Section
| HS Code | 799201 |
| Product Name | Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate |
| Inci Name | Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate |
| Cas Number | 115-83-3 |
| Ec Number | 204-110-4 |
| Molecular Formula | C77H148O8 |
| Appearance | White to off-white powder or flakes |
| Odor | Mild fatty odor |
| Melting Point C | 60-70 |
| Solubility In Water | Insoluble |
| Solubility In Oils | Soluble or dispersible in oils and organic solvents |
| Chemical Class | Pentaerythritol tetraester of stearic acid |
| Function | Emollient; skin-conditioning agent; viscosity-controlling agent; lubricant |
| Applications | Cosmetics and personal care; lubricants; mold release; plastics additives |
| Saponification Value Mg Koh G | ~187 theoretical |
| Hydroxyl Value Mg Koh G | ~0 theoretical |
| Iodine Value | Low; saturated fatty acid ester |
As an accredited Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate is packaged in a 25 kg sealed fiber drum with an inner polyethylene liner and clear hazard labeling. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate is packed in suitable industrial packaging and loaded into a 20-foot FCL container, properly secured for safe ocean transport. |
| Shipping | Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate is generally shipped as a non-hazardous, solid cosmetic ingredient in sealed containers. It is not classified as dangerous goods. Store and transport in a cool, dry area away from moisture, heat, and strong oxidizers using standard freight handling. |
| Storage | Store Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and ignition. Keep containers tightly closed when not in use to prevent moisture and contamination. Avoid contact with strong oxidizing agents. Maintain appropriate temperature per supplier guidance and use clean, labeled, compatible containers. Store separately from incompatible materials. Do not store near food, drink, or feed. |
| Shelf Life | Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate stored cool, dry, and sealed has a shelf life of approximately two years. |
In rigid PVC-U pipe and profile extrusion, pentaerythrityl tetrastearate is added as an external metal-release lubricant that reduces melt adhesion to barrel walls, screw root, and die surfaces without substantially interrupting primary particle fusion. The addition window in calcium/zinc or organotin-stabilised dry blends is 0.3–0.7 phr; the upper limit is set by delayed gelation and die-lip plate-out rather than by lubricant volatility. Premix is prepared in a high-intensity hot mixer at 110–120 °C, cooled to 40–50 °C, and extruded on a counter-rotating twin-screw extruder with L/D 25:1 at melt temperatures of 185–205 °C and die head pressures of 15–30 MPa; downstream vacuum calibration at 0.02–0.08 MPa stabilises dimensions. Finished articles include PVC-U pressure pipe, soil and waste pipe, window profile, and cable duct; compliance verification for pressure pipe follows EN ISO 1452-1:2009 and ASTM D1785, while potable water contact in North America is assessed under NSF/ANSI 61. Published data for plate-out thresholds in specific pipe formulations is limited; on production lines, screw torque and die pressure should be monitored if the addition level is raised above 1.0 phr, because delayed fusion can increase primary particle slip and deposit on the calibration sleeve. The compound should be kept below 0.10% residual moisture before extrusion to avoid surface defects and variability in external lubrication.
The release function in unfilled polycarbonate light-transmitting parts is achieved with pentaerythrityl tetrastearate at 0.2–0.4 wt%, but its limited compatibility with the polycarbonate matrix at elevated loadings produces sub-surface migration and visible haze. Pellets are pre-dried at 120 °C for 4 h to a moisture content below 0.02%, then injection-moulded at a melt temperature of 280–310 °C, mould temperature of 80–120 °C, and injection pressure of 80–120 MPa. Terminal products include LED optics, transparent instrument covers, and medical device housings; optical transmission and haze are measured according to ASTM D1003 and ISO 13468-1:2019, while electrical enclosures are evaluated under IEC 62368-1:2018. Published data for the haze threshold at specific wall thicknesses is limited; optical-grade formulations require lot-to-lot haze verification rather than formula-only approval. The operating boundary is defined by mould soil and light-scattering haze: mould release improves as loading increases, but ejection-force reduction reaches a grade-dependent plateau, and further addition increases plate-out on polished cavity surfaces without proportional demoulding benefit.
