Petrolatum CAS#8009‑03‑8
Commonly referred to as vaseline, Petrolatum is refined from lubricating‑oil fractions. As a versatile foundational raw material for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and multiple industrial sectors, it is available in general‑grade, industrial‑grade and medical‑grade specifications.
General‑grade petrolatum works for various compound formulations and serves as an effective softener for rubber goods. Industrial‑grade petrolatum provides dependable anti‑corrosion shielding for equipment, and can also be used for leather processing and rubber softening.
Medical‑grade petrolatum, offered in white and yellow types, is the most popular variant. It is broadly used for ointments and skincare‑product manufacturing, while providing anti‑rust protection for medical devices and precision instruments.
Petrolatum Chemical Properties
| Melting point | 70-80 °C ((ASTM D 127)) |
| Boiling point | 322 °C |
| density | 0.84 |
| refractive index | n20/D 1.45 |
| Fp | 198 °C |
| storage temp. | Sealed in dry,Room Temperature |
| solubility | Practically insoluble in acetone, ethanol, hot or cold ethanol (95%), glycerin, and water; soluble in benzene, carbon disulfide, chloroform, ether, hexane, and most fixed and volatile oils. |
| form | extra-low viscosity oil |
| color | white |
| Specific Gravity | 0.815～0.880 (60℃) |
| PH | pH (25℃) : 4.5～8.0 |
| Odor | Odorless |
| Water Solubility | Insoluble in water |
| Dielectric constant | 2.0（Ambient） |
| Stability: | Stable. Combustible. Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents. |
| EPA Substance Registry System | Petrolatum (8009-03-8) |
Safety Information
| Risk Statements | 45 |
| Safety Statements | 24/25-45-53 |
| WGK Germany | 3 |
| RTECS | RV0350000 |
| HS Code | 27121000 |
| Hazardous Substances Data | 8009-03-8(Hazardous Substances Data) |
Product Usage
Boasting colorless‑odorless features, chemical inertness, semi‑solid consistency, lipophilicity and excellent adhesion, petrolatum works as a premium base for hair creams, conditioners, eye creams, lipsticks, wax bases and more. Medical‑grade petrolatum is a preferred ointment base, compatible with most pharmaceutical ingredients and requiring minimal formulation modification.
Hydrophilic petrolatum is produced by hot blending petrolatum with stearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol or cholesterol. This hydrophilic ointment base delivers great permeability, high stability and low skin irritation. It can be used independently for dry‑skin rashes, erythema, papules and other skin issues, and excels at removing blood scabs and skin scaling.
When compounded with cholesterol, petrolatum acts as a non‑ionic emulsifier with broad formulation adaptability. Its absorption capability enables incorporation of liquid and water‑based pharmaceutical solutions. On the industrial side, industrial‑grade petrolatum is widely used as rubber softener, metal anti‑corrosion agent and key raw material for anti‑rust greases.
