Surely you have heard more than once about polyethylene glycol... this word is somewhat long and even difficult to pronounce if you are not familiar with it; and also surely you have wondered what it is for.

At Chem Fluid we have created this blog to explain a little more about the uses of polyethylene glycol and its variants. Don't stop reading us!

What is polyethylene glycol?

In order not to make this very technical and complicated explanation, we tell you that polyethylene glycol or polyethylene glycol, also known as PEG, is a polyester that has many uses ranging from the manufacturing industry to the medicinal industry.

Polyethylene glycols are one of the most widely used chemical ingredients in production processes and are also widely used in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, medicine, and many other industries.

What are the uses of polyethylene glycol?

As we have just mentioned, polyethylene glycol is widely used in different industries and for different purposes. 

To mention a few examples, PEG is used:

• In the food industry it is used for its great capacity to thicken, stabilize and be a flavor enhancer. You can see it in sports drinks, gum and gummies, and much more. 
• In pharmaceuticals, it is widely used for its high degree of reliability and safety. You will see it as an excipient in many products ranging from oral liquid solvents such as syrups, vitamins, and supplements (in the capsule part), to ointments, eye lubricants, and medication packaging, also known as blister packs. 
• It also acts as a protective agent on the intestinal membranes, making medications have a prolonged effect. 
• Commercially, polyethylene glycol is used as a surface active agent in food, cosmetics, biomedicine, etc. 
• In the automotive industry it is of great help for production processes and as mold release agents, lubricants, antistatic agents and other processing aids. 

What are the variants of Polyethylene glycol? 

There are many variants of PEG. Their differences lie in their molecular weights, which generally range from 300 g/mol to 10,000,000 g/mol. 

The difference between molecular weights gives different physical properties (for example, viscosity) and also allows different uses. However, their chemical properties are almost identical. 

Generally, the numbers that are often included in the names of PEGs indicate their average molecular weights. For example, a PEG with n=9 has an average molecular weight of about 400 daltons, so it will be labeled PEG 400.

At Chem Fluid we have different PEG variants and they vary according to the degree of ethoxylation and uses. Here we tell you more about what we have available:

• Polyethylene glycol 300 or PEG 300: it is used for the preparation of medicines, formulation of cosmetics, hydraulic fluids, coatings and plasticizers, increasing lubricity, adding moisture, among others. It is characterized by being a viscosity regulator and solubilizer of concentrated products. 
  
• Polyethylene glycol 400 or PEG 400: it is characteristic for its wetting properties and is used as a viscosity regulator. It is widely used in making skin care, hair care and body care products. In addition, it is used as a non-volatile and highly soluble solvent in water, biodegradable and non-toxic, acts as a mold release agent, dye carrier, antistatic agent, adhesive, glass cleaner coating, leather and vinyl care, and much more. 
  
• Polyethylene glycol 600 or PEG 600: it is widely used for cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations. It is part of the formulas for synthetic lubricants, cutting oils, hydraulic and polishing fluids, release agent, it is a wetting agent, it serves as part of wood treatments, solubilizing agent in liquid detergents. It is also used in the manufacture of synthetic resins, plasticizers, and adhesives, as well as in the paper, rubber, textile, printing, and metal industries. 

Is the use of polyethylene glycol safe? 

PEG or polyethylene glycol is considered a biologically inert substance, which means that they are recognized as safe for use in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. 

You may be wondering if polyethylene glycol is toxic and the answer is that due to its structure and its solubility in water, polyethylene glycol is generally non-toxic and suitable for use in the above mentioned industries.

It is worth remembering that at Chem Fluid we have these and many more chemical raw materials for your business. If you require advice or need more information, do not hesitate to contact us .