Technical Information Pluronic® PE types

March 2013

09_130218e-00/Page 1 of 11
WF-No. 2767

® = Registered trademark of BASF Pluronic® PE 3100 Pluronic® PE 9200

Pluronic® PE 3500 Pluronic® PE 9400
Pluronic® PE 4300 Pluronic® PE 10100
Pluronic® PE 6100 Pluronic® PE 10300
Pluronic® PE 6200 Pluronic® PE 10400
Pluronic® PE 6400 Pluronic® PE 10500
Pluronic® PE 6800 Pluronic® PE 10500 Solution
Pluronic® PE 8100

Low-foaming block copolymers for a wide variety of applications

09_130218e-00 March 2013 Page 2 of 11 Pluronic® PE types

Chemical nature The Pluronic® PE types are low-foam­ing, non­ionic sur­fac­tants. They are block
copol­ym­ers in which the cen­tral poly­pro­py­lene gly­col group is ­flanked by two
poly­eth­y­lene gly­col ­groups. They con­form to the fol­low­ing struc­tu­ral for­mula.

CH3

HO(CH2CH2O)x(CH2CHO)y(CH2CH2O)zH

Nomenclature The Pluronic® PE types are designated by a four-figure or five-figure code. The first
digit – or first two digits – is a guide to the molar mass of the hydrophobe, in this
case polypropylene glycol, on a scale of 1 – 10. The second or third digit is the
percentage of polyethylene glycol in the molecule, multiplied by 10.

Nomenclature of the Pluronic® PE types

Pluronic® Code Molar mass of Code Percentage of

polypropylene polyethylene
glycol block glycol in molecule
(g/mol) (%)
PE 3100 3 950 1 10
PE 3500 3 950 5 50
PE 4300 4 1100 3 30
PE 6100 6 1750 1 10
PE 6200 6 1750 2 20
PE 6400 6 1750 4 40
PE 6800 6 1750 8 80
PE 8100 8 2300 1 10
PE 9200 9 2750 2 20
PE 9400 9 2750 4 40
PE 10100 10 3250 1 10
PE 10300 10 3250 3 30
PE 10400 10 3250 4 40
PE 10500 10 3250 5 50

PRD-Nos.* Pluronic® PE 3100 30044078

Pluronic® PE 3500 30044083
Pluronic® PE 4300 30044084
Pluronic® PE 6100 30044126
Pluronic® PE 6200 30044130
Pluronic® PE 6400 30044133
Pluronic® PE 6800 30044097
Pluronic® PE 8100 30044087
Pluronic® PE 9200 30044105
Pluronic® PE 9400 30044106
Pluronic® PE 10100 30044111
Pluronic® PE 10300 30058297
Pluronic® PE 10400 30044093
Pluronic® PE 10500 30044121
Pluronic® PE 10500 Solution 30044112

* BASF’s commercial product numbers.

09_130218e-00 March 2013 Page 3 of 11 Pluronic® PE types

Properties The con­sis­tency of the indi­vid­ual prod­ucts in the Pluronic® PE range is deter­mined
by their poly­eth­y­lene gly­col con­tent and the molar mass of the cen­tral poly­pro­py­lene
gly­col block. They tend to ­become more solid as these fig­ures ­increase. Pluronic®
PE 6800 is sup­plied in the form of fine, free-flow­ing, non-tacky beads for ease of
pro­cess­ing.

The most impor­tant prop­er­ties of the Pluronic® PE types are ­listed in the table
over­leaf.

The infor­ma­tion below 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.

