Wax, Cetyl Esters

Synonyms: Cera cetyla; Crodamol SS; Cutina CP; Liponate SPS; Protachem MST; Ritaceti; Ritachol SS; spermaceti wax replacement; Starfol Wax CG; Synaceti 116; synthetic spermaceti.

Description: Cetyl esters wax occurs as white to off-white, somewhat translucent flakes (typically in the range of 5 mm to several millimeters in the largest dimension), having a crystalline structure and a pearly luster when caked. It has a faint, aromatic odor and a bland, mild taste.

Chemical Name: Cetyl esters wax

Emollient; stiffening agent.

• Cetyl esters wax is a stiffening agent and emollient used in creams and ointments as a replacement for naturally occurring spermaceti.

• Cetyl esters wax is hydrophobic and has been proposed as a suitable component of an ophthalmic gelatin-based, controlledrelease delivery matrix.

• The physical properties of cetyl esters wax vary greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer owing to differences between the mixtures of fatty acids and fatty alcohol esters that are used.

• Differences between products appear most obviously in the melting point, which can range from 43–47C (USP32–NF27 range) to 51–55C, depending on the mixture.

• Materials with a high melting point tend to contain predominantly cetyl and stearyl palmitates.

Incompatible with strong acids or bases.

Cetyl esters wax is an innocuous material generally regarded as essentially nontoxic and nonirritant.

Observe normal precautions appropriate to the circumstances and quantity of material handled.

Spermaceti wax.