This is our most popular Polyethylene Glycol / PEG - Polyethylene Glycol 400 (PEG 400)
Polyethylene Glycol 400 (PEG 400)
- Information
- Specification
- Hazards
- Precautionary
- Shipping
- MSDS
Description
Need to use Polythylene Glycol PEG 400?
- We supply PEG 400 in 25L containers, with discounts available for bulk orders.
- We also offer PEG 300 and PEG 4000
- In addition, all our products come with multiple options, such as customised labelling or specific pack sizes
What Does PEG 400 Mean?
Polyethylene glycol compounds can be found in a variety of molecular weights, which greatly affects their physical properties (such as viscosity) and applications. Interestingly, chemical properties remain very similar for all products.
As the molecular weight of these polymers varies widely, it’s important to indicate what is the molecular weight for each particular product. In this case, PEG 400 means this compound has an average weight of 400 daltons. This represents, approximately, polymers with around 9 ether repetitions to form a polyethylene glycol molecule. Products with a number value, such as PEG 4000 which we also supply, have considerably longer chains.
It’s important to note that in most products this is only an average weight, as products include molecules with a range of molecular weights. These are known as polydisperse. It’s also possible to purify to one molecular, but this is an extremely costly process and only used for very specialised applications.
This size distributions can be important for some applications and as such can be estimated by mass spectrometry. This involves calculating its average molecular weight (Mw) and the average number of repetitions (Mn). The ratio between these two values – Mw/Mn – is called the polydispersity index and it indicates how variable molecular weight is for a particular product.
Chemical Properties of PEGs
Typically, PEGs are liquid or solids with a low melting point, depending on the molecular weight.
Most PEGs are also soluble in water, dichloromethane, benzene, acetonitrile as well as methanol and ethanol. However, these compounds are insoluble in hexane and diethyl ether. Most polydisperse versions may also contain minute amounts of impurities, including 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide, some of which may be dangerous if in contact with the skin.
What Can PEGs Be Used For?
Applications are endless:
- Surfactants
- Food industry
- Cosmetics and personal hygiene products
- Pharmaceuticals, such as laxatives, tablet excipients and suppository bases
- Dispersing agents
- Solvents
Friendly Service
We are very proud of our friendly service. If you need help, a member of staff will be glad to help before, during and after your order to ensure our product meets your expectations. We offer a wide range of products, from specialist test kits to pharmaceutical chemicals. Check out our website or contact us for further information.
Specification
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MSDS Files
The following files are available to download:
Product ID | Product | post_status | Bulk | Download SDS File |
---|---|---|---|---|
3589 | Polyethylene Glycol 400 (PEG 400) | publish | 2553 | https://www.chemicals.co.uk/uploads/documents/44 - 2553 - SDS20754.pdf |
Our most popular product is displayed above. Other variants of this product are displayed below.
Where Can I Buy Polyethylene Glycol in the UK?
ReAgent is one of the leading chemical manufacturers and suppliers in the UK. With almost 50 years' experience, and accreditations to a wealth of ISO Standards, we manufacture and supply high-quality polyethylene glycol (PEG) in a range of batch sizes and concentrations. Buy online and choose from PEG 300, PEG 400 and even PEG 4000 with discounts available on bulk orders.
All of our products are 100% quality guaranteed and delivered to your business with ADR licensed couriers. If you would like more information on what ReAgent can do for your business, contact us today and speak with a member of our expert team.
ReAgent sells polyethylene glycol in containers of 25 litres or 25 kg. Precautions must be taken at all times when handling chemicals. For more information, please refer to our MSDS page.
What is Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)?
Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a polyether compound and refers to a polymer of ethylene oxide. Depending on the molecular weight of the substance, polyethylene glycol can be known as either polyglycol, polyoxyethylene (POE) or polyethylene oxide (PEO).
While this substance is insoluble in solvents like diethyl ether or hexane, it is soluble is solvents like benzene, methanol and water.
What is PEG Used For?
PEG has uses in a variety of industries. It is used in the medical field, in industrial applications, in the commercial industry and in laboratory applications. Some examples of its applications include:
- PEG is often used as the base chemical for laxative medication
- Manufacture of ceramics as a binding compound
- If bound with nitrate ester, PEG can be used as a form of rocket fuel
- Vital ingredient in toothpaste as it works as a dispersant
- PEG can be used in ink cartridges for jet printers
- PEG can help to detect antibodies and antigens in blood analysis
- Applying high osmotic pressure in experimental membranes