <0 <0 ca. 4 <0

Melting point °C – – – – –

Viscosity (EN 12092, 23 °C,

Brookfield, 60 rpm) mPa · s ca. 40 ca. 50 ca. 60 ca. 70 ca. 120

Hydroxylnumber (DIN 53240) mgKOH/g ca. 150 ca. 130 ca. 115 ca. 100 ca. 100

HLB value ca. 10.5 ca. 11.5 ca. 12.5 ca. 13 ca. 13

Flash point (DIN 51376) °C > 170 > 190 > 200 > 180 > 180

Wetting (EN 1772,

distilled water, 23 °C, 2 g Soda ash/l)
0.5 g/l s ca. 50 ca. 50 ca. 40 ca. 40 ca. 40
1 g/l s ca. 30 ca. 20 ca. 10 ca. 10 ca. 10
2 g/l s ca. 20 ca. 5 ca. 5 ca. 5 ca. 5

Foam volume cm3 ca. 10 ca. 200 ca. 240 ca. 300 ca. 300
(EN 12728, 40 °C, 2 g/l
water at a hardness of
1.8 mmol Ca-ions/l, after 30 s)

Surface tension mN/m ca. 27 ca. 27 ca. 27 ca. 27 ca. 27

(DIN 53914, 1 g/l in
distilled water, 23 °C)***
TI/ES 1470 e June 2004 Page 5 of 12 Lutensol® XL types

Lutensol® XL 80 XL 89 XL 90 XL 99 XL 100 XL 140

Physical form (23 °C) Liquid Liquid Liquid Liquid Liquid/Paste Paste

Degree of ethoxilation ca. 8 ca. 8 ca. 9 ca. 9 ca. 10 ca. 14

Concentration % ca. 100 ca. 80 ca. 100 ca. 80 ca. 100 ca. 100

Cloudpoint (EN 1890)*

Method A °C ca. 56 ca. 56 ca. 69 ca. 69 ca. 80 ca. 96
Method B °C ca. 43 ca. 43 ca. 53 ca. 53 ca. 64 ca. 78
Method C °C ca. 34 ca. 34 ca. 42 ca. 42 ca. 52 ca. 62
Method D °C ca. 75 ca. 75 ca. 78 ca. 78 ca. 80 ca. 85
Method E °C ca. 74 ca. 74 ca. 77 ca. 77 ca. 80 ca. 85

Average molar mass g/mol ca. 860 ca. 860 ca. 600 ca. 600 ca. 630 ca. 730
(from OH number)

pH value (EN 1262, solution B)** ca. 7 ca. 7 ca. 7 ca. 7 ca. 7 ca. 7

Density (DIN 51757, 23 °C) g/cm3 ca. 1.00 ca. 1.02 ca. 1.02 ca. 1.03 ca. 0.99 ca. 1.01
(60 °C) (60 °C)

Dropping point (DIN 51801) °C ca. 23 ca. 3 ca. 24 ca. 4 ca. 26 ca. 31

Solidification point (ISO 2207) °C ca. 10 <0 ca. 11 <0 ca. 13 ca. 18

Melting point °C – – – – not not

measurable measurable

Viscosity (EN12092, 23 °C,

Brookfield, 60 rpm) mPa · s ca. 120 ca. 150 ca. 500 ca. 160 ca. 30 ca. 40
(60 °C) (60 °C)

Hydroxyl number (DIN 53240) mgKOH/g ca. 95 ca. 95 ca. 90 ca. 90 ca. 75 ca. 65

HLB value ca. 14 ca. 14 ca. 14.5 ca. 14.5 ca. 15 ca. 16

Flash point (DIN 51376) °C > 180 > 180 > 180 > 180 > 190 > 200

Wettin (EN 1772,

distilled water, 23 °C, 2 g Soda ash/l)
0.5 g/l s ca. 50 ca. 50 ca. 60 ca. 60 ca. 80 ca. 160
1 g/l s ca. 10 ca. 10 ca. 10 ca. 10 ca. 20 ca. 50
2 g/l s ca. 5 ca. 5 ca. 5 ca. 5 ca. 10 ca. 10

