Sodium laurate

Sodium laurate (CAS 629-25-4), also known as sodium dodecanoate, is the sodium salt of lauric acid produced through saponification. It functions as a surfactant and emulsifier across personal care, cleaning, and industrial processing applications. Buyers source it primarily as a soap-forming agent and surface-active ingredient in both formulated products and manufacturing processes. In personal care, it is a primary component in bar soap manufacturing, contributing to lather quality.

Home care formulators incorporate it into powder detergents and cleaning bars where solid-format surfactancy is required. Textile and leather processors use it as a lubricating and wetting agent to improve fiber handling. It is also used during wet processing stages to enhance surface treatment. In paper manufacturing, it supports surface modification and sizing operations where controlled wetting behavior affects final sheet quality.

Sodium laurate is supplied as a white to off-white powder or flake. Technical grade is the standard offering for industrial and manufacturing applications, while higher-purity grades are available for personal care and cosmetic formulations. Buyers should confirm purity levels and fatty acid chain distribution when sourcing for soap or detergent applications. This is critical because lauric acid content directly affects the final product performance and stability.