Stearic acid is a naturally occurring fatty acid that is derived from animal and plant fats. It is used in a variety of personal care and cosmetic products, medicines, pharmaceutical tablets, metal working lubricants and cooking oils. The stearic acid manufacturing process is done through saponification of triglycerides with heated liquid, which results in separation of the fatty acids and glycerine from each other. This is followed by fractional distillation of the fatty acid solution to produce a crude stearate. The crude stearate can be further processed to make the desired product.
The stearic acid industry is projected to grow due to the demand for natural lubricants. Increasing number of pharmaceutical products are now available in tablet form, which requires lubricants for the safe disintegration and absorption of the tablet. Additionally, the demand for lubricants in industrial applications such as metalworking has also increased. This is due to the growing need to reduce costs and improve productivity in industrial operations.
In order to meet the demands of the market, companies have been introducing various stearate manufacturing processes. The stearate manufacturing process is based on two steps; first, the fatty acid mixture is reacted with at least one base to form alkali soaps. Then, a solution of at least one metallic salt is added to the alkali soap to form a metallic stearate.
The veg-based stearate that we manufacture is non-GMO, allergen free and BSE free. It is made from sustainable palm oil that is RSPO (Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil) certified. This is a very important aspect for us since it not only ensures the highest quality of our final product but it also makes sure that no harmful chemicals are introduced into the environment.