Polyethylene Glycol 400 (PEG400)

Description

Polyethylene glycol, commonly referred to as, PEG, is a clear viscous liquid with mild alcohol odor. Polyethylene Glycol is completely soluble in water and has a low toxicity with systemic absorption less than 0.5%. PEG refers to an oligomer or polymer of ethylene oxide and water. This material also has a flash point of 435°F. There are several different grades of PEG with varying molecular weights. The general molecular formula for PEG is H(OCH2CH2)nOH, where n represents the number of ethylene glycol units contained in the PEG polymer, this varies from 300 grams per mole to 10,000,000 grams per mole. The molecular weight in turn determines the characteristics of each type or category of PEG. Low molecular weight PEGs, containing two-to-four ethylene glycol units per polymer, are clear, watery or thin viscosity liquids (Polyethylene glycol 300, 400, 600). PEGs containing up to 700 ethylene glycol units are clear, thick liquids. PEGS having 1,000 or more ethylene glycol units are waxy solids. PEGs have many industrial / commercial, food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical uses.