Foam volume cm3 ca. 360 ca. 360 ca. 420 ca. 420 ca. 470 ca. 500
(EN 12728, 40 °C, 2 g/l
water at a hardness of
1.8 mmol Ca–Ions/l, after 30 s)

Surface tension mN/m ca. 27 ca. 27 ca. 27 ca. 27 ca. 28 ca. 29

(DIN 53914,
distilled water, 23 °C)***

The above information is correct at the time of going to press. It does not necessarily form part of the product specification. A detailed
product specification is available from your local BASF representative.

*** Cloud point EN 1890:

Method A : 1 g of surfactant + 100 g of dist. Water
Method B : 1 g of surfactant + 100 g of NaCl solution (c = 50 g/l)
Method C : 1 g of surfactant + 100 g of NaCl solution (c = 100 g/l)
Method D : 5 g of surfactant + 45 g of butyldiglycol solution (c = 250 g/l)
Method E : 5 g of surfactant + 25 g of butyldiglycol solution (c = 250 g/l)
** The pH of the Lutensol ® XL types can decrease during storage, but this does not have any effect on their
performance
*** Applying Harkins-Jordan correction
TI/ES 1470 e June 2004 Page 6 of 12 Lutensol® XL types

Solubility Details on the solubility of the Lutensol ® XL types in various solvents are
given in the table below.

Solubility of the Lutensol® XL types (10 % at 23 °C)

Destilled Potable water Caustic Hydro- Salt Solvent Ethanol Aromatic

water (2.7 mmol soda chloric solution naptha Isopro- hydro-
Ca2+--Ions/l) acid panol carbons
(5%) (5%) (5%)

Lutensol® XL 40 – – – – –

+

Lutensol® XL 50 f f – + f

+

Lutensol® XL 60 + + f + –

+

Lutensol® XL 70 + + f + – + + +

Lutensol® XL 79 + + f + – + + –

Lutensol® XL 80 + + – + +
+ +

Lutensol® XL 89 + + – + + + + –

Lutensol® XL 90 + + + + +
+ +

Lutensol® XL 99 + + + + + + + –

Lutensol® XL 100 + + + + + – + +

Lutensol® XL 140 + + + + + – + +

+ = clear solution

= sparingly soluble (insoluble sediment)
– = insoluble (phase separation)
f = forms an opaque soluble, homogeneous emulsion

Viscosity The relationship between viscosity and temperature is always an important

point to consider when Lutensol ® XL types are stored or shipped. This is
shown in the following table (mPa · s, Brookfield LVT):

Viscosity at °C 0 10 20 23 30 40 50 60

Lutensol ® XL 40 120 60 50 40 20 20 20 10

Lutensol ® XL 50 200 110 60 50 40 30 20 10

Lutensol ® XL 60 250 120 80 60 50 40 30 10

Lutensol ® XL 70 >10 5 1500 100 70 50 40 30 20

Lutensol ® XL 79 550 250 130 120 80 50 30 20

Lutensol ® XL 80 >10 5 >10 5 400 120 60 40 30 20

Lutensol ® XL 89 >10 5 350 180 150 100 60 40 30

Lutensol ® XL 90 >10 5 >10 5 4000 500 100 50 40 30

Lutensol ® XL 99 >10 5 400 190 160 100 60 40 30

Lutensol ® XL 100 >10 5 >10 5 >10 5 >10 5 200 60 40 30

Lutensol ® XL 140 >10 5 >10 5 >10 5 >10 5 300 80 50 40

We would recommend the preparation of 10 – 25 % stock solutions of

Lutensol ® XL types if they are to be used in the form of very dilute solu-
tions, or if they are to be added to other solutions. This makes it very
much easier to dilute them later on.
TI/ES 1470 e June 2004 Page 7 of 12 Lutensol® XL types

The Lutensol ® XL types can form fairly stiff gels at certain concentrations
when water is added. The figures below were measured using a
Brookfield-viscosimeter at 23 °C and 60 rpm.

