Potassium isostearate

Potassium isostearate (CAS 68413-46-7) is the potassium salt of isostearic acid, functioning as a soap-type emulsifier and surfactant across personal care and industrial formulations. Unlike conventional potassium stearate, its branched fatty acid chain resists crystallization, allowing stable performance in liquid and semi-solid systems at ambient temperatures.

In personal care, it is used to build creamy, stable emulsions in cleansers, shaving preparations, and skin creams where a non-waxy, fluid texture is required for the end user. Textile and leather processors use it as a wetting and softening agent to improve fiber lubrication and surface uniformity during finishing operations and various industrial treatments.

In coatings and adhesive systems, it functions as a dispersant and emulsifier for pigment slurries and polymer dispersions, ensuring a consistent and high-quality application every time. Its compatibility with skin-conditioning formulations also makes it a functional humectant component in leave-on products targeting moisture retention and improved skin feel.

Potassium isostearate is typically supplied as a viscous liquid or paste, reflecting the branched-chain structure that prevents solid soap formation during the storage process. It is available in technical and cosmetic grades, with cosmetic-grade material meeting purity requirements suitable for personal care manufacturing. Packaging is offered in drums or IBCs.