Cetyl Alcohol

CAS# 36653-82-4

Product Description

Cetyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol used in the cosmetic industry as an opacifier in shampoos, or as an emollient, emulsifier or thickening agent in the manufacture of skin creams and lotions.

Product:

Cetyl Alcohol

CAS:

36653-82-4

Synonym:

Hexadecanol; 1-Hexadecanol, Cetyl Alcohol

Structure:

Typical Characteristics

Appearance

Waxy white solid

Boiling point

> 249 °C

Density

0.81 g/cm3

Flash Point

160 ° C

Melting point

47 - 50 °C

Molecular Weight

242.44

Odor

Mild, sweet pungent

Purity

≥ 98%

Refractive index

1.4283

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We Offer Cetyl Alcohol
in various grades

A few of the grades available are listed below:

Cetyl Alcohol used in many
industry applications

Cetyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with various industrial and commercial applications. Here's a list of some of its uses:

  1. Emulsifier: Cetyl alcohol is commonly used as an emulsifier in cosmetic and personal care products. It helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions, allowing the blending of water-based and oil-based ingredients in formulations such as creams, lotions, and conditioners.
  2. Surfactant: Cetyl alcohol acts as a surfactant in cleansing products such as shampoos, body washes, and facial cleansers. It helps reduce surface tension and enhance the spreadability and foaming properties of these formulations.
  3. Emollient: Cetyl alcohol is used as an emollient in skincare products to soften and moisturize the skin. It forms a protective barrier on the skin's surface, preventing moisture loss and improving skin hydration and smoothness.
  4. Thickener: Cetyl alcohol serves as a thickening agent in cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations. It helps increase the viscosity and consistency of creams, ointments, and gels, providing a luxurious texture and improved spreadability.
  5. Stabilizer: Cetyl alcohol is added to formulations as a stabilizer to prevent separation and improve the stability of emulsions, suspensions, and dispersions. It helps maintain the integrity and homogeneity of products over time.
  6. Opacifier: Cetyl alcohol is used as an opacifying agent in cosmetic products such as creams, lotions, and foundations. It helps impart a smooth, matte appearance to formulations and reduces the transparency or translucency of the product.
  7. Conditioning Agent: Cetyl alcohol provides conditioning benefits to hair care products such as conditioners and hair masks. It helps smooth the hair cuticle, reduce static electricity, and improve combability and manageability of the hair.
  8. Formulation Base: Cetyl alcohol serves as a base or carrier ingredient in the formulation of various topical medications, skincare treatments, and pharmaceutical products. It provides a stable matrix for the incorporation of active ingredients and enhances their delivery to the skin.
  9. Wetting Agent: Cetyl alcohol is used as a wetting agent in pesticide formulations to improve the spreading and adhesion of active ingredients on plant surfaces. It helps ensure uniform coverage and effective pest control.
  10. Industrial Applications: Cetyl alcohol may find use in industrial applications such as lubricants, coatings, and metalworking fluids, where its lubricating and film-forming properties can provide value-added functionality.