Polyethylene glycols - polymer of ethylene glycol

Is also known as polyethylene oxide (PEO) or polyoxyethylene (POE), depending on its molecular weight. The structure of polyethylene glycols is commonly expressed as H−(O−CH₂−CH₂)_n−OH.

• PEG-200, PEG-300, PEG-400, PEG-600 are low-molecular-weight substances, most often liquids, used as solvents, plasticizers, or mild humectants.

• PEG-1500, PEG-3000, PEG-4000 are high-molecular-weight compounds, typically solids (waxes or powders), used as thickeners, ointment bases, or viscosity modifiers.

It occupies a special place in modern chemistry due to its versatility and safety. Its use is not limited to industrial tasks: the substance is actively used in the creation of medicines and cosmetics. In pharmaceuticals, it serves as the basis for suppositories, ointments and solutions, ensuring the stability of active ingredients and the prolonged effect of drugs. In cosmetology, it is used as an effective moisturizer and a conductor of biologically active substances into the skin.

In household chemicals, it is a part of detergents and cleaning products, where it acts as an emulsifier and stabilizer. It is registered in the food industry as an additive E1521 (for certain brands), where it is used to treat the surface of products.

Due to its high solubility in water and organic solvents and low toxicity, it has found application in the textile industry for fiber processing, and in metalworking as a component of lubricants and coolants.