Potassium Stearate
C₁₇H₃₅COOK | CAS: 593-29-3 | HS: 29157010
Product Description
Potassium Stearate is the potassium soap of stearic acid — a soft, water-soluble metallic soap that functions as an emulsifier, thickener, and surfactant in liquid soap, shaving cream, and cosmetic emulsion formulations. Unlike sodium stearate (which produces hard bar soap), potassium stearate produces soft, gel-form soaps and liquid soaps due to the larger, more hydrated potassium counter-ion. In latex rubber compounding, it is used as a dispersing and emulsifying agent. MITCHEM supplies technical and cosmetic grades for soap, cosmetic, and rubber latex manufacturers.
Applications by Industry
The basis of soft potassium soaps and liquid hand soaps — produces soft, gel-form soap textures versus the hard bar produced by sodium soap; used in shaving cream and soft soap formulations.
Key ingredient in shaving cream (brushless and brush-applied) — produces the dense, stable, lubricating foam required for comfortable wet shaving.
Used as an anionic emulsifier and stabiliser in natural rubber latex compounding and synthetic latex production for foam rubber, gloves, and dipped goods.
Applied as a W/O and O/W emulsifier in cosmetic cream and lotion formulations where the mildness and conditioning properties of a potassium soap are desired.