Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) is a linear polyether that occurs in various physical forms, including liquids, oily or waxy materials, and solid powders, depending on its degree of polymerization. Its color ranges from white to slightly yellowish. Solid powdered PEO, with a degree of polymerization greater than 300, exhibits thermoplastic properties, with a softening point of 65–67°C and a brittle point of -50°C. Lower-molecular-weight grades typically take the form of viscous liquids and are soluble in water.

PEO dissolves in a wide range of organic solvents, including alcohols, ketones, chloroform, glycerides, and aromatic hydrocarbons, but is insoluble in diethyl ether and n-hexane. As a non-ionic polymer, it provides highly efficient thickening performance, achieving high viscosity even at very low concentrations. As a thermoplastic resin, it also demonstrates excellent ductility, plasticity, and flexibility. In addition, PEO is resistant to biological degradation, helps reduce fluid friction, and is compatible with various polar resins, including urea-based, acrylic, and furan resins.

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) is a non-ionic, linear, water-soluble thermoplastic polymer. Products with relative molecular masses ranging from 200 to 20,000 are classified as polyethylene glycol (PEG) and generally exist as viscous liquids or waxy solids. Products with relative molecular masses greater than (1 times 10^5) are classified as poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). These resins contain a low concentration of active end groups and show no significant reactivity associated with these groups.

PEO offers a variety of functional properties, including flocculation, thickening, controlled release, lubrication, dispersion, retention assistance, and water retention. It is also non-toxic and non-irritating. Due to these characteristics, PEO is widely used in numerous industries, such as papermaking, coatings, inks, textile printing and dyeing, and personal care products. Furthermore, poly(ethylene oxide) can be used to modify therapeutic proteins, helping protect drug molecules and prolong their half-life. It can also function as a cell-fusion agent.