12-Hydroxy Stearic Acid – 12HSA
12-Hydroxy Stearic Acid (12HSA)
Premium Castor-Based Performance Additive | Nova Industries
🏭 1. Manufacturing Process – From Castor Oil to 12HSA
Raw Material Origin
12-Hydroxy Stearic Acid (12HSA) is produced from castor oil, which naturally contains around 85–90% ricinoleic acid in triglyceride form. This makes 12HSA a fully vegetable-based, renewable fatty acid.
1.1 Process Flow Overview
- Refined Castor Oil
- Hydrogenation → Hydrogenated Castor Oil (HCO)
- Hydrolysis / Saponification → Fatty Acid Mixture
- Fractionation & Purification → 12HSA-Rich Fraction
- Crystallization, Drying & Flaking/Powdering → Finished 12HSA
1.2 Key Steps in Detail
a) Hydrogenation of Castor Oil
- Refined castor oil is fed into high-pressure hydrogenation reactors.
- A nickel-based catalyst is used under controlled temperature and pressure.
- The carbon–carbon double bond in ricinoleic acid is saturated.
- The hydroxyl group at the 12th carbon remains intact.
- Product: Hydrogenated Castor Oil (HCO), also known as castor wax.
b) Hydrolysis / Saponification
- HCO (a triglyceride) is subjected to:
- High-pressure steam hydrolysis, or
- Alkaline saponification with sodium or potassium hydroxide.
- This splits the triglyceride into:
- Glycerol, and
- A mixture of free fatty acids, where 12HSA is the major component.
c) Fractionation & Purification
- The crude fatty acid mixture is refined by:
- Fractional distillation (often under vacuum)
- Controlled crystallization
- These operations:
- Enrich the 12HSA content
- Improve color, odor, and stability
- Reduce impurities, unsaturated residues, and low-melting components.
d) Crystallization, Drying & Solid Forming
- The purified 12HSA is crystallized under controlled cooling conditions.
- Residual moisture is removed by drying systems.
- The product is converted into:
- Flakes
- Powder
- Pastilles/beads
- Form is selected as per customer and application requirements.
1.3 Technology Used
- High-pressure hydrogenation reactors
- Caustic saponification units / hydrolysis columns
- Vacuum distillation columns
- Crystallizers and filtration systems
- Flaking, milling, and packaging machines
1.4 Key Quality Parameters During Production
- Acid Value – indicates complete splitting and free fatty acid content
- Hydroxyl Value – confirms hydroxyl functionality and structure
- Iodine Value – ensures high saturation and oxidative stability
- Saponification Value – cross-check on molecular structure and purity
- Melting Point (Titre) – critical for grease and polymer applications
- Color & Odor – important for coatings and cosmetics
🏭 2. Applications & Industries
12HSA is a high-performance structuring and thickening agent used across multiple industrial sectors.
2.1 Lubricants & Automotive
Primary Use:
- Manufacturing of lithium and other metal-complex greases (lithium 12-hydroxystearate, calcium complexes).
