12-Hydroxy stearic acid (12-HSA) is a saturated hydroxy fatty acid. It's a waxy, odourless, tasteless and cream coloured compound in flakes / powder.
appearance creamish flakes or powder
melting point °C min. 70
colour Gardner max. 6
colour (on 1” Lovibond) max 20 yellow / max. 4,5 red
acid value mg KOH/g min. 175
iodine value (Wijs) g I2/100g max. 5
hydroxyl value min. 150
saponification value mg KOH/g 175 - 190
- lubrication: 12-Hydroxy stearic acid (12-HSA) gives better Lithium, Barium and Calcium multi-purpose greases. It provides excellent resistance to water, oils, solvents and crude petroleum, wide temperature range stability and high drop point.
- cosmetics: 12-HSA is used for gelling liquid Paraffin in creams and ointments, which easily liquefy on the skin. Esters of 12-HSA are used in various cosmetic products (lipsticks, deodorant and antiperspirant sticks, shaving creams, etc.).
- coatings: 12-HSA is reacted with acrylic esters to produce hard, durable thermosetting polymers used in the high quality automotive, industrial appliance and metal decorative finishes.
- rubber: functions as an activator and internal lubricant for natural and synthetic rubbers
- others: 12-HSA is an useful component in polishes, inks and hot melt adhesives
Lithium greases, chemical intermediates.
12-Hydroxystearic acid is used in cosmetics, wax blends, heavy duty greases, polishes, inks and hot melt adhesives, as a lubricant for natural and synthetic rubbers and as a source for industrial oleo chemicals. It is also used as an intermediate in pharmaceuticals.
ChEBI: A hydroxy fatty acid that is stearic acid bearing a hydroxy substituent at position 12.
Non-isothermal nucleation rate of a self-assembling fibrillar network of 12-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid (12-hydroxystearic acid) in canola oil has been reported. It is commonly used as gelling agent for organic solvents. Self-assembled monolayers of 12-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid and its 4,4′-bipyridinium salt have been observed on the solution graphite interface using scanning tunnelling microscopy.