IHL · Fatty acids
Stearic Acid, Triple Pressed
- INCI name
- Stearic Acid
- CAS number
- 57-11-4
- EC number
- 200-313-4
- Physical form
- Beads / flakes
- Country of origin
- Malaysia / Indonesia
- HS code
- 3823.11
- Grade
- Cosmetic / Technical
- Shelf life
- 36 months from date of manufacture
Hardness on demand. Stearic acid is what turns a soft formula into a bar that survives a shower shelf, and triple-pressed is the grade that does it without odor.
| Appearance | White to off-white beads |
|---|---|
| Odour | Slight fatty |
| Solubility | Insoluble in water; soluble in oils, ethanol, chloroform |
| Melting point | 54–57 °C for C1855 grade; 67–70 °C for high-purity grade |
| pH | n/a |
| HLB | ~15 (assigned) |
| SAP (NaOH) | 0.141–0.150 |
| SAP (KOH) | 0.198–0.211 |
| Iodine value | ≤2 |
| Storage | Cool, dry, sealed |
| Manufacturing process | Hydrolysis and three-pass fractional pressing of palm stearin. Vegetable-derived — we do not stock tallow stearic acid. |
Certifications
- Gluten-free
- Non-GMO
- RSPO Mass Balance
- Tallow-free
- Vegan
| Application | Use rate |
|---|---|
| Lotion / cream | 1–5% |
| Cold process soap (hardener) | 5–15% |
| Candle / stick | 5–25% |
| Cold cream | 3–8% |
| Shampoo bar | 2–10% |
Formulation notes
- Triple pressed is a commercial purity descriptor, not a compendial one. The C1855 grade most of the market sells is roughly half palmitic. Your SAP value and melt point both move between grades — use the lot COA, not a generic table.
- In cold process soap, stearic acid accelerates trace hard. Add it last and work fast.
- Tallow-derived stearic acid is still widely traded. If you carry a vegan claim, get it in writing. Ours is vegetable, certified, every lot.
Applications
- Cold process soap
- Lotions and creams
- Deodorant and lotion sticks
- Candles
- Shaving soap
- Shampoo bars
Not classified as hazardous
Not classified as hazardous under 29 CFR 1910.1200 (HazCom 2012, as amended 2024). Determination to be confirmed against the incoming lot's manufacturer SDS before publication.
- Transport classification
- Not regulated for transport — DOT, IATA, IMDG.
- Allergen statement
- No FDA major food allergen. Palm-derived — RSPO Mass Balance certificate supplied with every lot.
California Proposition 65
No listed constituent identified.
- SDS Safety Data Sheet On request
- TDS Technical Data Sheet On request
- COA Certificate of Analysis On request
- Allergen Allergen statement On request
- GMO GMO statement On request
- BSE/TSE BSE/TSE statement On request
- Vegan Vegan statement On request
- RSPO RSPO certificate On request
We send documents on request. No account, no vendor-qualification fee. Ask for Stearic Acid, Triple Pressed documents.