Aluminum Stearates:
Aluminum stearates are most utilized for their excellent hydrophobic properties, which are highly beneficial in concrete mixes and solution-form surface applications.
The water insolubility of aluminum stearates makes them ideal water-repellency polymer additives, especially in industrial and heavy-duty applications. They also provide a remarkable ability to thicken or gel many organic fluids that can be utilized for lubricity and water resistance.
Aluminum stearates are specialty additives that can also find use in paint and coating applications. They provide outstanding wetting properties for the dispersion or suspension of pigments and solids. Additionally, aluminum stearates offer rheology modification properties, prevent sag and flatting, and improve the brushing characteristics of paint formulations.
The use level of aluminum stearates in paints generally varies from 0.2 - 1.5% based on the total formulation weight. Specialty products, such as artistic paints, might require a higher level of aluminum stearate. Coating specialty products commonly use Aluminum stearate 132 which is derived from distilled, hydrogenated fatty acids and provide strong hydrophobic, lubrication, and thickening abilities.
Solubility
Aluminum stearates are soluble in the following:
Aluminum stearates are insoluble in or very sparingly soluble in water, methanol, ethanol, esters, or ketones.
Calcium Stearates:
Calcium stearates are calcium salts of distilled fatty acids supplied in fine particle size in ceramics, plastics, and many other industrial and consumer applications.
Calcium stearates are used as catalyst neutralizers, processing aids for ceramics, and lubrication aids in polypropylene and other polyolefin plastics. They also offer improved clarity to non-pigmented films and can be used in pigmented products depending on the process's dust limitations.
Fused calcium stearates, mainly the vegetable grades, are used in several food and spice applications. The product selection is typically based on particle size characteristics. Calcium Stearate FG is one of PMC Biogenix's fused grades of calcium salt of distilled, hydrogenated fatty acids that provide exceptional use in food contact applications due to FDA clearance.
Solubility
Calcium stearates are soluble in the following:
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Hot Turpentine
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Benzene
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Toluene
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Xylenes
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Carbon Tetrachloride
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Vegetable Oils
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Oleic Acid
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Waxes
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Pyridine
Calcium stearates are insoluble in or very sparingly soluble in water, methanol, ethanol, esters, or ketones.