The viskosity of Lutensol® XL types at 23°C as a function of concentration in water (all values in mPa · s)

Water- Lutensol ® Lutensol ® Lutensol ® Lutensol ® Lutensol ® Lutensol ®

content % XL 40 XL 50 XL 60 XL 70 XL 79 XL 80

10 40 50 60 70 120 120

10 50 70 90 100 1600 150

20 70 80 100 150 >10 5 200

30 80 >10 5 >10 5 >10 5 >10 5 >10 5

40 160 1) >10 5 >10 5 90000 4300 17000

50 300 1) 50000 500 1) 2000 140 1) 300

60 50 1) 500 1) 100 1) 200 1) 120 200

70 30 1) 100 1) 50 100 60 100

80 30 1) 70 1) 30 30 20 20

90 10 1) 60 1) 10 10 10 10
1) two separate phases are formed

Water- Lutensol ® Lutensol ® Lutensol ® Lutensol ® Lutensol ®

content % XL 89 XL 90 XL 99 XL 100 XL 140

10 150 400 160 >10 5 >10 5

10 >10 5 150 >10 5 150 200

20 82000 200 320 200 300

30 1600 85000 280 300 400

40 220 400 350 400 >10 5

50 200 350 300 >10 5 >10 5

60 120 300 100 300 250

70 30 60 30 50 50

80 20 20 20 20 20

90 10 10 10 10 10

The numbers reported have to be regarded as maximum values; the

values measured immediately after mixing will be lower than the numbers
reported.
TI/ES 1470 e June 2004 Page 8 of 12 Lutensol® XL types

Storage
a) The Lutensol ® XL types should be stored indoors in a dry place.
Storerooms must not be overheated.

b) The Lutensol ® XL types are hygroscopic due to their good solubility in

water, with the result that they may absorb moisture very quickly.
Drums must be resealed each time they are opened.

c) The storage temperature should not be allowed to fall substantially

below 20 °C. The setting points of these products also need to be
taken into account.

d) Lutensol ® XL 40, XL 50, XL 60, XL 70, XL 80 and XL 90 are cloudy

liquids at room termperature, and they tend to form a sediment.
Lutensol ® XL 100 and XL 140 are soft, clourless or slightly yellowish
pastes at 23 °C.

Lutensol ® XL 70, XL 80, XL 90, XL 100 and XL 140 become clear

liquids at 50 °C

Lutensol ® XL 79, XL 89 and XL 99 are clear liquids at room temperature.

e) Liquid that has solidified or that shows signs of sedimentation should

be heated to 50 – 60 °C and homogenized before it is processed.

f) Drums that have solidified or that have begun to precipitate should be

reconstituted by gentle heating, preferably in a heating cabinet. The
temperature must not be allowed to exceed 60 °C. This also applies if
drums are heated by external electrical elements.
Internal electrical elements should not be used because of the localized
anomalies in temperature that they cause.

g) The Lutensol ® XL types must be blanketed with nitrogen if they are

stored in heated tanks (at 50 – 60 °C) to prevent them from coming into
contact with air. Constant, gentle stirring helps to prevent them being
discoloured as a result of prolonged contact with electrical elements or
external heating coils.

Materials The following materials can be used for tanks and drums.
a) AISI 321 stainless steel (X6 CrNiTi 1810)
b) AISI 316 Ti stainless steel (X10 CrNiMoTi 1810)

Shelf life Provided they are stored properly and drums are kept tightly sealed, the
Lutensol ® XL types have a shelf life of at least two years in their original
packaging.
TI/ES 1470 e June 2004 Page 9 of 12 Lutensol® XL types

Applications
The Lutensol ® XL types belong to a group of nonionic surfactants that
have established themselves in detergents and cleaners, and in other
branches of the chemical industry, by virtue of the high levels of surface
activity they display. Their main area of application is in detergents and
cleaners for household, industrial and institutional use.

