Disodium Sebacate is a castor oil derivative which can be used in cosmetics, detergents, and as a corrosion inhibitor in lubricants. DSS is approved under CFR 21.178.3570 for incidental food contact in greases, and DSS has been used to replace sodium nitrites in aluminum greases. Its fine particle size allows it to be added to the grease during the cool down period with no additional processing.
Category: Product News
Product Focus: Tolyltriazole
Through adsorption to metal surfaces while in solution, benzotriazole and tolyltriazole are able to inhibit corrosion on metal surfaces. Tolyltriazole is especially adept at creating this bond with copper and its alloys. Tolyltriazole is produced from ortho-toluenediamine (oDTA), which is a side stream in the production of toluene diisocyanate (TDI). In the recent weeks we have seen a shortage of oDTA which does not look to be subsiding soon. The main use of TDI, the material in which oDTA availability relies, is as a precursor to polyurethane foams, which has seen its demand drop drastically with the recent pull back in new construction in China. A Chinese housing boom has turned into a burst bubble with 22% of housing empty. The housing market is expected to adjust and recover, but new construction will need time to adjust and will lag in the recovery. With this has come the reduction in TDI production, and with that, oDTA. This shortage has caused a spike in the price of tolyltriazole and raised concerns over future availability.
Product Focus: Sebacic Acid
Sebacic acid, also known as SBA, is a castor oil derivative which finds many industrial uses. It is used as a corrosion inhibitor in lubricants and metalworking fluids by forming a thin coating on the metal which restricts access by corrosive ions. Sebacic acid is used in the production of Nylon 6-10 and is a common carboxylic acid used in the manufacture of plasticizers. It also finds uses in hydraulic fluids, cosmetics and candles. Lithium hydroxystearate complex greases use dicarboxylic acids, such as sebacic acid, for unusual performance parameters. Producers of SBA include China, the world’s largest, India and the United States.
Product Focus: C8-C10 Fatty Alcohol
Having both hydrophilic and hydrophobic character, C8-C10 fatty alcohols find use as a nonionic solvent in the production of surfactants and detergents. In the food and cosmetics industries they find use as emulsifiers, emollients and thickeners. In cosmetic emulsions fatty alcohols are used to provide consistency. In technical emulsions they are used as co-surfactants and solution aids. The polar character of fatty alcohols allow them to be used as lubricants during the processing of polymers as well.
Product Focus: Acetyl Tributyl Citrate
Mainly used as a nontoxic plasticizer in PVC, cellulose resin and synthetic rubber, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate (ATBC) is also valued for its biodegradability in nail polishes and other cosmetics. ATBC provides many improvements over di-butyl phthalate in cellulose nitrate films due to its lower volatility, better resistance to yellowing and better adhesion to metals. It can widely be found in children’s toys, especially vinyl toys, medical products and food contact applications. Acetyl Tributyl Citrate can also be used as a plasticizer in bio-plastics such as poly lactic acid, cellulose acetate and poly hydroxyalkanoic acid.
Product Focus: Glycerin
Whether you call it glycerin, glycerine or glycerol, odds are you have ingested or used it at some point today. Glycerin is a simple sugar alcohol compound used in a vast number of products and applications. It can be synthesized or derived from plants and animals and finds uses as diverse as toothpastes to precursors in explosives manufacturing. Phosphorous and iodine on glycerin can create allyl iodide, a chemical building block for polymers, preservatives, organometallic catalysts and pharmaceuticals. Where glycerin most commonly touches our lives is in foods and beverages, pharmaceuticals and personal care products. In foods and beverages glycerin can act as a humectant, solvent, thickener and sweetener to replace sugar. It finds uses in pharmaceuticals to improve lubricity and hygroscopic qualities. Glycerin can be found in toothpaste, mouthwash, skin care products, shaving cream, hair care products and soaps.
Product Focus: High-Molecular Weight Polyethylene Glycols
Polyethylene Glycols (PEGs) are a versatile chemical for formulating in a wide variety of manufacturing industries, from cosmetics to plastics. The properties of PEGs make them useful for enhancing solvency, lubricity, and hygroscopicity. While useful in production processes as mold release agents, lubricants, and anti-static process aids, PEGs are also chemical intermediates in the production of anti-foaming agents, thickeners, and resins. In particular, high-molecular weight PEGs (such as PEG 8000), can be used in agriculture as part of insecticides and herbicides; as a plasticizer, binder, carrier, and lubricant in ceramics; drilling fluid intermediate and ingredient in mining; as a mold release agent for rubber and elastomers; and in formulations for soaps, detergents, and toilet bowl cleaners.