Butyl Stearate Supplier in Malaysia
- Also known as
- N-Butyl Stearate
- Butyl Octadecanoate
- Stearic Acid Butyl Ester
Butyl stearate supplier for PVC processors, lubricant blenders, textile mills and personal care formulators in Malaysia. Written as n-butyl stearate, butyl octadecanoate or stearic acid butyl ester (CAS 123-95-5), it is a clear colourless to pale yellow oily liquid with low odour.
It is the butyl ester of stearic acid, not the acid itself and not a metallic stearate soap. That ester chemistry is what makes it a liquid internal lubricant and secondary plasticiser instead of a powder, and it is unrelated to the phthalate and terephthalate plasticisers it sometimes sits beside in a recipe.
Grades on the market run from technical material for general blending to low acid value grades for PVC, rolling oil and metalworking duty, and cosmetic grade for emollient use. Commercial product is often the butyl ester of a stearic and palmitic acid cut, so ester content, acid value and colour are set against the grade quoted rather than assumed.
The liquid can cloud or set in cool storage and clears again on gentle warming. Send the grade, specification limits, application, quantity and delivery location with the enquiry, and packing, documentation, availability and timing follow with the quotation.
- CAS number
- 123-95-5
- Formula
- C22H44O2
- Grade
- technical, low acid value, cosmetic
- Appearance
- clear colourless to pale yellow oily liquid with low odour, which may cloud or set in cool conditions
Butyl Stearate grades and forms
We supply several forms to suit different formulating and dosing setups. If you need a size that is not listed, ask us.
| Grade | Form | Assay | Typical use | Packing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technical grade butyl stearate | clear to pale yellow oily liquid | — | General industrial ester for internal lubrication and secondary plasticisation in PVC and other polymer compounds, wax and polish blending, and as a lubricity component in formulated fluids. | Packing is confirmed at quotation stage. |
| Low acid value butyl stearate | clear pale oily liquid | — | Preferred where residual free acid would attack metal surfaces or interfere with a stabiliser package, such as PVC compounding, rolling oils and metalworking concentrates. State the acid value ceiling the specification sets. | Packing is confirmed at quotation stage. |
| Cosmetic grade butyl stearate | clear colourless oily liquid | — | Emollient and spreading ester in creams, lotions, sunscreens, lip products and hair conditioners, where colour and odour are held tighter than on an industrial grade. Name the odour and colour limits the formulation works to. | Packing is confirmed at quotation stage. |
How to buy butyl stearate from ChemTrade
Request a quote for butyl stearate
Use the form below to request a quotation. You can also email sales@chemtrademalaysia.com or send us a message on WhatsApp.
Specifications
| Parameter | Value | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | clear colourless to pale yellow oily liquid with low odour | — |
| CAS number | 123-95-5 | — |
| Chemical formula | C22H44O2 | — |
| Chemical type | butyl ester of stearic acid, a neutral fatty ester rather than a fatty acid or a metallic soap | — |
| Physical state | liquid at ambient Malaysian temperatures; it can cloud or set as the temperature falls and reliquefies on gentle warming | — |
| Solubility in water | insoluble in water; miscible with mineral oils and common organic solvents | — |
| Composition | commercial material is often the butyl ester of a stearic and palmitic acid cut rather than a single pure C18 ester, so an ester content figure is set against the grade rather than assumed | — |
| Common grade checks | colour, acid value, saponification value, hydroxyl value, moisture and odour according to the application | — |
Butyl Stearate applications
Safety and handling
Keep containers closed in a cool, dry, well-ventilated store away from heat, ignition sources and strong oxidisers. The ester may cloud or set in cool weather and returns to a liquid on gentle warming, so avoid overheating and follow the safety information issued with the grade quoted. Supply is subject to applicable requirements.
Common questions about butyl stearate
What does butyl stearate do in a PVC compound?
It works as an internal lubricant and a secondary plasticiser, easing melt flow, lowering processing torque and helping the part leave the tool. It is normally used alongside a primary plasticiser and a stabiliser package rather than on its own, so state the recipe and the dosing point in the enquiry.
Is butyl stearate the same as n-butyl stearate?
Yes, the same substance. The n prefix simply states that the butyl group is the straight-chain isomer, and butyl octadecanoate and stearic acid butyl ester describe the same ester. Buyers use all of these spellings, so either form of the name is understood on an enquiry.
Is butyl stearate the same as stearic acid?
No, they are different products. Stearic acid is the fatty acid, while this material is the ester formed from that acid and butanol, so it is a neutral oily liquid rather than a waxy acidic solid. Order each one by name, because a formulation written for the ester cannot use the acid.
Is butyl stearate a phthalate plasticiser?
No. It is a fatty acid ester used as an internal lubricant and secondary plasticiser, and it has no structural relationship to the phthalate or terephthalate esters. Buyers replacing a phthalate should state the performance the compound needs, because the two families do not dose interchangeably.
Is butyl stearate a metallic stearate?
No. Metallic stearates are solid soaps of stearic acid with metals such as calcium, zinc or magnesium, whereas this material is a liquid ester of stearic acid and butanol. The two behave nothing alike in a compound, so the enquiry should name the ester if a liquid lubricant is wanted.
Why does butyl stearate cloud or solidify in cool storage?
The ester sits close to its setting point at cooler temperatures, so a cold store or an air-conditioned space can turn a clear liquid cloudy or semi-solid. Gentle warming and mixing return it to a clear liquid without changing the material. Mention the storage conditions on site if handling matters to the process.
Which butyl stearate grade should I request?
Technical grade covers general polymer, wax and fluid blending, a low acid value grade suits PVC, rolling oil and metalworking work where free acid is a problem, and cosmetic grade is chosen when colour and odour limits are tight. Send the end use and the limits your specification sets.
What details are needed for a butyl stearate price enquiry?
Give the grade, the acid value and colour limits if your specification sets them, the application, the quantity and the delivery location. Note any documentation the receiving plant needs so the quotation can address it in one exchange.