Surfactants are used as performance additives in formulations in a large number of industries, such as personal and home care, and numerous industrial applications: metal treatment, industrial cleaning, petroleum extraction, agrochemicals, etc.

Surfactants are molecules made up of two distinct particles, one with a strong affinity for oils and the other for water. When dissolved in water, they lower the surface tension of the water and increase the solubility of organic compounds.

Rhodia supplies a large range of surfactants — cationic, anionic, non-ionic and amphoteric — delivering multi-functions adapted to specific applications, including foaming effect, surface modification, cleansing, emulsion, rheology, environmental and health protection.

Rhodia holds leading positions in surfactants and ranks first worldwide in mild surfactants, as well as leading positions in amphoteric surfactants and phosphate ester anionic surfactants.

Rhodia develops innovative surfactant systems – novel structured surfactant liquids, polymeric and eco-friendly surfactants – that support our customers’ challenges:

• Cost-effective performance: increased process and product efficiency (ie: Rhodibloc® RS, surfactant booster for emulsion stabilization; Miracare® SLB that boosts moisturizing and creamy texture effects of shower gels and shampoos); energy and raw materials savings; highly-concentrated products (ie: Geronol® CF/AR bio-activator for concentrated glyphosate herbicides)

• Sustainable process and products: renewable resources utilization, eco-friendly product profile (ie. Miracare® Plaisant, plant-based surfactants for personal care cleansing)