Polyglycerates here means polyglycerol esters and related polyglycerol-based emulsifiers used as non-ionic, often food- and personal-care-friendly, surfactants. They are built from polymerised glycerol esterified with fatty acids, not from ethylene oxide as the main backbone.
What polyglycerates are
Polyglycerates here means polyglycerol esters and related polyglycerol-based emulsifiers used as non-ionic, often food- and personal-care-friendly, surfactants. They are built from polymerised glycerol esterified with fatty acids, not from ethylene oxide as the main backbone. Dyna Glycols groups them with the ethoxylate catalogue because customers often specify them as mild nonionic emulsifiers alongside polysorbates and PEG esters.
By changing the polyglycerol chain length and the fatty-acid cut (stearic, oleic, palmitic, coconut), the HLB can be moved from water-in-oil to oil-in-water. The products are used as emulsifiers, opacifiers, viscosity builders and co-emulsifiers in creams, bakery-type systems, and technical emulsions that prefer a glycerol ester over an ethoxylate.
How Dyna Glycols manufactures polyglycerates
Polyglycerol is esterified with the named fatty acid under controlled acid value, SAP, hydroxyl value, melting behaviour and colour. The same esterification capability used for glyceryl and sorbitan esters supports these grades.
Customers should specify polyglycerol average degree, fatty-acid type, and whether the product must be suitable for a food-contact or personal-care documentation set. Industrial polyglycerates for technical emulsions are also manufactured.
Typical grades in this range
Grades are defined by polyglycerol chain and fatty-acid ester rather than by EO moles.
- Polyglycerol esters of stearic, palmitic, oleic and coconut fatty acids
- Low-HLB polyglycerates for W/O and co-emulsifier duty
- Higher-HLB polyglycerates for O/W creams and dispersions
- Custom acid value, melting range and colour on request
Where polyglycerates are used
Personal care uses polyglycerates as PEG-free emulsifiers in creams and lotions, often with glyceryl stearate or cetearyl alcohol. Food-adjacent and bakery emulsifier applications use selected polyglycerol esters where ethoxylates are not wanted.
Technical emulsions, pigment dispersions and textile or leather auxiliaries that need a mild nonionic ester can use polyglycerates as an alternative to polysorbates. They also act as crystal modifiers in some fatty systems.
Where a customer is leaving ethoxylated emulsifiers for a “PEG-free” claim, polyglycerates and glyceryl esters are the usual Dyna Glycols pairing to sample together.
How to specify polyglycerates
State polyglycerol degree if known, the fatty acid, target HLB or melting range, and the documentation (industrial vs personal care vs food-adjacent). Share the oil phase so HLB can be matched.
If replacing a named competitor polyglycerol ester, send the SAP, acid value and drop point from that TDS so the first sample is close.
Quality, documents and supply
Lots are released against acid value, SAP, hydroxyl value, melting or drop point, colour and appearance. SDS and COA follow verification. Samples support emulsion and texture tests.
Solid grades should be stored dry and melted uniformly before use. Avoid overheating that darkens the ester or raises acid value.
Practical notes on polyglycerates
Polyglycerates are esters: they can hydrolyse in strong alkali or strong acid over time. Check pH of the finished formula and of any long-hold concentrate.
They are not drop-in replacements for polysorbate 80. HLB, freeze–thaw and flavour or odour will differ. Plan a full emulsion trial, not only a bottle swap.
Low acid value and pale colour matter in creams. Specify Gardner or APHA if the grade is for a white lotion.
Dyna Glycols can co-sample a sorbitan ester and a polyglycerate so the customer can compare PEG-free emulsifier systems on the same oil phase.
Melting range should suit the process: too high and the ester is hard to incorporate; too low and the cream may lack structure. Include process temperature on the enquiry.
For purely industrial wetting, a fatty alcohol ethoxylate is often more efficient. Polyglycerates are chosen when ester chemistry, mildness or a PEG-free claim is the driver.
Ordering and evaluating polyglycerates
Send the application, the analytical window and the pack size when you request a laboratory sample of polyglycerates. SDS, TDS and COA follow a short company check. Handle and store the grade as the SDS describes.
Next step
Need a specification for this chemistry?
Tell us the substrate, EO/PO moles and the application. We will confirm a catalogue grade or a custom batch.