End-Use Applications:
- Automotive wheel bearing greases
- Multi-purpose industrial greases
- High-temperature greases
- Gear and chassis lubricants
Sector Demand Focus:
- Automotive OEMs and aftermarket
- Industrial maintenance and heavy machinery
2.2 Polymers, PVC & Plastics
Applications:
- Internal and external lubricant for PVC processing
- Additive in engineering plastics and thermoplastic elastomers
- Processing aid to improve melt flow, release, and surface finish
Sector Demand Focus:
- PVC pipe, cable, profile, sheet manufacturers
- Plastic compounding and masterbatch producers
2.3 Coatings, Inks & Powder Coatings
Functions:
- Rheology modifier and anti-settling agent
- Wax-like additive to improve mar resistance, slip, and scratch resistance
- Enhances pigment dispersion and film properties
Sector Demand Focus:
- Industrial coatings
- Powder coatings
- Printing inks and varnishes
2.4 Cosmetics & Personal Care
Roles:
- Thickener and structuring agent
- Rheology modifier in creams, lotions, and gels
- Texture and stability enhancer in:
- Lipsticks and balms
- Creams and emulsions
- Deodorant sticks and cosmetic wax systems
Sector Demand Focus:
- Personal care brands and cosmetic formulators
- Clean-label and plant-based formulation developers
2.5 Specialty Chemicals & Intermediates
Applications:
- Intermediate for polyester polyols
- Component in specialty polyamides and resins
- Production of esters, surfactants, corrosion inhibitors
- Building block in high-value bio-based polymer systems
Sector Demand Focus:
- Specialty chemical manufacturers
- High-performance polymer and resin producers
2.6 Textiles, Rubber & Leather
Uses:
- Internal lubricants and processing aids
- Textile sizing and finishing agents
- Additives in rubber and leather auxiliaries
⭐ 3. Benefits of the Product
3.1 Performance Advantages
- High Thickening Efficiency:
Delivers strong gelling and thickening at relatively low dosage, ideal for greases and structured systems. - Excellent Thermal Stability:
Saturated structure resists breakdown at elevated temperatures. - Mechanical & Shear Stability:
Maintains structure under mechanical stress in greases and processing environments. - Hydrophobicity & Water Resistance:
Long C18 chain imparts good water-repellent and barrier properties. - Lubricity & Slip:
Improves lubrication in greases and processing behavior in polymers and PVC.
3.2 Functional Benefits
- Hydroxyl group offers reactive sites for:
- Esterification
- Soap formation (lithium, calcium salts)
- Polymer and resin incorporation
- Provides network formation and gel structure, enabling:
- Stable greases
- Rheology-controlled coatings
- Structured cosmetic systems
3.3 Commercial Benefits
- One product serving multiple industries and formulations
- High performance at low treat rates → cost-effective formulations
- Castor-based, renewable origin → strong sustainability and marketing advantage
⚙️ 4. Technical & Premium Quality Details
4.1 Typical Technical Properties*
(*Indicative values; can be adapted to customer specifications.)
- Chemical Name: 12-Hydroxy Stearic Acid
- Formula: C₁₈H₃₆O₃
- Molecular Weight: ~300 g/mol
- Appearance: White to off-white waxy solid (flakes / powder / beads)
- Melting Point (Titre): 72–78 °C
- Acid Value: 175–185 mg KOH/g
- Hydroxyl Value: 150–165 mg KOH/g
- Saponification Value: 178–190 mg KOH/g
- Iodine Value: < 5 g I₂/100 g
- Moisture: < 0.2% (typical)
- Odor: Neutral to very mild
4.2 Purity Parameters for Premium Grade (Nova Industries)
- High 12HSA content, typically >95% (grade dependent)
- Low color (tight Gardner/Lovibond limits)
- Low ash and low moisture
- Narrow melting range for consistent processing
4.3 Quality Benchmarks Defining Premium Grade
- Consistent acid and hydroxyl values within narrow tolerance
- Stable melting point, ensuring predictable grease and polymer behavior
- Optimized crystal structure for efficient thickening and gelling
- Very low odor, critical for cosmetic and high-end coating use
📦 5. Key Specifications & Features
5.1 Standard Specification Parameters
- Assay / purity (12HSA content)
- Acid value
- Hydroxyl value
- Saponification value
- Iodine value
- Moisture content
- Color (Gardner or Lovibond)
- Physical form (flakes, powder, beads)
5.2 Available Grades
- Industrial Grade:
- For greases, general industrial lubricants, polymers, PVC.
- Premium / High-Purity Grade:
- For high-performance greases, coatings, specialty chemicals.
- Cosmetic Grade (Low Color / Low Odor):
- For personal care and cosmetic applications requiring extra purity.
5.3 Physical & Chemical Characteristics
- Physical:
- Solid at room temperature
- Waxy feel
- Practically insoluble in water
- Soluble in many hot organic solvents and oils
- Chemical:
- Saturated C18 fatty acid with a single hydroxyl group at C12
- Combines hydrophobic character with hydrogen-bonding capability
- Ideal for gelation, thickening, and structural reinforcement
🏆 6. Why Choose Nova Industries
6.1 Trusted Castor Derivatives Manufacturer
- Based in Gujarat, India, a global hub for castor cultivation and processing.
