Cetyl palmitate

• Hexadecylhexadecanoat (IUPAC)
• Hexadecansäurehexadecylester
• Cetaceum artificiale
• Synthetic spermaceti
• Synthetic spermaceti

Off-white solid

Fixed

0.82 g · cm -3 ( 80 ° C)

43-45 ° C

Insoluble in water

1.4398 (70 ° C)

Template: Infobox chemical / molecular formula search available

Cetyl palmitate, also known as cetyl esters wax, cetyl palmitate and spermaceti, the esters of saturated C 16- carboxylic acid ( palmitic acid ), and the saturated C16 - alcohol ( cetyl alcohol ). It is used in cosmetics as a thickening agent for back -greasy ointments and creams, formerly in the petroleum industry as a lubricant additive.

History and habitat

Cetyl palmitate, an animal wax, formerly from the spermaceti, which occurs in amounts of up to 5 tons in the head cavities of the sperm whale, won. Cetyl palmitate is the main constituent of spermaceti. Since the whaling moratorium in 1985 synthetic cetyl palmitate used.

Production and representation

The spermaceti previously obtained from natural sources was further processed directly, today's synthetic cetyl palmitate obtained by esterification of natural saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and saturated fatty alcohols. The fatty acids required is obtained from natural fats by hydrolysis and hydrogenation; the fatty alcohols by fractional distillation of corresponding saturated fatty acids. The commercially available " Cetalpalmitat " is a mixture of various esters having an average molar mass of about 500 g · mol -1.

Properties

Cetyl palmitate is used up to a level of 3% in creams and ointments. The cream / ointment thus prepared should be smoother than when using, for example, cetyl alcohol or beeswax with comparable viscosity. The creams have moisturizing and softening properties.

Use

Cetyl palmitate is used as a high quality consistency factors for ointments and is a component of the cooling ointment ( ointment leniens ) according to the German Pharmacopoeia.