1. Basic Information

2. Physical & Chemical Properties

Physical Properties

1. Appearance: White crystalline solid at room temperature; melts into colorless transparent oily liquid above melting point
2. Odor: Mild characteristic fatty acid odor, slightly rancid smell at high concentration
3. Solubility: Insoluble in cold water, slightly soluble in hot water; freely soluble in ethanol, methanol, acetone, chloroform, ether, vegetable oils
4. Melting Point: 30–32 ℃
5. Boiling Point: 270 ℃
6. Density (40 ℃, liquid): 0.886 g/cm3
7. Refractive Index nD40: 1.4285
8. Volatility: Low volatility at normal temperature; volatile with water vapor under heating
9. Hygroscopy: Non-hygroscopic

Chemical Properties

1. Structure: Straight-chain saturated fatty acid with 10 carbon atoms, single terminal carboxyl group
2. Neutralization reaction: Reacts with alkali (NaOH, KOH, ammonia) to generate decanoate soap salts with good surface activity
3. Esterification: Condenses with monohydric alcohols, polyols to form capric acid esters (flavors, plasticizers, emulsifiers)
4. Amidation: Reacts with amines to produce fatty acid amides, used as slip agents and surfactants
5. Hydrogenation: Saturated carbon chain, no addition reaction with hydrogen under normal conditions
6. Thermal stability: Stable below 200 ℃; high temperature above 280 ℃ undergoes decarboxylation and cracking
7. Oxidation resistance: Saturated structure, far less susceptible to oxidative rancidity than unsaturated fatty acids
8. Compatibility: Compatible with most organic solvents, oils; reacts with strong bases, oxidizing agents under heating

3. Main Application Fields

1. Synthetic Ester Intermediate (Core Application)

1. Raw material for methyl caprate, ethyl caprate, glyceryl tricaprate; used as food flavor, cosmetic emollient, lubricant base oil
2. Polyol ester synthetic raw material for low-temperature lubricants, synthetic aviation lubricants

2. Surfactant & Daily Chemical Raw Material

1. Manufacture of anionic/nonionic surfactants, fatty acid diethanolamide, mild detergent raw material
2. Soap, shampoo, body wash formula additive, improve foam fineness

3. Food & Flavor Industry

1. Food-grade medium-chain fatty acid, raw material for cream, coconut flavor esters
2. Preservative auxiliary: Medium-chain capric acid inhibits mold and Gram-positive bacteria

4. Pharmaceutical Industry

1. Medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) raw material for fat-soluble drug solubilizer, injection oil carrier
2. Excipient for oral sustained-release preparations, ointment matrix

5. Plastic & Polymer Additives

1. PVC lubricant, plasticizer auxiliary, reduce processing viscosity
2. Mold release agent for plastic injection molding

4. Quality Specification Table