Acids & Salts Available — Bulk Only

Polyhydroxystearic Acid (PHSA)

PHSA
CAS 58128-22-6

A polyester of 12-hydroxystearic acid that anchors to pigment surfaces and sterically stabilizes them in oils. It is used as a pigment and particle dispersant and steric stabilizer in non-aqueous and water-in-oil systems and as an emulsion stabilizer and skin-conditioning agent in color cosmetics.

Safety Data Sheet
CAS Number
58128-22-6
Material Family
Acids & Salts
At a Glance
Material Family
Acids & Salts
Record Type
UVCB
Primary Role
Surfactancy
Solubility
soluble in aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons and ester solvents (typical)
Functional Roles
POLYHYDROXYSTEARIC ACID
SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING
Applications & Use Cases
  • Pigment dispersant: Wets and disperses pigments in oils and esters.
  • Steric stabilizer: Prevents pigment flocculation in non-aqueous systems.
  • W/O emulsion stabilizer: Stabilizes water-in-oil emulsions.
Physical Properties
physical_form
waxy solid to viscous paste (typical)
color
off-white to amber / pale yellow (typical)
molecular_weight
oligomeric, typically ~1,000-3,000 g/mol (no single defined value)
water_solubility
insoluble in water (typical)
solubility
soluble in aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons and ester solvents (typical)
odor
faint, fatty (typical)
Safety & Handling
Full SDS available on request

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.

Chemical Identity
CAS Number
58128-22-6
INCI Name
POLYHYDROXYSTEARIC ACID
Synonyms & Trade Names
Poly(12-hydroxystearic acid) 12-Hydroxystearic acid homopolymer Octadecanoic acid, 12-hydroxy-, homopolymer Polyhydroxystearic acid Poly(hydroxystearic acid) 12-Hydroxyoctadecanoic acid homopolymer
Full Description

Polyhydroxystearic Acid (PHSA, CAS 58128-22-6) is an oligomeric polyester of 12-hydroxystearic acid. It is used as a pigment and particle dispersant and steric stabilizer in non-aqueous and water-in-oil systems and as an emulsion stabilizer and skin-conditioning agent in color cosmetics.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is polyhydroxystearic acid used for?

Polyhydroxystearic acid (PHSA, CAS 58128-22-6) is used as a pigment and particle dispersant and steric stabilizer in non-aqueous and water-in-oil systems. It also stabilizes W/O emulsions and is used in color cosmetics.

How does polyhydroxystearic acid work as a pigment dispersant?

PHSA is an oligomeric polyester of 12-hydroxystearic acid that wets pigment surfaces and provides steric stabilization, preventing flocculation in oils and esters. This keeps pigments evenly dispersed in non-aqueous and W/O bases.

What is polyhydroxystearic acid made from?

It is an oligomeric (self-condensed) polyester of 12-hydroxystearic acid, CAS 58128-22-6.

What is polyhydroxystearic acid in lip balm and color cosmetics?

In these products it functions as a pigment dispersant and steric stabilizer that keeps colorants evenly suspended in the oil phase, and as a W/O emulsion stabilizer. It is incorporated into the oil/wax phase during compounding.

What is the cost of bulk polyhydroxystearic acid?

Pricing depends on grade, form, and volume. Request a current quote from RawSource with your specification and annual volume; a CoA and SDS are provided with each shipment.

Disclaimer. Information on this page — including properties, identifiers, hazard, transport (DOT/UN) and tariff (HS) classifications, and applications — is provided for general reference and is compiled from authoritative public sources (e.g. PubChem/ECHA, 49 CFR 172.101, the Harmonized Tariff Schedule). Values are typical and are not a guaranteed specification; the Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for the lot purchased governs. Products are sold for industrial and professional use only. Nothing here is a medical, health, or efficacy claim or advice. Always consult the current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before handling, storage, transport or disposal, and confirm regulatory status, classification and suitability for your application and jurisdiction. Hazard, transport and tariff classifications must be verified for your specific shipment. RawSource makes no warranty, express or implied, and assumes no liability for use of this information. Trademarks. Third-party trademarks and brand names are the property of their respective owners; any reference is nominative — used only to identify a comparable product — and does not imply affiliation with, sponsorship by, or endorsement by the trademark owner.