Because they are nonionic, the Lutensol ® XL types can be combined with
anionic, cationic and nonionic surfactants and auxiliaries. They are fully
compatible with alkylaryl sulphonates (Lutensit ® A-LB types), ether sul-
phates and other sulphated and sulphonated products. This enables syn-
ergistic effects and very high levels of performance to be obtained. They
are also compatible with the Lutensit ® TC-KLC 50 types (cationic biocides
based on dimethyl fatty alkylbenzeneammonium chloride) and with other
nonionic surfactants such as our Lutensol ® A N, AO, AT, TO, ON, F and
GD types, and the low-foaming surfactants in our Plurafac ® LF and
Pluronic ® PE and RPE ranges. Their compatibility with dyes, pigments,
protective colloids, thickeners and other substances with a molar mass
in the upper range is also very good.

The versatility of the Lutensol ® XL types is such that they can be used to
formulate acidic, alkaline and neutral cleaners that satisfy the most varied
requirements. They are very effective emulsifiers in combination with
Emulan ® and other products from the Lutensol ® range.

Very large amounts of acids, alkali, salts and organic solvents may have to
be added to some formulations in order to fulfil special requirements. High
concentrations of inorganic salts, bases and acids can impair the solubility
of the Lutensol ® XL types.

Nevertheless, this does not necessarily affect their performance. Although

electrolytes of this type do not cause the Lutensol ® XL types to decom-
pose, they can still cause solutions to become cloudy or to separate but,
provided they are still homogeneous, their performance is not affected.

Cleaners We recommend the following Lutensol ® XL types for the products listed
below.

Household cleaners Cleaners for floors, sanitary ware, tiles and enamel can be formulated with
Lutensol ® XL 70, XL 80 XL 90 and XL 100 in combination with other
Lutensol ® types and anionic surfactants from our Lutensit ® range (espe-
cially Lutensit ® A-LB types), dispersing agents (Sokalan ®) and chelating
agents (Trilon ®). It can be advisable to add a solubilizer such as cumene
sulphonate to highly concentrated formulations.

Neutral water based cleaners The water soluble products like Lutensol ® XL 70, XL 80, XL 90 and XL 100
perform well in neutral cleaners in combination with Lutensit ® A types,
dispersing agents (Sokalan ®) and chelating agents (Trilon ®). Again, it can
be advisable to add a solubilizer such as cumene sulphonate to highly
concentrated formulations.

Neutral metal cleaners Neutral cleaners and degreasers with a corrosion-inhibiting action for
metal pretreatment can be formulated from products such as our
Korantin ® MAT and Korantin ® PAT. The water-soluble surfactants in the
range, especially Lutensol ® XL 70, XL 80, XL 90 and XL 100, are very
effective wetting agents for use in this type of formulation.

Alkaline water-based cleaners Cleaners of this type are based on caustic alkali, on alkali carbonates, sili-
cates and phosphates. They are mainly used to clean metal before it is
plated, coated, phosphatized or anodized. Lutensol ® XL 70, XL 80, XL 90,
XL 100 are recommended for this purpose, in combination with other
Lutensol ® types, dispersing agents (Sokalan ®) and, chelating agents
(Trilon ®). It can be advisable to add a solubilizer such as cumene sulpho-
nate to highly concentrated formulations.
TI/ES 1470 e June 2004 Page 10 of 12 Lutensol® XL types

Acid cleaners Lutensol ® XL 70, XL 80, XL 90, XL 100 and XL 140 can be used in pickling
solutions, degreasers, descalers and derusters based on hydrochloric, sul-
phuric, phosphoric or amidosulphonic acid. Formulations can also contain
Lutensol ® FA 12, Lutensit ® TC-KLC 50 and Lutensit ® A-LB types as well
as corrosion inhibitors such as our Korantin ® BH.

Building care, disinfectants For the formulation of disinfectants and cleaners for building care we
recommend the use of the water soluble Lutensol ® XL types like
Lutensol ® XL 70, XL 80, XL 90 and XL 100 in combination with
Lutensol ® A 8, Lutensol ® TO types, Lutensol ® FSA 10, FA 12,
Lutensit ® TC-KLC 50 and Lutensit ® A-LB types, dispersing agents
(Sokalan ®) and chelating agents (Trilon ®).

