Cetearyl Alcohol, CAS#67762-27-0
Appearance: It is a white flaky or granular waxy solid, with faint characteristic fatty odor.
Solubility: Insoluble in water; soluble in hot ethanol, chloroform, ether and various vegetable oils.
Stability & pH Performance: Neutral substance, pH around 6.0–7.0. It is chemically stable under normal storage conditions, not easy to oxidize; avoid long-term contact with strong oxidants.
Basic Function Features: It is a mixture of cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It acts as thickener, stabilizer, emollient and co-emulsifier, improving emulsion viscosity and preventing emulsion delamination. It can soften skin and adjust the texture of cosmetic products.
Cetearyl alcohol, characterized by mixed formula of C₁₆H₃₄O and C₁₈H₃₈O, presents as white waxy flakes or pellets. It does not dissolve in cold water, and can dissolve in hot oil phase materials. It is a fatty alcohol, nonionic, commonly used as co-emulsifier together with anionic or nonionic emulsifiers. The substance is mild to skin, helps build stable emulsion structure and improve the spreadability of creams and lotions. It is a very common rheology modifier in personal care formulations.
| Chemical Properties | Parameter |
|---|---|
| CAS No. | 67762-27-0 |
| Composition | Mixture of cetyl alcohol (C16) and stearyl alcohol (C18) |
| Appearance | White waxy flakes / granules |
| Odor | Faint fatty odor |
| Melting Range | 48–56 ℃ |
| Density | 0.81–0.83 g/cm³ (60℃) |
| pH | 6.0–7.0 |
| Solubility | Insoluble in water; soluble in hot ethanol, chloroform, ether and hot oils |
| Acid Value | ≤ 0.5 mg KOH/g |
| Saponification Value | ≤ 2.0 mg KOH/g |
| Iodine Value | ≤ 2.0 g I₂/100g |
| Storage Temp | Store below 30℃, sealed, protected from light |
| Stability | Stable under normal conditions; incompatible with strong oxidizing agents |
| NIST Chemistry Reference | Cetearyl alcohol (67762-27-0) |
| EPA Substance Registry System | Fatty alcohols, C16-18 |
| Safety Information | Details |
|---|---|
| GHS Classification | Not classified as hazardous |
| Hazard Statements | Not applicable |
| Precautionary Statements | P264, P280 |
| Risk Statements | None |
| Safety Statements | S24/25 |
| WGK Germany | 1 |
| RTECS | Not available |
| Grade | Cosmetic Grade |
| TSCA | Yes |
| HS Code | 29051990 |
| Hazard Description | Low irritation, low acute toxicity, safe for topical application |
| Handling Advice | Avoid dust inhalation; wear gloves when melting; prevent burns from hot molten material |
| Storage Requirement | Keep tightly sealed, cool and dry, away from direct sunlight and strong oxidants |
This compound is widely used in face cream, body lotion, hand cream, hair conditioner, hair mask, sunscreen, baby care products and various emulsion cosmetic systems. It increases the viscosity of emulsions, stabilizes oil-water system and reduces the tendency of phase separation. It provides soft, smooth skin feel and reduces the greasy sensation of oil phase. In hair care products, it softens hair, reduces static electricity and improves combability. It is one of the most widely used co-emulsifiers and thickeners in cosmetic industry.
