Behenyl Behenate is a long-chain saturated fatty acid ester derived from behenic acid and behenyl alcohol, belonging to the wax ester category. Key identifiers include:
CAS Number: 17671-27-1
EINECS Number: 241-646-5
Molecular Formula: C₄₄H₈₈O₂
Molecular Weight: 649.17 g/mol
It appears as white to yellowish hard granules at room temperature, with both natural plant-based and synthetic variants available. Recognized as safe for cosmetics, typical usage levels range from 1-20% in formulations.
Behenyl Behenate exhibits distinct properties defining its industrial utility:
Physical State: Solid (white to yellowish hard granules)
Density: 0.856 g/cm³ at 25°C
Melting Point: 70-75°C
Boiling Point: 627.1°C at 760 mmHg
Solubility: Water-insoluble, compatible with organic solvents
Stability: Chemically and thermally stable under normal conditions
Its high hydrophobicity index (XLogP3 = 21.7) contributes to excellent occlusive properties in cosmetic formulations.
Industrial production follows a standardized four-step process:
Raw Material Preparation: Use high-purity behenic acid and behenyl alcohol (≥99% purity) as feedstocks.
Esterification Reaction: Mix in specific molar ratios with acidic catalysts, reacting at 80-120°C for 4-8 hours.
Purification: Remove unreacted materials via vacuum distillation, then crystallize under optimized conditions (30°C, 1:12 material-liquid ratio, repeated 3 times).
Drying & Packaging: Dry to obtain white waxy granules, then package in moisture-resistant containers.
This process ensures product purity ≥95% and consistent batch quality.
Behenyl Behenate is widely used across industries due to its emollient, structuring, and gelling properties:
Emollient: Forms an occlusive barrier to reduce transepidermal water loss and deliver long-lasting hydration.
Structuring Agent: Provides hardness and stability to stick cosmetics (lipsticks, deodorants) as a natural beeswax alternative.
Thickening Agent: Improves texture and viscosity of creams/lotions, enhancing spreadability and sensory experience.
Exfoliant Replacement: Biodegradable substitute for polyethylene microbeads.
Wood Coating: Non-hazardous, biodegradable component in industrial wood coatings.
Pharmaceuticals: Potential excipient in controlled-release drug delivery systems.
Adding 30% Behenyl Behenate to candelilla wax-based sticks increased gel hardness by 400% compared to pure wax formulations, forming a stable crystal network structure that outperformed paraffin wax-based products.
A leading brand developed vegan lipsticks using Behenyl Behenate as the primary structuring agent, achieving 72-hour color retention, thermal stability at 45°C, and compliance with vegan certifications.
A dermatologist-recommended cream with 5% Behenyl Behenate reduced transepidermal water loss by 35% after 28 days, improving skin elasticity with no adverse reactions in sensitive skin tests.
