Sebacic acid

Sebacic acid (CAS 111-20-6) is a straight-chain dicarboxylic acid derived primarily from castor oil; a monomer and intermediate in polymer, lubricant and personal care manufacturing.

Where is Sebacic acid used?

• Polymers: reacted with diols or diamines to produce polyesters and polyamides with improved low-temperature flexibility for engineering plastics and specialty films
• Monomer for nylon 610.
• Synthesis of sebacate esters that act as plasticizers in PVC and elastomer systems.
• Lubricants: sebacate esters from branched alcohols as base fluids and additives in aviation, automotive and high-performance greases
• Added to metalworking fluids and antifreezes for anti-corrosive properties.
• In coolant formulations, typically neutralized with sodium, potassium, or other suitable bases to form sebacate salts, increasing solubility in water-glycol coolants.
• Personal care: emollient precursor and pH buffer in skin-conditioning formulations and emulsions
• Food: flavoring compound applied at trace levels
• Its bifunctional acid structure makes it a building block for esterification and condensation reactions.

Good to know: FEMA 4943 covers its use as a flavoring agent in food applications.

Formulation notes

• Reacts violently with bases and oxidants.
• In commercial inhibitor packages, often used together with 2-ethylhexanoic acid, benzoates, azoles, molybdates, phosphates, or silicates in multi-component systems.
• Commonly used in polymer production because it adds flexible segments and increases hydrolysis resistance compared to some aromatic diacids.

Typical specification

• Minimum purity of 99.5%.
• Maximum moisture level of 0.20%.
• Minimum acid value of 550.

Regulatory status

• INCI name 'Sebacic Acid'.

Storage, packaging and handling

• Store at 15–30°C in a dry, tightly closed container.
• Store separately from strong oxidants and strong bases.

Frequently asked questions about Sebacic acid

In which automotive coolant technologies is sebacic acid used?

It is used in automotive coolant and antifreeze formulations, particularly in Organic Acid Technology (OAT) and some hybrid inhibitor technologies.

Is sebacic acid used in coatings?

It is used as an intermediate in paints and other coatings.

Technical content is compiled and updated by the SoleChem product team from public technical sources; the certificate of analysis (COA) governs product-specific specifications.