Cetyl Palmitate

CETYL PALMITATE - SPERMACETI

The main ingredient of spermaceti is cetyl palmitate, present in the cavities of whales. It is obtained artificially by synthesis in the esterification between cetyl alcohol and palmitic acid. It is also known as spermaceti (from the Greek sperma, seed, and Latin cetus, whale) or spermaceti. It is in the form of white or almost white waxy flakes, with a slight odour. It is insoluble in water, slightly in cold ethanol, well in boiling ethanol, diethyl ether, chloroform, benzene and carbon disulphide.

USES OF CETYL PALMITATE

It is mainly used in the cosmetics industry, leather work and as a lubricant for precision machinery, for stainless metals, in transmission fluids. Its viscosity changes very little with heat or cold, works well at high pressures and high speeds, wets most metals and penetrates into the smallest crevices.