The Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB) of a surfactant is a method of ranking surfactants and arranging them into groups having similar properties. Originally developed by Griffin in 1949 for ethoxylated fatty alcohol type nonionic surfactants, one simply calculated the weight % of the ethylene oxide groups in the molecule and divided by 5. Thus, the water soluble (hydrophilic) part of the molecule is compared to the oil soluble (lipophilic) part. Various surfactant properties are associated with specific HLB values as noted in the Chart below. As an overview, surfactants with higher HLB values are detergents and foamers, while those with lower HLB values are emulsifiers.
Because of the general utility of the HLB system, many surfactants that are not ethoxylated or have other water-soluble groups have been added over the years by comparing their emulsification properties to surfactants with known HLB’s.
| HLB Range | Application | HLB Range (Water) | Behaviour when added to water |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 - 3 | Defoamer, stabilizer | 1 - 4 | Not dispersible |
| 3 - 6 | W / O emulsifier | 3 - 6 | Poor dispersion |
| 7 - 9 | Wetting agent | 6 - 8 | Milky dispersion after shaking |
| 8 - 18 | O / W emulsifier | 8 - 10 | Stable milky dispersion |
| 13 - 15 | Detergent | 10 - 13 | Translucent to clear dispersion |
| 15 - 18 | Solubilizer | > 13 | Clear solution |
Wikipedia Link: Hydrophilic-lipophilic balance
Required HLB’s listed for many commonly used ingredients
HLB Table
| Surfactant | Emulsifier HLB |
|---|---|
| Ceteareth-20 | 15 |
| Cetearyl Alcohol | 16 |
| Cetearyl Glucoside | 11 |
| Ceteth-10 | 13 |
| Ceteth-2 | 5 |
| Ceteth-20 | 16 |
| Ceteth-2 | 5 |
| Cocamide MEA | 14 |
| Coco Glucosides | 13 |
| Glyceryl Laurate | 5 |
| Glyceryl Stearate | 4 |
| Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG-100 Stearate | 11 |
| Glycol Di stearate | 1 |
| Glycol Stearate | 3 |
| Isoceteth-20 | 16 |
| Isosteareth-20 | 15 |
| Laureth-23 | 17 |
| Laureth-4 | 10 |
| Lauryl Glucoside | 12 |
| Lecithin-4 | 4 |
| Lecithin-7 | 7 |
| Lecithin-9 | 9 |
| Oleth-10 | 12 |
| Oleth-2 | 5 |
| Oleth-20 | 15 |
| PEG-100 Stearate | 19 |
| PEG-20 Almond Glycerides | 10 |
| PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate | 15 |
| PEG-25 Hydrogenated Castor Oil | 11 |
| PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate | 6 |
| PEG-4 Dilaurate | 6 |
| PEG-40 Sorbitan Peroleate | 9 |
| PEG-60 Almond Glycerides | 15 |
| PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate | 10 |
| PEG-7 Olivate | 11 |
| PEG-8 Dioleate | 8 |
| PEG-8 Laurate | 13 |
| PEG-8 Oleate | 12 |
| PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate | 19 |
| Polysorbate 20 | 17 |
| Polysorbate 21 | 13 |
| Polysorbate 60 | 15 |
| Polysorbate 61 | 10 |
| Polysorbate 65 | 11 |
| Polysorbate 80 | 15 |
| Polysorbate 81 | 10 |
| Polysorbate 85 | 11 |
| Sorbitan Isostearate | 5 |
| Sorbitan Laurate | 9 |
| Sorbitan Monooleate | 4 |
| Sorbitan Monostearate | 5 |
| Sorbitan Oleate | 4 |
| Sorbitan Sesquioleate | 4 |
| Sorbitan Stearate | 5 |
| Sorbitan Stearate (and) Sucrose Cocoate | 6 |
| Sorbitan Trioleate | 2 |
| Stearamide MEA | 11 |
| Steareth-100 | 19 |
| Steareth-2 | 5 |
| Steareth-20 | 15 |
| Steareth-21 | 16 |
| Oil | Required HLB |
|---|---|
| Algae Oil | 8 |
| Almond Oil | 6 |
| Anhydrous Lanolin USP | 10 |
| Apricot | 7 |
| Apricot Kernal Oil | 7 |
| Argan (Argania Spinosum) Oil | 11 |
| Avocado (Persea Gratissima) Oil | 7 |
| Babassu Oil | 8 |
| Beeswax | 12 |
| Borage (Borago Officinalis) Seed Oil | 7 |
| Brazil Nut Oil | 8 |
| Broccoli Seed Oil (Brassica Oleracea Italica) | 8 |
| C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate | 13 |
| Canola Oil (and) Fragrance | 7 |
| Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride | 11 |
| Carnauba (Copernicia Cerifera) Wax | 12 |
| Carrot (Daucus Carota Sativa) Root Extract | 6 |
| Carrot (Daucus Carota Sativa) Seed Oil | 6 |
| Castor (Ricinus Communis) Oil | 14 |
| Ceresin | 8 |
| Cetyl Esters | 10 |
| Cetyl Palmitate | 10 |
| Chia Seed Oil | 7 |
| Coconut (Cocos Nucifera) Oil | 8 |
| Cupuacu Butter | 5 |
| Cyclomethicone | 8 |
| Diisopropyl Adipate | 9 |
| Dimethicone | 5 |
| Dimethicone (Silicone) | 5 |
| Dog Rose (Rosa Canina) Hips Oil | 7 |
| Emu Oil | 8 |
| Evening Primrose (Oenothera Biennis) Oil | 7 |
| Fractionated coconut | 11 |
| Garcinia Indica (Kokum) Seed Butter | 8 |
| Grape (Vitis Vinifera) Seed Oil | 7 |
| Grapeseed | 7 |
| Green Tea Oil | 7 |
| Hemp (Cannabis Sativa) Seed Oil | 7 |
| Hybrid Safflower (Carthamus Tinctorius) Oil | 9 |
| Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil | 4 |
| Shorea Stenoptera Seed (Illipe) Butter | 8 |
| Isopropyl Myristate | 12 |
| Isopropyl Palmitate | 12 |
| Jamaican Black Castor Oil | 14 |
| Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil | 6 |
| Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil | 7 |
| Lanolin | 10 |
| Lanolin USP | 10 |
| Macadamia Integrifolia (Macadamia) Oil | 7 |
| Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Oil | 8 |
| Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil | 7 |
| Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate | 7 |
| Mineral Oil | 10 |
| Mineral Oil NF | 10 |
| Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil | 7 |
| Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter | 8 |
| Myristyl Myristate | 8 |
| Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil | 7 |
| Arachis Hypogaea (Peanut) Oil | 6 |
| Petrolatum | 7 |
| Petrolatum USP | 7 |
| PPG-15 Stearyl Ether | 7 |
| Propylene Glycol Isostearate | 3 |
| Retinyl Palmitate | 6 |
| Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil | 7 |
| Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract | 7 |
| Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil | 8 |
| Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil | 7 |
| Sesame Oil NF | 7 |
| Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter | 8 |
| Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil | 7 |
| Squalane | 11 |
| Squalene | 12 |
| Stearic Acid | 15 |
| Stearyl Alcohol | 16 |
| Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil | 7 |
| Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil | 7 |
| Tocopherol | 6 |
| Vitamin E | 6 |
| Trictum Vulgare (Wheat Germ) Oil | 7 |
