Examples of HLB values

• Mixing unlike oils together
– use surfactants with HLB’s of 1 to 3

• Making water-in-oil emulsions
– use surfactants with HLB’s of 4 to 6

• Wetting powders into oils
– use surfactants with HLB’s of 7 to 9

• Making self emulsifying oils
– use surfactants with HLB’s of 7 to 10

• Making oil-in-water emulsions
– use surfactant blends with HLB’s of 8 to16

• Making detergent solutions
– use surfactants with HLB’s of 13 to 15

• For solubilizing oils ( micro-emulsifying ) into water
– use surfactant blends with HLB’s of 13 to 18