Hydrogenated castor oil (HCO) and 12-hydroxystearic acid (12-HSA) are sold mainly as flakes. Powder, micronised powder, beads and prills are also available for uses that need faster melting, easier dosing or fine dispersion.
The chemistry is the same in each form. What changes is how the product handles, melts and stores, and sometimes its cost of production.
The main forms
- Flakes are made by cooling the melt on a drum flaker. They are the standard form for grease makers who melt the product into a kettle.
- Powder is made by grinding flakes. It dissolves or melts faster and suits dry blending.
- Micronised powder has a controlled fine particle size. It is used where the wax must disperse as fine particles, such as in some coatings and cosmetics.
- Beads, pastilles and prills are made by dropping or spraying the melt. They flow freely and are easy to dose by weight.
Choosing a form and storing it
If you melt the product, flakes are usually enough. If you dose it automatically, beads or prills avoid bridging in hoppers. If the product must stay as fine particles in your formula, you need a powder with a stated particle size distribution.
For powders, add a particle size limit to your specification, such as a sieve residue or a laser diffraction result. Our guide on writing a specification for HCO or 12-HSA covers this.
Both products soften well below their melting points. Flakes and powders can cake in hot containers and warehouses, especially under the weight of stacked bags. Powders cake faster than flakes.
Ask for bags with an inner liner, limit stacking height, and avoid long storage near heat. On long voyages through hot regions, consider loading in a cooler part of the year or using a form less prone to caking. See how castor derivatives are packed and shipped.
Dust and questions to ask
Fine powders can form combustible dust clouds, as most organic powders can. Check the safety data sheet and follow your own site's dust handling rules when you open and tip bags.
- Which forms does the plant make itself, and which are ground or reprocessed by a third party?
- What particle size distribution does it guarantee for powder and micronised grades?
- Is the same lot of material used for flakes and powder, so the chemistry matches?
- What bag type and liner does it use for each form?
Sampling and testing different forms
When you compare plants, test the same form from each one. A powder and a flake from the same lot can give slightly different melting results because of surface area and moisture. Ask for samples in the form you will buy, packed the way the plant will pack your order.
If you switch forms later, treat it as a change and test again. A move from flakes to powder can change how fast the product dissolves or disperses in your process, even when the certificate looks the same.
Next step
We can confirm which forms a plant really makes, check samples and inspect packing before loading. Book a free sourcing review to start.