When glass-mineral-filled polybutylene terephthalate and polyethylene terephthalate connector housings are ejected from high-cavitation tools, pentaerythrityl tetrastearate concentrates at ejector-pin and core-pull interfaces as a moving-surface release agent rather than functioning as a melt viscosity modifier. The addition ratio is 0.3–0.6 wt%, with the lower limit set by demoulding force and the upper limit set by cold-slab bloom after 72 h of storage at 23 °C. Processing requires forced-air pre-drying of the compound at 120 °C for 4–6 h for PBT and 130 °C for 4–5 h for PET, followed by injection moulding at barrel temperatures of 250–270 °C for PBT or 270–290 °C for PET, mould temperatures of 60–90 °C, and holding pressures of 70–110 MPa. Terminal products include electrical connectors, relay sockets, sensor housings, and power distribution enclosures assessed for creepage and clearance distances under IEC 60664-1:2020, flammability under UL 94 V-0 at 0.8 mm wall thickness, and restricted substances under RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU. The main process conflict is intermittent gas burn marks when mould vent depth falls below 0.02 mm; the release layer has negligible influence on vent blockage unless the compounding step leaves free stearic acid above 0.5%, which can volatilise around 270 °C and deposit on cavity edges.
Colour masterbatches based on polyethylene, polypropylene, and EVA carriers use pentaerythrityl tetrastearate as a high-melting dispersing wax that reduces interfacial viscosity between the carrier polymer and organic pigment agglomerates. The addition ratio is 0.5–1.5 wt% of the masterbatch, with the lower boundary for single-pigment concentrates and the upper boundary for multi-pigment systems containing more than 30 wt% inorganic filler. Compounding is carried out on a co-rotating twin-screw extruder with L/D 40:1, screw speed 400–700 rpm, barrel temperature profile 160–220 °C, and vacuum devolatilisation at −0.08 MPa; the melt is filtered through a 100–250 µm screen pack before strand pelletising. Finished product types are colour masterbatch granules, additive masterbatches, and filler concentrates intended for dilution at 2–5% in final articles. Compliance pathways include Commission Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 for plastic food-contact material evaluations and EN 71-3:2019+A1:2021 for toy safety migration limits; dispersion quality is monitored by the filter-pressure-value method described in EN 13900-5:2005. The process boundary is set by water-bath carryover: if strand pelletising water raises pellet moisture above 0.05%, the ester wax can hydrolyse slowly over 6–12 months, releasing stearic acid and reducing dispersion efficiency; post-crystallisation drying at 60 °C for 2 h is required when pellet moisture exceeds 0.05%.
The release mechanism in glass-fibre-reinforced unsaturated polyester bulk moulding compound depends on migration of pentaerythrityl tetrastearate to the mould interface during curing, where it reduces demoulding force without interfering with styrene crosslinking. The addition ratio is 0.5–1.2 phr based on resin; the upper limit is set by surface hazing on dark-coloured parts and by migration into adhesive bonding areas. Maturation is carried out at 23–28 °C for 72 h until paste viscosity reaches 20–40 Pa·s, then compression moulding at 140–150 °C under 6–10 MPa with cure times of 180–300 s depending on wall thickness. Terminal product types include electrical cabinets, automotive under-hood covers, and sanitary articles; enclosure safety is assessed under IEC 62208:2011, weathering under ISO 4892-2:2013, and substance registration under REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006. On production lines, the first 20–40 cycles after mould cleaning are used to build a stable release layer; intermittent sticking in that period should not be interpreted as long-term demoulding failure. The main processing conflict is maturation viscosity drift: at addition levels above 1.5 phr, the ester wax can build up on doctor blades and reduce sheet wetting on the SMC machine.
