Ultimate Guide to Polysorbates (Tween 20, 60, 80 & More): Properties, HLB Values, and Industrial Applications

2026-07-29

When formulating cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food products, or industrial coatings, selecting the right nonionic surfactant is crucial to achieving stability, optimal texture, and product efficacy. Among the most versatile and widely used emulsifiers in the global chemical market are Polysorbates (commonly known under the trade name Tween series).

At Guangdong Soyoung (gdsoyoung.com), we specialize in supplying high-purity single chemical raw materials. In this guide, we break down the chemical specifications, HLB values, physical properties, and key applications of the complete Polysorbate (Tween) series—including Tween-20, Tween-21, Tween-40, Tween-60, Tween-61, Tween-65, Tween-80, Tween-81, and Tween-85.

What Are Polysorbates (Tween Series)?

Polysorbates are ethoxylated sorbitan fatty acid esters derived from sorbitol, fatty acids, and ethylene oxide. They are nonionic surfactants valued for their:

High Emulsifying Power: Excellent stability across oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions.
Versatile Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB): Ranging from medium (9.6) to high (16.7), allowing precise formulation tailored to specific lipid phases.
Synergy with Span Series: Frequently paired with Sorbitan Esters (Span series) to fine-tune required HLB values for stable macro- and micro-emulsions.
Mildness & Safety: Broad compatibility across food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical regulatory standards.

Polysorbate Series Technical Specifications & Catalog Data

Below is the comprehensive technical overview of the Polysorbate (Tween) series offered by Guangdong Soyoung:

Product Name	Chemical Name	Appearance	Acid Value (mg KOH/g)	Saponification Value (mg KOH/g)	Hydroxyl Value (mg KOH/g)	HLB Value
Tween-20	Polyoxyethylene (20) Sorbitan Monolaurate	Viscous liquid	$\le 2.0$	40 – 50	96 – 108	16.7
Tween-21	Polyoxyethylene (4) Sorbitan Monolaurate	Viscous liquid	$\le 3.0$	100 – 115	225 – 255	13.3
Tween-40	Polyoxyethylene (20) Sorbitan Monopalmitate	Viscous liquid	$\le 2.0$	41 – 52	90 – 107	15.6
Tween-60	Polyoxyethylene (20) Sorbitan Monostearate	Viscous liquid / Paste	$\le 2.0$	45 – 55	81 – 96	14.9
Tween-61	Polyoxyethylene (4) Sorbitan Monostearate	Viscous liquid / Paste	$\le 3.0$	95 – 115	165 – 195	9.6
Tween-65	Polyoxyethylene (20) Sorbitan Tristearate	Viscous liquid / Solid	$\le 2.0$	88 – 98	44 – 60	10.5
Tween-80	Polyoxyethylene (20) Sorbitan Monooleate	Viscous liquid	$\le 2.0$	45 – 55	65 – 80	15.0
Tween-81	Polyoxyethylene (5) Sorbitan Monooleate	Viscous liquid	$\le 2.0$	95 – 105	135 – 165	10.0
Tween-85	Polyoxyethylene (20) Sorbitan Trioleate	Viscous liquid	$\le 2.0$	83 – 98	40 – 60	11.0

Standard Packaging Options

25 kg/barrel (ideal for standard production batches)

220 kg/barrel (industrial scale packaging)

1000 kg/barrel (IBC tote container for high-volume manufacturing)

Key Applications Across Major Industries

1. Cosmetic & Personal Care Formulations

Fragrance Solubilization: High HLB variants like Tween-20 (HLB 16.7) act as premier solubilizers for essential oils, perfume oils, and lipophilic active ingredients in aqueous facial toners, body mists, and gels.
Stable Emulsion Systems: Tween-60 and Tween-80 stably emulsify natural vegetable oils, synthetic esters, and waxes in creams, lotions, and body milks.
Mild Cleansing Agents: Used in gentle facial cleansers, micellar waters, and baby shampoos to lower skin irritation potential.
Mineral Oil Emulsification: Lower HLB variants such as Tween-61 (HLB 9.6) and Tween-81 (HLB 10.0) possess specialized emulsification properties for mineral oils and paraffinic hydrocarbons.

2. Food & Beverage Industry (Food Additives)

Bakery Products: Acts as a crumb softener, bread improver, and dough strengthener, enhancing volume and shelf-life stability.
Cake Emulsifiers & Batters: Promotes rapid foaming, uniform aeration, and smooth cell structure in cake gels and shortenings.
Beverage & Flavor Emulsions: Prevents phase separation in flavored beverages, dairy alternatives, and nutritional drinks.

3. Pharmaceutical Excipients

Serving as vital excipients, Polysorbates work as:
- Solubilizing agents for poorly water-soluble drug compounds.
- Emulsifiers & wetting agents in oral liquids, topical ointments, creams, and parenteral formulations.

4. Textile, Coating, and Industrial Auxiliaries

Textiles: Functions as an effective antistatic agent, fiber lubricant, and softening auxiliary.
Coatings & Paints: Works as a pigment dispersant and wetting additive to enhance gloss, tint strength, and stability in waterborne coatings.

How to Select the Right Polysorbate Grade (HLB Matching)

When designing an emulsion system:

1

High HLB (13.0 – 16.7): Choose Tween-20, Tween-40, or Tween-80 for clear aqueous solubilization, high-water phase systems, and oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions.
2

Medium HLB (9.6 – 11.0): Choose Tween-61, Tween-65, Tween-81, or Tween-85 for lower water content, specialized mineral oil emulsification, or secondary co-emulsifier systems.
3

Synergistic Blending: Combine Tween surfactants with lipophilic Span products (e.g., Span 80 or Span 60) to achieve the exact target HLB required by your specific oil phase.

Why Source Polysorbates from Guangdong Soyoung?

At Guangdong Soyoung, we offer:

Guaranteed Purity & Quality: High batch-to-batch consistency complying with international industrial standards.
Flexible Technical Support: Detailed technical data sheets (TDS), safety data sheets (SDS), and certificate of analysis (COA) supplied with every order.
Competitive Quotes & Fast Delivery: Direct supplier pricing with flexible packaging options (25kg, 220kg, 1000kg).

Request Product Quotes & Technical Specifications

Looking for detailed technical documentation or price quotations for Tween-20, Tween-60, Tween-80, or custom volume requirements?

Website: www.gdsoyoung.com
Contact Us: Reach out to our sales engineering team via our website contact form for prompt product quotes and technical specifications.