Stearic Acid

Stearic Acid A fatty acid that occurs naturally in animal and plant fats (typically coconut or palm oil), stearic acid is white, solid, often crystalline, and with a mild odour. It's a major component of cocoa and shea butter.

How Is Stearic Acid Made?

Stearic Acid is a fatty acid typically produced by hydrolysis of common animal and vegetable fats and oils, followed by fractionation (distillation or crystallisation) of the resulting fatty acids. Pressing methods separate the liquid unsaturated fatty acids from the solid saturated fatty acids.

Stearic Acid: that is used in cosmetics is usually pressed two or three times, resulting in different concentrations. Cosmetic-grade stearic acids are usually mixtures of fatty acids, depending on how they‚ are manufactured and where they come from (often they‚are combined with palmitic acid).There are several grades of stearic acid available commercially.

Stearic Acid Uses:

Stearic Acid is an emulsifier, emollient, and lubricant that can soften skin and help to keep products from separating. Stearic acid is used in hundreds of personal care products, including moisturiser, sunscreen, makeup, soap, and baby lotion. It is also used in adhesives, lubricants, laundry products and paper products. Research shows that the ingredient may help burns heal.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Physical State: Solid Powder

Colour: White

Odour: Rancid, Fatty Odour

Odour Threshold: No Data Available

Classification: Fatty Acid

Molecular Formula: C₁₈H₃₆O₂

Molecular Weight: 284,48 g/mol

ph (value): Not Determined

Melting/Freezing Point: 66‚ ™C

Initial Boiling Point and Boiling Range: 370 ™C at 1.013 hPa

Flash Point:¬ 196 ™C (closed cup)

Particle Density: 0,87 g /cm at 20 ™C

Bulk Density: ~ 400‚ 500 kg/m

Water Solubility: Practically Insoluble

Partition coefficient

n-octanol/water (log KOW): 8,23 (exp.)

Auto-ignition Temperature: >395 ™C

Decomposition Temperature: †(No Data Available)

Viscosity: Not Relevant (solid matter)

Dynamic Viscosity: 9,87 mPa s at 70 ™C

Explosive Properties: Shall Not Be Classified As Explosive

Oxidising Properties: None

Stability & Reactivity

Reactivity: Dust explosibility. If heated, vapours may form explosive mixtures with air.

Chemical Stability: The material is stable under normal ambient and anticipated storage and handling conditions of temperature and pressure.

Possibility of Hazardous Reactions: Violent reaction with Strong Oxidiser, Reducing Agents, Strong Alkali.

Conditions To Avoid: Keep away from heat.