Pluronic® PE 3100 Clear, colorless liquid
Pluronic PE 3500
®
Clear, colorless liquid
Pluronic® PE 4300 
 Clear, colorless liquids; the cloudiness
Pluronic® PE 6100  at low temperatures can be reversed by
 heating
Pluronic® PE 6200 
Pluronic® PE 6400 Colorless, slightly cloudy liquid
Pluronic® PE 6800 Fine, white powder
Pluronic® PE 8100 
 Colorless, clear or slightly cloudy liquids
Pluronic® PE 9200 
Pluronic® PE 9400 White, waxy solid
Pluronic® PE 10100 Colorless, clear or slightly cloudy liquid
Pluronic® PE 10300 White paste
Pluronic PE 10400
®
White, waxy solid
Pluronic® PE 10500 White, waxy solid
Pluronic® PE 10500 Solution Clear, colorless liquid
09_130218e-00 March 2013 Page 4 of 11 Pluronic® PE types

Pluronic® PE 3100 PE 3500 PE 4300 PE 6100

Physical form (23 °C) Liquid Liquid Liquid Liquid
Molar mass, g/mol approx. 1000 approx. 1900 approx. 1750 approx. 2000
calculated from OH number
Concentration % approx. 100 approx. 100 approx. 100 approx. 100
Cloud point (EN 1890)*
Method A °C approx. 40 approx. 68 approx. 23
Method B °C approx. 33 approx. 58 approx. 40
Method C °C approx. 26 approx. 50 approx. 31
Method D °C approx. 45 approx. 79 approx. 65 approx. 37
Method E °C approx. 40 approx. 78 approx. 61 approx. 31
pH (EN 1262, Solution B)** approx. 7 approx. 7 approx. 7 approx. 7
Density (DIN 51757, g/cm 3
approx. 1.02 approx. 1.05 approx. 1.03 approx. 1.02
Method A, 23 °C)
Bulk density (ISO 697) g/l
Viscosity (EN 12092, 2 °C, mPa · s approx. 175 approx. 450 approx. 400 approx. 350
Brookfield, 60 rpm)
Setting point (DIN 51583) °C approx. -15 approx. 12 approx. -10 approx. -30
Melting point °C
Wetting (EN 1772, 23 °C, 2 g/l soda s >300 >300 >300 >300
ash, 1 g/l surfactant)
Surface tension*** mN/m approx. 44 approx. 45 approx. 42 approx. 40
(EN 14370, 1 g/l, 23 °C)

* Cloud point according to EN 1890:

Method A: 1 g surfactant + 100 g distilled water
Method B: 1 g surfactant + 100 g NaCl solution (c = 50 g/l)
Method C: 1 g surfactant + 100 g NaCl solution (c = 100 g/l)
 Method D: 5 g surfactant +   45 g ethylene glycol monobutyl ether solution
(c = 250 g/l)
 Method E: 5 g surfactant +   25 g ethylene glycol monobutyl ether solution
(c = 250 g/l)

The pH of the Pluronic® PE types can fall slightly in storage, but this has no effect
** 
on their performance.

*** Applying Harkins-Jordan correction

09_130218e-00 March 2013 Page 5 of 11 Pluronic® PE types

Pluronic® PE 6200 PE 6400 PE 6800 PE 8100

Physical form (23 °C) Liquid Liquid Powder Liquid
Molar mass, calculated from g/mol approx. 2450 approx. 2900 approx. 8000 approx. 2600
OH number
Concentration % approx. 100 approx. 100 approx. 100 approx. 100
Cloud point (EN 1890)*
Method A °C approx. 33 approx. 60 >100 approx. 19
Method B °C approx. 50 approx. 88
Method C °C approx. 40 approx. 72
Method D °C approx. 60 approx. 70 approx. 90 approx. 42
Method E °C approx. 54 approx. 69 approx. 95 approx. 36
pH** (EN 1262, Solution B) approx. 7 approx. 7 approx. 7 approx. 7
Density (DIN 51757, g/cm3 approx. 1.04 approx. 1.05 approx. 1.06 approx. 1.03
Method A, 23 °C) (70 °C)
Bulk density (ISO 697) g/l approx. 600
Viscosity (EN 12092, 23 °C, Brookfield, mPa·s approx. 500 approx. 1000 approx. 700
60 rpm)
Setting point (DIN 51583) °C approx. -12 approx. 16 approx. -30
Melting point °C approx. 48
Wetting (EN 1772, 23 °C, 2 g/l soda s >300 >300 >300 approx. 70
ash, 1 g/l surfactant)
Surface tension*** mN/m approx. 41 approx. 41 approx. 51 approx. 35
(EN 14370, 1 g/l, 23 °C)

