• Formulating

  How do sodium lactate and stearic acid harden soap and syndet bars?

  Posted by Margaret2 on January 23, 2019 at 6:41 pm

  Does anyone know HOW a 60% sodium lactate solution and stearic acid harden bar soap and syndet bars? I don’t necessarily mean BOTH being used at the same time. 

  Are either of the above better at hardening soap & syndet bars?

  I would like to know the chemical reactions involved, if someone knows, for my own morbid curiosity. 

  Margaret2 replied 5 years, 3 months ago 2 Members · 2 Replies
• 2 Replies

• 

  chemicalmatt

  Member

  January 23, 2019 at 9:53 pm

  Stearic acid works better, at a small addition too. I’ve also used ceresin wax to harden classic glyceride soap (I know: weird, right?) How it works? I’d like to know myself. It lies in the realm of physical chemistry, not organic….

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  Margaret2

  Member

  January 23, 2019 at 11:23 pm

  I”ve used both stearic acid and sodium lactate, in different batches of soap, same size, same fragrance, made the same day. I can’t tell which is harder  .  

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