Ceteareth-20 è is a chemical compound, an ethoxylated natural saturated fat (produced by reaction of ethylene oxide), polyglycol alkyl ether or the polyethylene glycol ether of cetearyl alcohol. It is also known as 

• PEG-20 cetostearyl alcohol
• peg-20 cetyl/stearyl ether
• polyoxyethylene (20) cetyl/stearyl ether
• polyethylene glycol 1000 cetyl/stearyl ether

It appears as a transparent liquid, white flakes or white powder

What it is used for and where

Cosmetics

Non-ionic emulsifying surfactant used to increase the viscosity of the product in which it is incorporated and has an antistatic effect so that it can be used in hair products.  Suitable for emulsions with mineral oils, white oil, steryl, polar oils also in high-density electrolyte systems. Emulsifiers have the property of reducing the oil/water or water/oil interfacial tension, improving emulsion stability and also directly influencing the stability, sensory properties and surface tension of sunscreens by modulating their filmometric performance.  

Other uses

• Glass processing.
• Metal working: makes the oil surface easily removable
• Printing and painting: levelling agent, retarding agent.
• Polyester production
• Stripping agent for various dyes in the textile industry

Safety

In this study, Ceteareth-20 showed a proliferative effect only on cultured human lymphocytes in concentrations from 1% up to 50% and due to its molecular formula, it can bind cell membranes on cultured human lymphocytes (1).

Ceteareth-20 studies

Typical commercial product characteristicsCeteareth-20

Appearance	White powder or white flakes
Colour value	≤50
pH	5~7 in 1% acqueous solution
Boiling point	330-400℃ at 101kPa
Flash Point	243℃
Cloud point	91~96°C  5%NaCl
Density	0.87g/cm3 at 21℃
Vapor Pressure	0-5Pa at 20℃
Solubility	H2O: 1 g/10 ml
Hydroxyl value	39~44 mgKOH/g
Acid value	0.73
Chemical safety

• Molecular Formula     C₁₈H₃₈O     CH₃(CH₂)₁₇OH
• Molecular Weight      70,49
• CAS  68439-49-6
• UNII    
• EC Number   500-212-8
• DSSTox Substance ID  
• IUPAC  (E)-18-ethoxyoctadec-3-ene
• InChl=
• InChl Key      
• SMILES   CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCOCC
• MDL number  
• PubChem Substance ID    

Synonyms:

• Alcohols C16-18, ethoxylated
• Ceteareth
• Ceteareth-10
• Ceteareth-25
• Ceteareth-6
• Cetomacrogol

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Kirkik, D., Hacimustafaoglu, F., & Altunkanat, D. (2022). Cytotoxic Effects of Ceteareth-20 and Paraffinium Liquidum.