Glycol Distearate

About This Product

Glycol distearate is the diester of ethylene glycol and stearic acid, carrying CAS number 627-83-8 and the INCI name Glycol Distearate. It is supplied as white to cream flakes, beads or as a pre-dispersed pearlising concentrate. The pearl effect it produces is a crystallisation phenomenon rather than a colourant. Heated into a surfactant base it dissolves; as the batch cools, it comes out of solution as very thin plate-like crystals suspended through the product. Those plates reflect and refract light, and because they are aligned by the flow of the liquid they produce the shifting, luminous sheen associated with premium shampoos and washes. The size and shape of the crystals, and therefore the quality of the pearl, depend almost entirely on the cooling rate: cooled slowly under gentle agitation it gives a large, lustrous pearl, while shock cooling gives a dull white opacity instead. This is why pre-dispersed concentrates exist, since they remove the cooling regime from the equation. It also contributes a degree of opacity and a richer, more cushioned feel. Typical use is 1 to 3 percent. It is used in shampoos, conditioners, body washes, liquid hand soaps, facial cleansers and shaving products. Bio Green Chem supplies glycol distearate to specification on ester content, free glycol, acid value, saponification value, melting point and colour.