PPG-2-isodeceth-8 is a chemical compound, polypropylene glycol (PPG) ethoxylated ether of isodecyl alcohol.

The name describes the structure of the molecule:

• "PPG " stands for "Polypropylene Glycol", indicating a series of propylene glycol polymers.
• "2" indicates the average molecular weight of the propylene glycol polymer used.
• "isodeceth" indicates an alkyl chain derived from isodecanol.
• "8" in relation to "isodeceth", indicates the degree of ethoxylation, i.e., the number of ethylene oxide units added to the original molecule.

Description of raw materials used in production and their functions.

• Propylene oxide (PO). Used to create propylene glycol units within the polymer structure, enhancing water solubility and emulsifying properties.
• Isodecetic acid. A fatty acid used as the starting point in production, providing the specific lipophilic properties to the ester.

It appears as a viscous liquid generally colorless or slightly yellow.

Step-by-step summary of industrial chemical synthesis process.

• Esterification. Propylene oxide reacts with isodecetic acid to form a propylene glycol ester.
• Polymerization. The esterification product is then polymerized to form the desired compound, PPG-2-isodeceth-8.
• Purification. The polymer is subsequently purified to remove any impurities and unreacted compounds.

What it is used for and where

Cosmetics

Surfactant - Emulsifying agent. Emulsions are thermodynamically unstable and are used to soothe or soften the skin and emulsify, so they need a specific, stabilising ingredient. This ingredient forms a film, lowers the surface tension and makes two immiscible liquids miscible. A very important factor affecting the stability of the emulsion is the amount of the emulsifying agent. Emulsifiers have the property of reducing the oil/water or water/oil interfacial tension, improving the stability of the emulsion and also directly influencing the stability, sensory properties and surface tension of sunscreens by modulating the filmometric performance.

Surfactant - Cleansing agent. Cosmetic products used to cleanse the skin utilise the surface-active action that produces a lowering of the surface tension of the stratum corneum, facilitating the removal of dirt and impurities.

CAS   155683-77-5

Safety

This ingredient is formed with ethoxylation reaction with ethylene oxide after which residues of ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane, chemical compounds considered carcinogenic, may remain. The degree of safety therefore depends on the degree of purity of the compound obtained. At present, no manufacturer is known to provide this information on the label.

PPG (Polypropylene glycol)  in small quantities is a safe, biocompatible, biodegradable polymer that produces pyruvic acid, a metabolite that our body uses to produce metabolic energy.