General Description
Synonyms: Alcohol cetylicus et stearylicus; cetearyl alcohol; cetyl stearyl alcohol; Crodacol CS90; Lanette O; Speziol C16-18 Pharma; Tego Alkanol 1618; Tego Alkanol 6855.
Description: Cetostearyl alcohol occurs as white or cream-colored unctuous masses, flakes, pellets or granules. It has a faint, characteristic sweet odor. On heating, cetostearyl alcohol melts to a clear, colorless or pale yellow-colored liquid free of suspended matter.
Chemical Name: Cetostearyl alcohol
Functions
Emollient; emulsifying agent; viscosity-increasing agent.
Uses
Cetostearyl alcohol is used in cosmetics and topical pharmaceutical preparations.
In topical pharmaceutical formulations, cetostearyl alcohol will increase the viscosity and act as an emulsifier in both water-in-oil and oil-in-water emulsions.
Cetostearyl alcohol will stablize an emulsion and also act as a co-emulsifier, thus decreasing the total amount of surfactant required to form a stable emulsion.
Cetostearyl alcohol is also used in the preparation of nonaqueous creams and sticks, and in nonlathering shaving creams.
Research articles have been published in which cetostearyl alcohol has been used to control or slow the dissolution rate of tablets or microspheres containing water-soluble drugs, or poorly watersoluble drugs, as well as to stabilize amorphous systems.
In combination with other surfactants, cetostearyl alcohol forms emulsions with very complex microstructures.
These microstructures can include liquid crystals, lamellar structures, and gel phases.
Incompatibilities
Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents and metal salts.
Safety
Cetostearyl alcohol is mainly used in topical pharmaceutical formulations and topical cosmetic formulations.
Cetostearyl alcohol is generally regarded as a nontoxic material. Although it is essentially nonirritating, sensitization reactions to cetostearyl, cetyl, and stearyl alcohols have been reported
Handling Precautions
Observe normal precautions appropriate to the circumstances and quantity of material handled. Eye protection and gloves are recommended. Cetostearyl alcohol is flammable and on combustion may produce fumes containing carbon monoxide.
Related Substances
Anionic emulsifying wax; cetyl alcohol; sodium lauryl sulfate; stearyl alcohol.