* Cloud point according to EN 1890:

Method A: 1 g surfactant + 100 g distilled water
Method B: 1 g surfactant + 100 g NaCl solution (c = 50 g/l)
Method C: 1 g surfactant + 100 g NaCl solution (c = 100 g/l)
 Method D: 5 g surfactant +   45 g ethylene glycol monobutyl ether solution
(c = 250 g/l)
 Method E: 5 g surfactant +   25 g ethylene glycol monobutyl ether solution
(c = 250 g/l)
**  The pH of the Pluronic® PE types can fall slightly in storage, but this has no effect
on their performance.
*** Applying Harkins-Jordan correction
09_130218e-00 March 2013 Page 6 of 11 Pluronic® PE types

Pluronic® PE 9200 PE 9400 PE 10100 PE 10300

Physical form Liquid Waxy solid Liquid Paste
Molar mass, g/mol approx. 3650 approx. 4600 approx. 3500 approx. 4950
calculated from OH number
Concentration % approx. 100 approx. 100 approx. 100 approx. 100
Cloud point (EN 1890)
Method A °C approx. 22 approx. 79 approx. 17 approx. 42
Method B °C – approx. 67 – approx. 32
Method C °C – approx. 55 – –
Method D °C approx. 40 approx. 77 approx. 40 approx. 67
Method E °C approx. 49 approx. 80 approx. 35 approx. 69
pH value** (EN 1262, Solution B) approx. 7 approx. 7 approx. 7 approx. 7
Density (DIN 51757, ) g/cm 3
approx. 1.03 approx. 1.03 approx. 1.02 approx. 1.02
Method A, 23 °C (60 °C)
Bulk density (ISO 697) g/l – – – –
Viscosity (EN 12092, 23 °C, mPa · s approx. 900 – approx. 800 approx. 1800
Brookfield, 60 rpm)
Setting point (DIN 51583) °C approx. -3 – approx. -25 approx. 15
Melting point °C – approx. 32 – –
Wetting (EN 1772, 23 °C, 2 g/l soda s >100 >300 approx. 60 approx. 70
ash, 1 g/l surfactant)
Surface tension*** mN/m approx. 35 approx. 42 approx. 36 approx. 37
(EN 14370, 1 g/l, 23 °C)

* Cloud point according to EN 1890:

Method A: 1 g surfactant + 100 g distilled water
Method B: 1 g surfactant + 100 g NaCl solution (c = 50 g/l)
Method C: 1 g surfactant + 100 g NaCl solution (c = 100 g/l)
Method D: 5 g surfactant +   45 g ethylene glycol monobutyl ether solution
(c = 250 g/l)
 Method E: 5 g surfactant +   25 g ethylene glycol monobutyl ether solution
(c = 250 g/l)
**  The pH of the Pluronic® PE types can fall slightly in storage, but this has no effect
on their performance.
*** Applying Harkins-Jordan correction
09_130218e-00 March 2013 Page 7 of 11 Pluronic® PE types

Pluronic® PE 10400 PE 10500 PE 10500

Solution
Physical form Waxy solid Waxy solid Waxy solid
Molar mass, g/mol approx. 5900 approx. 6500 approx. 6500
calculated from OH number
Concentration % approx. 100 approx. 100 approx. 18
Cloud point (EN 1890)
Method A °C approx. 81 >100 >100
Method B °C approx. 61 approx. 75 approx. 75
Method C °C approx. 50 – –
Method D °C approx. 78 – –
Method E °C approx. 81 – –
pH value** (EN 1262, Solution B) approx. 7 approx. 7 approx. 7
Density (DIN 51757, ) g/cm3 approx. 1.03 approx. 1.03 approx. 1.0
Method A, 23 °C (60 °C) (60 °C)
Bulk density (ISO 697) g/l – – –
Viscosity (EN 12092, 23 °C, mPa · s – – approx. 10
Brookfield, 60 rpm)
Setting point (DIN 51583) °C – – approx. -9
Melting point °C approx. 34 approx. 44
Wetting (EN 1772, 23 °C, 2 g/l soda s approx. 85 approx. 300 >300
ash, 1 g/l surfactant)
Surface tension*** mN/m approx. 38 approx. 39 approx. 39
(EN 14370, 1 g/l, 23 °C)

