This is a family of isomeric tridecyl alcohol ethoxylates: a branched C13 alcohol carrying an ethylene oxide chain. The whole range is one non-ionic surface active agent chemistry, with the alcohol end oil-friendly and the ethoxylate chain water-friendly. What separates grade 1303 from grade 1310 is the length of that chain and nothing else, which is why all seven grades share CAS number 9043-30-5 and the same mild pH of 5.0–7.0 in 1% solution. In appearance the range runs from a colourless liquid at the low end to a white paste at the top. Common to every grade: a low pour point, resistance to acid and alkali, strong wetting, penetration and emulsification, good compatibility with other materials, and good biodegradability. No APEO is used, which is what brings buyers here when a phenol ethoxylate has to come out of a formulation. Industrial surfactants of this type end up in cleaning and degreasing products, textile and leather processing, plating and pretreatment tanks, paper, paints and construction materials — one raw material doing wetting, penetration and emulsifying duty in the same plant. Formulators, cleaning-product manufacturers and metal plating services are the three groups that order it most often.
| Grade | Form at 25 °C | Colour (APHA) | Hydroxyl value (mgKOH/g) | HLB | Water (%) | pH (1% solution) |
| 1303 | Colourless liquid | ≤50 | 164–174 | 8–9 | ≤0.5 | 5.0–7.0 |
| 1305 | Colourless liquid | ≤50 | 129–139 | 10–11 | ≤0.5 | 5.0–7.0 |
| 1306 | Colourless liquid | ≤50 | 116–125 | 11–12 | ≤0.5 | 5.0–7.0 |
| 1307 | Colourless liquid | ≤50 | 105–115 | 12–13 | ≤0.5 | 5.0–7.0 |
| 1308 | White paste | ≤50 | 96–106 | 12–13 | ≤0.5 | 5.0–7.0 |
| 1309 | White paste | ≤50 | 92–102 | 12–13 | ≤0.5 | 5.0–7.0 |
| 1310 | White paste | ≤50 | 83–93 | 13–14 | ≤0.5 | 5.0–7.0 |
| Application | What the ethoxylate does there |
| Pretreatment before plating or coating | Low-dosage addition that wets the surface evenly and leaves a cleaner base for the next stage |
| Degreasers and cleaners | Component of alkaline and neutral cleaners, heavy-duty degreasers, multi-purpose detergents and ultrasonic cleaning baths |
| Silicone oil and dimethicone | Emulsifier that disperses silicone oil into an aqueous system, including in metal-processing fluids |
| Industrial metal plating | Wetting component that helps the bath reach recessed areas and keeps coverage even across the part |
| Aluminum anodizing | Degreasing and pretreatment aid that gets an extruded or polished surface evenly wetted before etching |
| Textile and leather | Degreaser, cleaning agent, emulsifier and refining agent component, and a penetrant where liquor has to reach the fibre core |
| Paper, paint and construction | Wetting and emulsifying aid in paper making, in paint and coating production, and in construction chemical formulations |
A plating tank wets a part long before it plates it. Where the solution does not wet evenly, the result is a patchy deposit, gas marking or a bare spot in a blind hole, and no brightener will compensate for it afterwards. A non-ionic ethoxylate added to the plating solutions lowers surface tension so the electrolyte reaches the whole surface, and the deposit then builds evenly out of the low-current-density areas instead of concentrating on the edges. In acid zinc plating chemicals the same effect helps the brightener stay dissolved and in circulation, which is where most of the visible difference shows up on parts with deep recesses. Nickel and nickel-alloy baths get a comparable benefit: hydrogen bubbles detach instead of clinging to the face, and the risk of pitting falls with them. On the anodizing side the gain appears earlier than most people expect — inside the aluminum anodizing line's degreasing and pretreatment stages, where an evenly wetted surface takes the etch at a consistent rate and goes on to form an oxide layer of even thickness. Passivation and conversion coating respond the same way: the treatment reaches the metal instead of sitting on top of it. In electroless nickel plating, wetting is what lets solution penetrate threads and blind holes that would otherwise come out thin.
Our metal plating services are built for durability and precision, so components hold up over time and in harsh environments. With advanced electroless nickel plating, we apply a uniform coating that improves wear resistance and corrosion protection, which makes these finishes well suited to industries requiring high performance parts, such as automotive and aerospace. Our zinc nickel plating expertise is focused on coatings that are both robust and reliable, helping your products maintain their integrity under demanding conditions. Share your substrate and performance requirements with our team and we can confirm the most suitable plating option for your parts.
Working with our paint chemicals, you can achieve finishes that stand out in the market. These products are engineered to provide excellent adhesion, durability and color retention, making them suitable for automotive, industrial and consumer goods applications. The result is stronger visual appeal and better protective qualities, so your products can meet demanding specifications. Our solutions are also designed to integrate with alodine coating processes, giving you a complete approach to surface treatment. Tell us about your coating line and the finish you are aiming for, and our team will help you select the right product.
Choosing the right match is where most sourcing decisions stall. As a trading supplier, we keep one point of contact from first enquiry to after-sales: tell us what you are making and the conditions you work under, and we shortlist the closest matches from our supplier network, compare specifications and arrange samples before you commit to a bulk order. If something does not behave as expected, we work with the supplying partner on the cause and a practical fix, and stay with the case until it is settled. Email, WeChat or WhatsApp enquiries get a reply within 24 hours.
Yes. The range is designed to work on its own or alongside anionic, cationic and non-ionic surfactants. In industrial metal plating baths the wetting agent usually sits in the same package as anionic brightener components, so compatibility with what is already in the tank matters more than the surfactant class itself. Run the blend in a small trial before committing a full tank, and send us the formulation if you want an opinion on where the ethoxylate should sit.
Both are APEO-free isomeric alcohol ethoxylates, but they are built on different alcohol chain lengths — tridecyl here, decyl in the C10 range. The longer chain shifts the balance towards oil affinity at the same ethylene oxide level, so the two ranges complement each other rather than replace one another. Metal plating services and formulators often keep both in stock and pick by HLB and by what the formulation needs at that point.
Yes, and a large share of the volume goes that way rather than into plating solutions. The series is used in cosmetic and detergent formulations, as a component of textile and leather degreasers and refining agents, and in paper, paint and construction products. The same wetting, penetrating and emulsifying behaviour is doing the work in each case; only the surrounding formulation changes.
There is no single figure that holds across systems — the right addition depends on the duty, on the electrolyte or resin system, and on how much foam your equipment can tolerate. In pretreatment and refining work the series is valued precisely because a low dosage already gives a visible effect. Tell us the bath type, the operating temperature and the result you are aiming for, and our technical contact will suggest a starting point for a trial.
A safety data sheet is issued for each grade and covers identification, handling, protective equipment, storage, transport classification and spill response. Ask your sales contact for the sheet for the grade you are buying and read it before the first charge, particularly if this is the first time the product has been through your plant's approval process.
Because CAS 9043-30-5 covers the tridecyl alcohol ethoxylate family, not one fixed molecule. Each grade carries a different number of ethylene oxide units, and as that chain grows the hydroxyl value falls. That is why the hydroxyl value, rather than the CAS number alone, is the figure to quote on a re-order and the figure to check when a delivery arrives.
