Stearic Acid

 

Stearic acid, also called Octadecanoic Acid, one of the most common long-chain fatty acids.  Fats and oils rich in stearic acid are abundant in cocoa butter and shea butter, where the stearic acid content (as a triglyceride) is 28–45%.  Commercial “stearic acid” is a mixture of approximately equal amounts of stearic and palmitic acids and small amounts of oleic acid.

Stearic acid is obtained from fats and oils by the saponification of the triglycerides using hot water.  The resulting mixture is then distilled. 

Stearic acid is mainly used in the production of detergents, soaps, and cosmetics such as shampoos and shaving cream products. Soaps are not made directly from stearic acid, but indirectly by saponification of triglycerides consisting of stearic acid esters. 

Esters of stearic acid with ethylene glycol, glycol stearate, and glycol distearate are used to produce a pearly effect in shampoos, soaps, and other cosmetic products. They are added to the product in molten form and allowed to crystallize under controlled conditions. Detergents are obtained from amides and quaternary alkylammonium derivatives of stearic acid. 

Ingredients: 
Botanical Name:  Stearic Acid
Common Name:  Stearic Acid