Reactions

The Kolate Reaction

Standard Kolate is a six-membered ring consisting of alternating aluminum and oxygen atoms. One molecule isopropyl alcohol is attached to each aluminum atom.

In theory, in the first step of the reaction, the fatty acid replaces each alcohol on the ring to form a cyclized aluminum monostearate. This takes place at about 100°C.

As the temperature increases, the second step begins in which the benzoic acid breaks the ring into three separate molecules of the soap, the aluminum benzoyl, stearoyl hydroxide. This reaction should take place at atmospheric pressure in order to minimize ester formation. With the Kolate 6030, enough of the acid requirement is already in place to eliminate the release of alcohol and it is only necessary to introduce the balance of the acids required for a specific formulation.

The general reaction

Typical Formulation

More efficient soaps are made with acids ratios of benzoic to fatty acids of less than one. Assuming the following starting parameters:

A 650 SUS solvent neutral base stock, with an aniline point of 99°C, a 7.5% soap, with benzoic to fatty acid mol ratio of 0.75, and a total acids to aluminum ratio of 1.9, a typical formulation might be as follows:

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