Cetearyltrimonium chloride

Cetearyltrimonium chloride (CAS 68002-62-0), also marketed as ceteartrimonium chloride, is a mixed C16-C18 quaternary ammonium salt used as a conditioning and emulsifying agent across personal care and industrial formulations.

Its cationic charge drives adsorption onto negatively charged surfaces such as hair, fibers, and skin. This delivers a level of substantivity that neutral or anionic surfactants simply cannot achieve in these applications.

In hair care, it functions as the primary conditioning active in rinse-off conditioners, conditioning shampoos, and hair masks. It is highly effective at reducing static and improving both wet and dry combability.

Textile and fabric softener manufacturers use it to coat fiber surfaces during finishing. This imparts softness and reduces friction in both rinse-cycle consumer products and various industrial fabric treatments.

In skin care and emulsion systems, it stabilizes oil-in-water creams and lotions while providing a smooth skin feel. Paper and leather processing operations apply it as a surface-conditioning agent to modify charge.

These applications improve the handling characteristics of treated substrates significantly. Cetearyltrimonium chloride is supplied as an aqueous solution, typically at concentrations around 25 to 30 percent active content.

Cosmetic-grade material conforming to standard industry purity requirements is the most common commercial form. Technical-grade solutions are available for textile, paper, and industrial cleaning applications.

These technical grades are suitable where specific cosmetic specification is not required. The product remains a versatile choice for manufacturers seeking reliable cationic performance across multiple sectors.