* Cloud point according to EN 1890:

Method A: 1 g surfactant + 100 g distilled water
Method B: 1 g surfactant + 100 g NaCl solution (c = 50 g/l)
Method C: 1 g surfactant + 100 g NaCl solution (c = 100 g/l)
 Method D: 5 g surfactant +   45 g ethylene glycol monobutyl ether solution
(c = 250 g/l)
 Method E: 5 g surfactant +   25 g ethylene glycol monobutyl ether solution
(c = 250 g/l)
**  The pH of the Pluronic® PE types can fall slightly in storage, but this has no effect
on their performance.
*** Applying Harkins-Jordan correction

Solubility It is a gen­eral rule that the sol­ub

­ il­ity of Pluronic® PE types in water ­increases in step
with the pro­por­tion of poly­eth­y­lene gly­col that they con­tain. If two prod­ucts con­tain
the same mass frac­tion of poly­eth­yl­ene gly­col, the molar mass of the poly­pro­py­lene
gly­col block is the deter­min­ing fac­tor, and the one with the lower molar mass will
be the more sol­u­ble.

For ­instance, Pluronic® PE 6800 is more sol­u­ble in water than Pluronic® PE 6100,
which is less sol­u­ble than Pluronic® PE 3100.

All of the Pluronic® PE types are more sol­u­ble in cold water than in hot water. As
in all alkox­y­lates, the oxy­gen atoms in the ether g
­ roups form hydro­gen bonds with
water. The mole­cules grad­u­ally dis­so­ci­ate as the solu­tion warms up. It is for this
rea­son that alkox­y­lates have a cloud point at which they form a sep­ar­ate phase.
Each prod­uct in the Pluronic® PE range has its own char­ac­ter­is­tic cloud point.
09_130218e-00 March 2013 Page 8 of 11 Pluronic® PE types

The sol­u­bil­ity of the var­i­ous Pluronic® PE types in dif­fer­ent sol­vents is shown below.

Solubility of Pluronic® PE types at 23 °C (10% solutions)

Pluronic® PE 3100 PE 3500 PE 4300 PE 6100 PE 6200

Distilled water – + + – +
Caustic soda, 10% – + – – –
Hydrochloric acid, 10% – + + – +
Ethanol + + + + +
Isopropanol + + + + +
Toluene + + + + + opalescent
White mineral spirits + – – –

Pluronic® PE 6400 PE 6800 PE 8100 PE 9200 PE 9400

Water + + – + opalescent + opalescent
Caustic soda, 10% – – – – –
Hydrochloric acid, 10% + + – + opalescent +
Ethanol + + – + +
Isopropanol + – + + +
Toluene + + + + +
White mineral spirits – – – – –

Pluronic® PE 10100 PE 10300 PE 10400 PE 10500 PE 10500

Solution
Water – – – + +
Caustic soda, 10% – – – – +
Hydrochloric acid, 10% + – – + +
Ethanol + + + + +
Isopropanol + + + + +
Toluene + + + + opalescent –
White mineral spirits –/+ – – – –
+ = Soluble
– = Insoluble

Wetting The most effec­tive wet­ting a

­ gents con­tain a low pro­por­tion of poly­eth­y­lene gly­col,
and their cen­tral poly­pro­py­lene gly­col block has a high molar mass. The best
wet­ting ­agents in the range are Pluronic® PE 8100, PE 9200 and PE 10100.

