DICAPRYLYL CARBONATE- ▸ Skin care: Light emollient with a dry, non-greasy skin feel
- ▸ Color cosmetics: Spreading agent and pigment wetter
- ▸ Sun care: Emollient and solvent for UV filters
- ▸ Personal care: Carrier and solvent for actives
A grade-specific Safety Data Sheet (SDS) — with the complete hazard classification, handling precautions, and transport information — is supplied with every shipment and available on request. Confirm all safety and regulatory details against the SDS for your specific grade.
Request SDS →Dicaprylyl carbonate (DCC; INCI Dicaprylyl Carbonate; CAS 1680-31-5) is a light, dry, exceptionally fast-spreading emollient — a dialkyl carbonate of caprylic (C8) alcohol. It gives a silky, weightless, dry after-feel and outstanding spreadability, and it dissolves UV filters and oil-soluble actives well, which is why it is a leading plant-derived alternative to volatile silicones in modern skin and sun care. Identity: PubChem.
What is dicaprylyl carbonate?
It is the carbonate diester of two caprylyl (C8) alcohols. The carbonate linkage and short branched chains give a very low viscosity, extremely high spreadability and a dry, non-greasy “second-skin” feel — close to volatile silicones but as a non-volatile, oxidatively stable ester. It is also a strong solvent for organic UV filters and lipophilic actives.
Applications by sector
Sun care. A high-spreadability emollient and solvent that dissolves and evenly distributes organic UV filters and reduces greasiness. Skin care. A dry, light emollient and spreading agent used as a volatile-silicone alternative in lotions, serums and creams. Color cosmetics. A pigment-wetting carrier with a dry finish. These describe spreadability, feel and solvency, not skin-health claims.
Forms and grades
Supplied as a clear liquid; confirm grade on the RFQ. Related emollient esters: isopropyl myristate, isononyl isononanoate, dicaprylyl carbonate; see the emollient ester selection guide.
Handling and documentation
Each lot ships with a Certificate of Analysis (CoA); request the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for handling data.
Bulk supply and RFQ
RawSource supplies dicaprylyl carbonate in bulk to personal-care and sun-care formulators, with CoA and SDS per lot. Submit an RFQ with your grade and target quantity.
Typical Properties
Typical reference values, not a specification; the Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for the lot governs.
| Property | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| INCI Name | Dicaprylyl Carbonate |
| CAS Number | 1680-31-5 |
| Molecular Formula | C17H34O3 |
| Appearance | Clear, colorless, low-viscosity liquid |
| Character | Very light, dry, ultra-fast-spreading; UV-filter solvent; oxidatively stable |
| Solubility | Insoluble in water; oil-soluble |
| Flammability / handling | Refer to the current SDS |
Regulatory & registration requirements
- TSCA (US): Not found on the public (non-confidential) TSCA Inventory
- REACH (EU):
- EC number: 434-850-2
Source: EPA TSCA Inventory (July 2025 release) · ECHA CHEM — retrieved 2026-07-12
Frequently Asked Questions
What is dicaprylyl carbonate used for?
Dicaprylyl carbonate (DCC, CAS 1680-31-5) is a light, dry, fast-spreading emollient used in sun care to dissolve and distribute UV filters, and in skin care and color cosmetics as a dry-feel spreading agent and volatile-silicone alternative.
Is dicaprylyl carbonate a silicone alternative?
It is widely used as a non-volatile, plant-derived alternative to volatile silicones because it delivers a similar dry, weightless, high-spread feel — while being an oxidatively stable ester and a strong UV-filter solvent.
What is the CAS and formula of dicaprylyl carbonate?
It is CAS 1680-31-5 (PubChem CID 9904000), molecular formula C17H34O3. The CoA documents grade.
How is bulk dicaprylyl carbonate supplied and quoted?
RawSource supplies it as a liquid in bulk with CoA and SDS per lot. Pricing is quote-based on grade and volume; submit an RFQ with your target quantity.
What is the REACH and TSCA regulatory status of Dicaprylyl Carbonate (DCC)?
Dicaprylyl Carbonate (DCC) (CAS 1680-31-5) is recorded as REACH-registered in ECHA's public CHEM database (EC 434-850-2); it was not found on EPA's public (non-confidential) TSCA Inventory file.