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The HLB system is a numerical scale developed by William Griffin in the 1940s to classify emulsifiers based on their balance between hydrophilic (water-attracting) and lipophilic (oil-attracting) properties.
This balance, typically represented on a scale from 0 to 20, determines the surfactant's emulsifying capabilities. Emulsifiers with lower HLB values exhibit more lipophilic characteristics, making them suitable for water-in-oil emulsions, while those with higher HLB values display greater hydrophilicity, making them apt for oil-in-water emulsions.
An illustration of HLB Scale. [1]
Given the wide variety of surfactants available in today's specialty chemicals market, formulators need efficient tools to narrow down their choices. The HLB system is one of the most practical and effective tools. The following table lists the HLB values of some commonly used emulsifiers for reference only.
| Emulsifiers | HLB Values | Emulsifiers | HLB Values |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glycol Distearate | 1 | Polysorbate 85 | 11 |
| Sorbitan Trioleate | 1.8 | PEG-7 Olivate | 11 |
| Propylene Glycol lsostearate | 2.5 | Ceteary Glucoside | 11 |
| Glycol Stearate | 2.9 | PEG-8 Oleate | 11.6 |
| Sorbitan Sesquioleate | 3.7 | Polyglyceryl-3 Methyglucose Distearate | 12 |
| Glyceryl Stearate | 3.8 | Oleth-10 | 12.4 |
| Lecithin | 4 | Oleth-10 / Polvoxvl 10 Oleyl Ether NF | 12.4 |
| Sorbitan Oleate | 4.3 | Ceteth-10 | 12.9 |
| Sorbitan Monostearate NF | 4.7 | PEG-8 Laurate | 13 |
| Sorbitan Stearate | 4.7 | Cocamide MEA | 13.5 |
| Sorbitan Isostearate | 4.7 | Polysorbate 60 NF | 14.9 |
| Steareth-2 | 4.9 | Polysorbate 60 | 14.9 |
| Oleth-2 | 4.9 | Polysorbate 80 | 15 |
| Glyceryl Laurate | 5.2 | Isosteareth-20 | 15 |
| Ceteth-2 | 5.3 | PEG-60 Amond Glvcerides | 15 |
| PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate | 5.5 | Polysorbate 80 NF | 15 |
| Glyceryl Stearate SE | 5.8 | PEG-20 Methy Glucose Sesquistearate | 15 |
| Sorbitan Stearate (and) Sucrose Cocoate | 6 | Ceteareth-20 | 15.2 |
| PEG-4 Dilaurate | 6 | Oleth-20 | 15.3 |
| Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate | 6.6 | Steareth-20 | 15.3 |
| Lecithin | variable | Steareth-21 | 15.5 |
| PEG-8 Dioleate | 8 | Ceteth-20 | 15.7 |
| Sorbitan Laurate | 8.6 | Isoceteth-20 | 15.7 |
| PEG-40 Sorbitan Peroleate | 9 | Polysorbate 20 | 16.7 |
| Laureth-4 | 9.7 | Polysorbate 20 NF | 16.7 |
| PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate | 10 | Laureth-23 | 16.9 |
| PEG-20 Almond Glycerides | 10 | PEG-100 Stearate | 18.8 |
| PEG-25 Hydrogenated Castor Oil | 10.8 | Steareth-100 | 18.8 |
| Stearamide MEA | 11 | PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate | 19.1 |
| Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG-100 Stearate | 11 |
Choosing an emulsifier according to the Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB) system involves considering the HLB values of both the oil phase and water phase in the emulsion you are creating.
Different oils have different HLB requirements for effective emulsification. For example, a low HLB value (3-6) is suitable for creating oil-in-water emulsions with oils that are more hydrophobic, while a higher HLB value (8-18) is needed for water-in-oil emulsions with oils that are more hydrophilic.
The HLB value of the water phase (including any water-soluble additives) also needs to be considered. For instance, this could include any surfactants or co-emulsifiers that contribute to the overall HLB requirement of the water phase.
Once you have the HLB values for the oil and water phases, you can calculate the required HLB value for the emulsifier using various HLB calculation methods or charts.
Choose an emulsifier with an HLB value that matches or is close to the calculated required HLB value. Emulsifiers with a range of HLB values are often used to achieve the desired stability and characteristics of the emulsion.
Learn more about selecting emulsifiers based on HLB systems.
Reference
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