Com­pat­ibil­ity The Pluronic® PE types are non­ionic and there­fore mis­cible with ­anionic, cat­ionic
and other non­ionic sur­fac­tants. They do not react with cat­ions such as Ca2+ or
Mg2+, which means that they can be used in hard water. They are also com­pat­ible
with sol­u­ble poly­an­ionic sub­stances such as our Sok­a­lan® CP types, Sok­a­lan® PA
types and car­box­y­me­thyl cel­lu­lose.

The Pluronic® PE types are fully resist­ant to non-oxi­diz­ing acids at the con­cen­tra­tions
at which they are nor­mally ­employed in appli­ca­tions such as those ­described below
but, ­although they are resist­ant to alka­lis, they are not resist­ant to alka­lis to quite
the same ­extent.

Processing It is advisable to stir the surfactant into water when preparing aqueous solutions,
because solutions made up in the reverse order can have a very high viscosity.
Products with a high molar mass also form gels in water at certain concentrations.
The relationship between viscosity and concentration is shown in the table below.
09_130218e-00 March 2013 Page 9 of 11 Pluronic® PE types

The viscosities of aqueous solutions of Pluronic® PE types in mPa·s (approx.)

(The values below were measured at 25 °C with a Brookfield viscometer)

Pluronic® PE 3100 PE 3500 PE 4300 PE 6100 PE 6200

Water content (%)
0 175 440 400 350 500
10 170 450 600 380 600
20 130 360 750 350 650
30 110 215 9000 200 450
40 90 110 400 250 300
50 60 50 150 100 200
60 25 25 40 50 50
70 10 10 10 <10 20
80 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10
90 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10

Pluronic® PE 6400 PE 6800 PE 8100 PE 9200 PE 9400

Water content (%)
0 1000 Powder 700 900 >105
10 1300 >105 1000 70000 >105
20 30000 >105 1600 >105 >105
30 40000 >105 1800 >105 >105
40 >105 >105 2100 >105 >105
50 >105 2000 1200 >105 >105
60 1000 280 500 >105 >105
70 20 60 400 13000 >105
80 <10 30 50 1200 30
90 <10 20 10 20 30

Pluronic® PE 10100 PE 10300 PE 10400 PE 10500 PE 10500

Solution
Water content (%)
0 800 1800 >105 >105 10
10 3300 >10 5
>105
>105
10
20 >10 5
>10 5
>105
>105
10
30 >10 5
>10 5
>10 5
>10 5
10
40 >10 5
>10 5
>10 5
>10 5
10
50 >10 5
>10 5
>10 5
>10 5
<10
60 12 000 >10 5
>10 5
>10 5
<10
70 2300 65 >10 5
>10 5
<10
80 1100 15 35 3200 <10
90 30 <10 <10 10 <10
09_130218e-00 March 2013 Page 10 of 11 Pluronic® PE types

The relationship between the viscosities of the Pluronic® PE types in mPa · s (approx.) and temperature is shown
in the following table.

Pluronic® PE 3100 3500 4300 6100 6200 6400 6800 8100

Temperature (°C)
0 1000 > 105 10000 1800 2400 > 105 – 3000
10 300 > 105 2000 900 1200 65000 – 1700
20 200 1200 700 400 500 1 000 – 800
30 100 300 300 220 300 500 – 400
40 60 190 200 130 200 300 – 240
50 40 130 120 80 130 200 – 160
60 20 90 80 40 80 100 5 000 100

Pluronic® PE 9200 9400 10100 10300 10400 10500 10500

Solution
Temperature (°C)
0 13500 >105 5200 >105 >105 >105 20
10 1500 >10 5
2500 >105
>10 5
>10 5
15
20 900 >10 5
1200 >105
>10 5
>10 5
15
30 500 >10 5
500 700 >10 5
>10 5
10
40 300 600 350 430 >10 5
>10 5
<10
50 200 400 200 280 800 800 <10
60 120 300 150 200 500 500 <10

