Glycol distearate

Glycol distearate is the diester of stearic acid and ethylene glycol. It is mostly commonly encountered in personal care products and cosmetics where it is used to produce pearlescent effects as well as a moisturizer.

Glycol distearate
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Ethane-1,2-diyl di(octadecanoate)
Other names
Ethylene glycol distearate; Ethylene distearate; Ethylene glycol dioctadecanoate
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.010.014
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C38H74O4/c1-3-5-7-9-11-13-15-17-19-21-23-25-27-29-31-33-37(39)41-35-36-42-38(40)34-32-30-28-26-24-22-20-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2/h3-36H2,1-2H3
    Key: FPVVYTCTZKCSOJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • O=C(OCCOC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC)CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
Properties
C38H74O4
Molar mass 595.006 g·mol−1
Appearance White Flake
Melting point 65 to 73 °C (149 to 163 °F; 338 to 346 K)[1]
Insoluble
Hazards
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
4,700 mg/kg (rat)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references

Synthesis

Glycol distearate may be produced via the esterification of stearic acid (or its esters) with ethylene glycol. It can also be produced by a reaction of stearic acid with ethylene oxide.[2]

Applications

When forced to crystalize as thin platelets glycol distearate can give liquids and gels a pearlescent appearance.[3] This is often used by the producers of personal care products (e.g. shower gel) to increase the visual appeal of their products. It may also act as a skin moisturizer.

Glycol distearate is also commonly used as an embedding agent in microscopy.

See also

References
  1. Ethylene glycol distearate, chemicalland21.com
  2. Wrigley, A. N.; Smith, F. D.; Stirton, A. J. (January 1959). "Reaction of ethylene oxide or propylene oxide with long-chain fatty acids. Mono- and diester formation". Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society. 36 (1): 34–36. doi:10.1007/BF02540263.
  3. Bolzinger, M.A.; Cogne, C.; Lafferrere, L.; Salvatori, F.; Ardaud, P.; Zanetti, M.; Puel, F. (May 2007). "Effects of surfactants on crystallization of ethylene glycol distearate in oil-in-water emulsion". Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects. 299 (1–3): 93–100. doi:10.1016/j.colsurfa.2006.11.026.
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