Solvent-based cleaners Lutensol ® XL 40 can be used alongside Emulan ® A, P and PO to emulsify

hydrocarbons such as mineral spirits and kerosene in solvent-based
cleaners that are applied cold. Cleaners of this type are used to clean
motor vehicles, engines, machine parts, road and rail tankers, etc., and to
degrease metal.

Emulsification The Lutensol ® XL types generally perform well as emulsifiers, although

some perform better than others. Their practical performance as emulsifi-
ers can be gauged according to their hydrophilic-lipophilic balance, which
correlates with their degree of ethoxylation.

The Lutensol ® XL types can be combined with other emulsifiers from our
nonionic Emulan and anionic Emulphor ® ranges, and with alkali soaps,
amine soaps and sulphonated oils. Graduated tests are the most effective
means of determining the best combination of emulsifiers and the amounts
required. Tests are indispensable if emulsions are subjected to severe
demands due to the presence of electrolytes, finely divided suspended
solids or water-soluble, organic solvents. Special emulsifier combinations
often have to be employed to cope with exceptional thermal or mechanical
stress.

Dispersing The dispersing capacity of surfactants, which plays an important part in

cleaning and emulsification processes, is the single most important
attribute that has to be considered if sparingly soluble solids are to be
dispersed in water or other solvents. The Lutensol ® XL types can be used
to disperse the solids generated by precipitation, coagulation and other
chemical reactions. They can be used alone or in combination with
protective colloids.

Wetting The Lutensol ® XL types are very effective wetting agents. They can be
employed in a variety of refining, mixing, impregnating and surface-
treatment processes.

Again, graduated tests under practical conditions are the most effective
means of determining the best products for specific applications.

Other applications There are many applications for the Lutensol ® XL types in the leather,
paper, paints and building products industries.

Substitutes for alkylphenol Legislation and voluntary agreements have been adopted in many coun-
ethoxylates (APEO) tries to prohibit the use of alkylphenol ethoxylates in detergents and clea-
ners. This was prompted by the ecological objections that have been rai-
sed owing to the toxicity of degradation products of APEO to fish.

The Lutensol ® XL types can be employed as substitutes for alkylphenol

ethoxylates in some detergent and cleaner formulations. The choice of the
respective substitute may be based on criteria like HLB value or cloud
point. Our Lutensol ® TO, Lutensol ® XP types may be more appropriate
depending on the formulation in question.
TI/ES 1470 e June 2004 Page 11 of 12 Lutensol® XL types

Safety
We know of no ill effects that could have resulted from using Lutensol ® XL
types for the purpose for which it is intended and from processing it in
accordance with current practices.

According to the experience that we have gained over many years and
other information at our disposal, Lutensol ® XL types do not exert harmful
effects on health, provided they are used properly, due attention is given to
the precautions necessary for handling chemicals, and the information and
advice given in our Safety Data Sheets are observed.

Handling Protect the eyes and avoid prolonged contact with the skin. Safety glasses
should be worn when handling these products in their undiluted form.

Biological Degradability The Lutensol ® XL types are readily biodegradable according to test
methods OECD 301 A – F. This refers also to the alcohol basis of the
Lutensol ® XL types.

Labelling Please refer to the latest Safety Data Sheet for detailed information on
product safety.

Note
The data contained in this publication are based on our current knowledge
and experience. In view of the many factors that may affect processing
and application of our product, these data do not relieve processors from
carrying out their own investigations and tests; neither do these data imply
any guarantee of certain properties, nor the suitability of the product for
a specific purpose. Any descriptions, drawings, photographs, data, pro-
portions, weights etc. given herein may change without prior information
and do not constitute the agreed contractual quality of the product. It is
the responsibility of the recipient of our products to ensure that any pro-
prietary rights and existing laws and legislation are observed.

June 2004
TI/ES 1470 e June 2004 Page 12 of 12 Lutensol® XL types

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Performance Chemicals for
Detergents and Formulators
67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany
www.basf.com/detergents-formulators