Storage a) The Pluronic® PE types ­should be kept ­tightly ­sealed in a dry place in their ­tightly
­sealed orig­i­nal pack­ag­ing. Store­rooms must not be over­heated.
b) The Pluronic® PE types are hygro­scopic and sol­u­ble in water, with the r­esult that
they ­absorb mois­ture very q
­ uickly. Drums ­should be ­tightly ­resealed each time
mate­rial is taken from them.
c) The Pluronic® PE types ­should not be ­stored at tem­per­a­tures sub­stan­tially below
20 °C.
d)
The Pluronic® PE types can ­become ­cloudy liq­uids at low tem­per­at­ures and/or
after long peri­ods in stor­age, and this can cause them to form a sed­im ­ ent.
This cloudi­ness is rever­sible at 50 – 70 °C. Recon­sti­tu­tion has no ­effect on
their prac­ti­cal per­for­mance.
e) Liq­uid that has solid­i­fied or that shows signs of pre­cip­i­ta­tion ­should be ­heated
to 50 – 70 °C and homog­e­nized ­before use.
f) 
Drums that have solid­ifi­ ed or that have begun to pre­cip­i­tate ­should be recon­sti­tuted
by gen­tle heat­ing, pref­er­ably in a heat­ing cab­in­ et. The tem­per­at­ure must not
be ­allowed to ­exceed 50 °C. This also ­applies if drums are ­heated by exter­nal
electri­cal ele­ments. Inter­nal electri­cal ele­ments s­ hould not be used ­because of
the local­ized anom­a­lies in tem­per­at­ure that they cause.
g) The Pluronic® PE types must be blan­keted with nitro­gen if they are ­stored in h
­ eated
tanks (at approx. 70 °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.
h) Pluronic® PE 6800 ­should be s­ tored in a dry place at a tem­per­a­ture not exceed­ing
25 – 30 °C. It must be pro­tected from sun­light to ­ensure that it does not form
lumps.

Materials The Pluronic® PE types should be stored in tanks made from the following materials.
a) AISI 316 Ti stainless steel
b) AISI 321 stainless steel
09_130218e-00 March 2013 Page 11 of 11 Pluronic® PE types

Shelf life The Pluronic® PE types have a shelf life of at least two years, provided they are
stored in their original packaging and kept tightly sealed.

Safety We know of no ill e­ ffects that could have ­resulted from using the Pluronic® PE
types for the pur­pose for which they are ­intended and from pro­cess­ing them in
accor­dance with cur­rent prac­tice.

Accord­ing to the expe­ri­ence we have ­gained over many years and other infor­ma­
tion at our dis­po­sal, the Pluronic® PE types do not exert any harm­ful ­effects on
­health, pro­vided that they are used prop­erly, due atten­tion is given to the pre­
cau­tions nec­es­sary for han­dling chem­i­cals, and the infor­ma­tion and ­advice
given in our ­safety data s­ heets are o
­ bserved.

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

Note This document, or any answers or information provided herein by BASF, does
not constitute a legally binding obligation of BASF. While the descriptions, designs,
data and information contained herein are presented in good faith and believed
to be accurate, it is provided for your guidance only. Because many factors may
affect processing or application/use, we recommend that you make tests to
determine the suitability of a product for your particular purpose prior to use. It
does not relieve our customers from the obligation to perform a full inspection of
the products upon delivery or any other obligation. NO WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND,
EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY
OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE MADE REGARDING PRODUCTS
DESCRIBED OR DESIGNS, DATA OR INFORMATION SET FORTH, OR THAT THE
PRODUCTS, DESIGNS, DATA OR INFORMATION MAY BE USED WITHOUT
INFRINGING THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS OF OTHERS. IN NO CASE
SHALL THE DESCRIPTIONS, INFORMATION, DATA OR DESIGNS PROVIDED BE
CONSIDERED A PART OF OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE.

March 2013

BASF - Care Chemicals Division - www.formulation-technologies.basf.com