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CarCareTruth

Cationic Surfactant (proprietary)

  • Cationic surfactants
  • CAS proprietary
  • IUPAC: unknown (trade secret)

Cationic Surfactant (proprietary) (CAS proprietary) appears in 1 of the 2,122 car-care products CarCareTruth tracks (as of August 2026).

Trade-secret ingredient disclosed in the manufacturer's CA Cleaning Product Right to Know Act filing by function only ('Waterproofing Agent'), with CAS withheld. The finished-product SDS mixture classification (DANGER, driven by H222 extremely flammable aerosol; Eye Irrit. 2 H319; STOT SE 3 H336) does not attribute any of those hazard codes to this specific component. No CAS number is available for independent toxicological cross-check.

This entry represents a proprietary cationic surfactant disclosed in SONAX's California Cleaning Product Right to Know Act filing for PROFILINE Ceramic Coating CC36 (Base Coat) by function only ("Waterproofing Agent"). No CAS number is assigned because the specific chemical identity is withheld by the manufacturer as a trade secret.

Why this entry exists: CarCareTruth's ingredient data model requires that every SDS/right-to-know-disclosed ingredient appear in the structured YAML — including trade-secret ingredients disclosed by function. This stub ensures the ingredient is visible on the product page and in future automated scoring, even when the identity is unknown.

Cationic surfactants generally: Cationic surfactants (commonly quaternary ammonium compounds) carry a positive charge and are used in automotive coatings for their water-repelling and anti-static properties. As a class they are generally more aquatic-toxic than nonionic surfactants, but the finished-product SDS does not classify the mixture for any aquatic hazard, so no ingredient-level aquatic-toxicity claim is asserted here pending manufacturer disclosure of the specific compound.

Regulatory status

  • No CAS number — cannot be evaluated against TSCA, Prop 65, or EU CLP registries
  • Disclosed under the California Cleaning Product Right to Know Act (CA-RTK) as required by law

Health & environment profile

VOC
no
Prop 65 listed
no
Asthmagen
no
EPA Safer Choice
no
Aquatic toxicity
no
Biodegradable
no
Bioaccumulative
no
Persistent
no
Ozone depleting
no
Microplastic
no
PFAS
no
Env. score
4/5
Purpose: Waterproofing agent — a positively-charged surfactant that promotes water-repellency/beading on the cured coating. Trade-secret formulation; specific identity not publicly disclosed by the manufacturer.

Common questions about Cationic Surfactant (proprietary)

What is Cationic Surfactant (proprietary) used for in car care?
Waterproofing agent — a positively-charged surfactant that promotes water-repellency/beading on the cured coating. Trade-secret formulation; specific identity not publicly disclosed by the manufacturer.
Is Cationic Surfactant (proprietary) a VOC?
No. Cationic Surfactant (proprietary) is not classified as a volatile organic compound (VOC).
Is Cationic Surfactant (proprietary) on California's Proposition 65 list?
No. Cationic Surfactant (proprietary) is not on California's Proposition 65 list.

1 product contain this

Related

Health and environment notes translate the manufacturer Safety Data Sheet, the GHS classification, and authoritative regulatory listings (California Prop 65, EPA). Not medical advice. They describe the ingredient itself; whether a hazard applies to a finished product depends on its concentration and how it's used.