1.0–3.0 phr of pentaerythrityl tetrastearate in EPDM and NBR sealing compounds reduces mill sticking and imparts anti-tack behaviour, but the upper boundary is controlled by bloom and compression-set deterioration in cured parts. Mixing is performed in an internal mixer at a fill factor of 0.70–0.80 and dump temperature 110–130 °C, followed by two-roll mill sheeting at a nip gap of 1.5–3.0 mm; vulcanisation is conducted at 160–170 °C for 6–12 min depending on cure system. Terminal products include seals, gaskets, diaphragms, and conveyor belts; repeated food-contact rubber articles are evaluated under FDA 21 CFR 177.2600, while electrical sealing components fall under RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU. The main incompatibility is with strongly alkaline additives: in certain amine-accelerated sulfur cure systems, residual amine species can attack the ester linkage at cure temperatures above 165 °C, generating low-molecular-weight fractions that bloom to the surface and increase static tack after 48 h; pre-production bloom testing is required whenever the accelerator package is changed.
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Pentaerythrityl tetrastearate (PETS; CAS 115-83-3; EINECS 204-110-1) is the fully esterified derivative of pentaerythritol and four stearic acid residues, with the molecular formula C77H148O8 and a nominal molecular weight of 1,202 g/mol. Commercial technical-grade material is supplied as off-white pastilles or flakes; the common model abbreviation PETS is used interchangeably with pentaerythritol tetrastearate, although no single ISO or ASTM material standard defines all available grades. Certificate-of-analysis values vary by supplier; representative technical-grade limits are listed in the following table.
| Parameter | Reference method | Typical technical-grade range |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Visual inspection | Off-white pastilles or flakes |
| Dropping point | ASTM D3954 | 58–65 °C |
| Acid value | ISO 660 | ≤ 3 mg KOH/g |
| Saponification value | ISO 3657 | 180–190 mg KOH/g |
| Hydroxyl value | ASTM E222 | ≤ 10 mg KOH/g |
| Iodine value | ISO 3961 | ≤ 2 g I2/100 g |
The molecule contains four C17H35CO ester arms attached to a neopentyl carbon center. The molar mass of 1,202 g/mol and the nonpolar periphery reduce solubility in poly(vinyl chloride) and promote migration to the polymer–metal interface under shear. In rigid PVC dry blends, typical addition levels are 0.3–1.0 phr. Torque rheometry according to ASTM D2538 shows that PETS delays fusion and lowers equilibrium torque relative to an unmodified control; the effect appears as a shift in the fusion peak to longer times rather than as a reduction in gelation temperature. The delay is not equivalent to plasticization. Tensile elongation of a calendered sheet measured according to ISO 527-2 does not increase, and more than 1.5 phr can cause melt slippage. On a counter-rotating twin-screw extruder with screw diameter 65 mm and L/D 30:1, such overdosing can produce unstable screw fill and lower output because the boundary film reduces drag along the barrel wall.
Compared with glyceryl monostearate, the absence of free hydroxyl groups is critical. Glyceryl monostearate can hydrogen-bond with polar polymer segments and behaves partly as an internal lubricant; PETS remains more phase-separated and provides a more durable external film. Compared with calcium stearate, PETS introduces no metal cation. In lead-free Ca/Zn stabilizer systems, a partial substitution of 0.2–0.3 phr of calcium stearate by PETS can reduce die drool in high-output rigid PVC profile extrusion, but the formulation’s acid-scavenging capacity must be maintained by the stabilizer system. Yellowness Index measured according to ASTM E313 and production head pressure should be tracked during any substitution; published data for this specific substitution is limited, so lot-to-lot validation remains necessary.
Particle geometry determines feeding accuracy more than bulk melt specifications suggest. Pastille grades with a diameter above 2 mm can form stable bridges in loss-in-weight feeders when the hopper outlet is smaller than 100 mm; flakes or micropastilles are preferred for gravimetric feeding at addition rates below 0.5 phr. On a co-rotating twin-screw extruder with L/D 40:1 and barrel zone temperatures from 170 °C to 230 °C, PETS can be dry-blended with polymer powder at levels up to 1.0 phr; above that concentration, side-feeding into the melt section reduces screw bypass and improves dispersive mixing. Pre-drying is not required at ambient relative humidity below 60%. Above 70% RH, condensation on cold pastilles can affect gravimetric accuracy, although hydrolytic degradation is negligible at normal warehouse temperatures.
