Stearic Acid

What is Stearic Acid?

Molecular Formula (Stearic Acid): CH₃ (CH₂)₁₆COOH

Molecular Weight: 284.484 g/mol

Chemical Name: Octadecanoic Acid

CAS Number: 57-11-4

It is a saturated long-chain fatty acid with an 18-carbon backbone. It is found in various fats of animal and vegetable origin.

It can be named as octadecanoic acid. It is one of the beneficial types of saturated fatty acids consisting of fats and oils. It has a wax-like form and is in a solid state.

It is a commercially used long-chain fatty acid. Stearic Acid consists of a mixture of equal parts palmitic acid and a small amount of oleic acid.

It is found in glyceride form in some animal and vegetable oils and is formed after hydrolysis.

Other Names are as Follows:

• Octadecanoic Acid
• Stearophanic Acid
• Hydrofol Acid
• Stearate
• Pure Form
• Cetylacetic Acid
• 57-11-4
• 18 45
• 18 43
• 18 65

How is Stearic Acid Produced?

Commercial production focuses on two methods: functionalization and compression.

In the Stearic Acid production process, suitable chemicals are added to hydrogenated oil to decompose it. Then it is hydrolyzed to form crude fatty acid. In addition, to avoid losing products obtained with Glycerol, bleaching is performed by washing with water. Distillation is carried out in the subsequent stages of the production process.

What are the Physical and Chemical Properties?

When pure, it appears as white, shiny, soft small pieces.

Stearic Acid solubility: It is slightly soluble in water and soluble in Alcohol. It dissolves easily in acetone, benzene, chloroform, carbon disulfide, ether, carbon tetrachloride, and toluene.

Its solubility in water at 25 °C is 0.597 mg/L.

The melting point is in the range of 69-72 °C.

Boiling Point: 360 °C (decomposes).

Its density is 0.9408 g/mL at 20 °C.

What are the Application Areas of Stearic Acid?

• Its application areas include the manufacture of cosmetic products, generally detergents, soaps, shampoos, and shaving cream products.
• In the textile sector, stearic acid is used together with castor oil to produce softeners.
• One of the most intensive areas of use is candle manufacturing.
• It is used as a hardener in candies by mixing it with simple sugar and corn syrup.
• It is used in the manufacture of dietary supplements.
• In fireworks manufacturing, Stearic Acid can be used to coat metal powders such as aluminum and iron. The purpose of use here is to prevent oxidation by ensuring longer shelf life.
• It is used as a mold release agent for baked foam latex in stone molds.
• It is a common lubricant chemical during injection molding and pressing of ceramic powders.
• It is used in the plasticization and stabilization of plastics.
• In the medical field, it is an important component in the preparation of ointments and suppositories.
• It is used in the manufacture of polishing agents.
• Recently, it has been used in the production of diesel-like hydrocarbons through the catalytic deoxygenation of fatty acids.
• It is used as a lubricant in the food industry.
• It is used in the manufacture of Sorbitol anhydride esters and sucrose anhydride esters.
• It is widely used in the manufacture of PVC pipes, sheet materials, profiles, and films.
• Additionally, it is used in rubber vulcanization accelerators and waterproofing agents.
• In the manufacture of moisturizing creams, it increases functionality by reacting with borax.
• Carboxylic acids with 10-18 carbon atoms are used in the production of antifreeze used in aircraft. It can be one of these carboxylic acids in this application.
• To provide PVC stabilizer, stearic acid is mixed with lime and heated up to 150-180 °C. In this way, calcium stearate is formed.
• Due to its waxy nature, it has the ability to soften the skin. When Stearic Acid is combined with Triethanolamine to produce luxury foam, it has a thickening effect on the foam.
• In solar power plants, corrosion occurs on the battery current and connection points of gel cells and AGM batteries. Grease is used to prevent such corrosion problems or to clean the corrosion. Improved base oil is used in this grease. It is used to provide advanced properties in base oil production.
• In the manufacture of topical pain relief creams, it provides consistency and stability to the formulation. It serves to strengthen the structure of the cream or lotion.
• It is used in the manufacture of decorative building materials in wood-plastic composite structures.
• It is used in the chemical industry for the production of stearate salts. These include the production of raw materials such as Lead Stearate, Sodium Stearate, Magnesium Stearate, Potassium Stearate, Calcium Stearate, and Cadmium Stearate.

What Factors Affect its Prices?

The price of Stearic Acid is inversely proportional to its production. As production increases, the price will decrease. Because prices will trend downwards as the supply of the produced raw material meets the demand sufficiently.

Stearic Acid prices change depending on the stocks of the companies selling this raw material. Sellers with high stocks also have the dominance to control the prices of Stearic Acid.

Prices increase in the summer months and decrease in the winter months.

The price varies depending on the prices of the substances used in its production.