- Specialization in castor oil and its derivatives, ensuring technical depth and product know-how.
6.2 Quality Control Systems
- Dedicated in-house QC laboratory
- Routine testing for:
- Acid, hydroxyl, iodine, saponification values
- Moisture and color
- Physical form and melting profile
- Use of modern analytical tools for fatty acid profiling and purity checks.
6.3 Certifications & Compliance
- Production aligned with ISO 9001:2015 quality management principles.
- Documentation support for global regulatory compliance (REACH and other regional norms as required by customers).
6.4 Manufacturing Excellence
- Controlled hydrogenation and hydrolysis processes
- Efficient distillation and crystallization systems for high purity
- Batch consistency and traceability from castor oil to finished 12HSA
6.5 Global Customer Trust
- Reliable supply partner to lubricant, polymer, coating, and chemical companies.
- Focus on:
- On-time shipments
- Consistent quality
- Technical assistance and responsive communication
🌍 7. Environmental & Sustainability Points
- Renewable Origin:
Derived from castor oil, a non-edible, renewable vegetable oil. - Non-Food Crop Advantage:
Castor plants grow on marginal land and do not directly compete with major food crops. - Lower Carbon Footprint:
Plant-based origin and agricultural CO₂ uptake contribute to a reduced lifecycle footprint compared to petrochemical-based fatty acids. - Biodegradability:
As a natural fatty acid, 12HSA is biodegradable, helping reduce environmental persistence. - Eco-Friendly Advantages:
Supports the development of bio-based lubricants, plastics, coatings, and cosmetics, helping downstream users meet sustainability and green-label targets. - Green Chemistry Alignment:
Utilization of a vegetable-based feedstock and recovery/use of by-products (like glycerol) align with green chemistry principles and more sustainable product portfolios.
⚙️ 8. High Performance
- Greases & Lubricants:
- Enables greases with high dropping points, excellent mechanical stability, and good water resistance.
- Provides long service life in demanding automotive and industrial applications.
- Polymers & PVC:
- Improves melt processing, flow, and release.
- Enhances surface finish, reducing imperfections and plate-out.
- Coatings & Inks:
- Improves film hardness, mar resistance, and slip.
- Contributes to stable viscosities and pigment suspension.
- Cosmetics & Personal Care:
- Forms robust 3D networks in creams, gels, and sticks.
- Provides structure with good spreadability, improving the sensory profile.
- Overall Functional Superiority:
The combination of saturated backbone + hydroxyl functionality makes 12HSA a benchmark low-molecular-weight gelator in multiple industries.
🔍 9. Additional Value-Added Information
9.1 Packaging
- Standard: 25 kg bags (multi-layer, with inner liner)
- Larger: 500–1000 kg jumbo bags
- Custom packaging available on request for specific applications or handling systems.
9.2 Storage Guidelines
- Store in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area.
- Keep away from direct sunlight and strong heat sources.
- Keep bags tightly closed to avoid moisture pickup and lump formation.
9.3 Shelf Life
- Typical shelf life: minimum 24 months from production date when stored as recommended.
9.4 Safety & Handling Guidelines
- Classified as a low-hazard industrial material.
- Avoid excessive dust generation.
- Use basic PPE: gloves, dust mask/respirator (if handling powder in bulk), and safety glasses.
- Follow standard good industrial hygiene practices.
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS) provided with shipments on request.
9.5 Export Advantages & Global Market Demand
- Originating from India, a major castor oil producer, Nova Industries offers reliable and continuous supply.
- Strong and growing demand for:
- High-performance lubricant thickeners
- Bio-based PVC additives
- Plant-derived cosmetic ingredients
- Green polymer and coating additives
- Each shipment can be accompanied by:
- Certificate of Analysis (CoA)
- Regulatory and compliance documents as agreed with the buyer.
Nova Industries – Supplying High-Purity, Castor-Based 12-Hydroxy Stearic Acid for Lubricants, Polymers, Coatings, and Cosmetics with Reliability, Consistency, and Sustainable Performance.