Relative to stearyl stearate, PETS has roughly double the molar mass and a higher dropping point. Stearyl stearate melts near 56–60 °C and is preferred where low-temperature processing requires rapid melting; PETS remains solid longer and is selected when the formulation must survive shear heating without losing external lubrication. Compared with paraffin wax and oxidized polyethylene wax, PETS has a narrower molecular architecture and no oligomeric distribution; this produces a more reproducible fusion delay when the PVC formulation is tightly specified. The lack of free carboxylate groups also means that PETS does not lower the electrical resistivity of a compound in the manner of some partly saponified ester waxes.
In glass-filled polyamide and polycarbonate compounds, lower-molecular-weight ester lubricants can volatilize and contribute to vacuum-line fouling or screw deposits. Thermogravimetric analysis under nitrogen according to ASTM E1131 indicates that technical-grade PETS has a mass-loss onset above 300 °C, roughly 50 °C higher than typical glyceryl monostearate. This thermal reserve supports use in polycarbonate and polyamide formulations processed at barrel set points up to 300 °C, provided the residence time does not exceed normal injection molding or compounding cycles. The thermal stability of PETS does not provide antioxidant activity; hindered phenolic or phosphite stabilizers must still be present because the ester is not a radical scavenger.
In clarified polypropylene or polycarbonate, haze development is measurable by ASTM D1003 when loading exceeds 0.5 wt%. For mold release in glass-filled polyamide, levels of 0.2–0.5 wt% reduce demolding force, but ejection settings on an injection molding machine with clamp force above 1,000 kN still require verification because release behavior depends on part geometry, mold coating, and fiber orientation. No metal residues are introduced; this is relevant for electrical connector formulations where low ionic contamination is specified.
Plasticized PVC systems alter the effectiveness of PETS because the primary plasticizer increases chain mobility. At dioctyl phthalate levels above 50 phr, the external lubricant effect weakens, and dosages above 0.5 phr can contribute to exudation if the compound is aged above 40 °C. In calendered rigid PVC sheet, PETS at 0.2–0.4 phr reduces plate-out on embossing rolls, but roll temperatures below 170 °C can create a waxy surface bloom that interferes with printing ink adhesion, as measured by cross-cut tape adhesion testing according to ASTM D3359. In rigid foam extrusion using azodicarbonamide blowing agents, decomposition begins near 160–200 °C; the surface-cooling contribution of PETS must not suppress the decomposition front.
Regulatory documentation for PETS is grade-specific. Industrial use is supported by REACH registration, but food-contact status must be verified against 21 CFR 176.170 for paper and paperboard or Commission Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 as amended, depending on the intended finished-article construction. The material does not contain halogens or heavy metals, which supports 2011/65/EU RoHS documentation when the supplier’s declaration is integrated into the technical file. RoHS compliance remains a property of the finished component rather than of the additive alone. The technical grade is normally not classified as hazardous under the Globally Harmonized System; emission and wastewater limits, where applicable, should be handled through the safety data sheet.
Ester linkages in PETS can hydrolyze under strong acid or base exposure, but the hydrophobic C17 chains sterically shield the ester groups in dry PVC formulations. Accelerated hydrolysis testing in acidified aqueous media shows that acid value increases only after prolonged exposure above 60 °C; published data for this specific configuration is limited. The material should be stored below 35 °C and protected from direct sunlight; under these conditions, certificate-of-analysis stability is typically maintained for 24 months from the production date. Avoid combination with strong oxidizing agents, active alkali-metal alkoxides, or acidic filler systems that can digest ester linkages. In PVC formulations containing residual acidic catalysts from low-quality fillers, long-term storage above 40 °C may increase acid value and reduce external lubricant performance.
In multi-layer coextrusion of PVC foam board, PETS is added to the skin layer at 0.3–0.6 phr to control metal release and reduce die deposits without increasing density. Layer-to-layer viscosity ratios are adjusted by the process engineer; PETS lowers skin-layer melt viscosity less than an equivalent amount of paraffin wax, which helps maintain interfacial stability, but excessive skin-layer concentration can reduce melt strength and promote hole formation in the foam core. Production-scale validation on a conical twin-screw extruder with die temperatures between 180 °C and 195 °C is necessary because laboratory torque rheometry does not capture coextrusion layer behavior.
