Steric Acid and palm Kernel flakes

[pixybratt]

I just bought some palm kernel flakes and they seem to be very close in texture to steric acid when i looked up steric acid it looked like they are the same thing is this true does anyone know?

 

[carebear]

they are not the same thing. not at all.

look at the fatty acid profiles on soapcalc.net and you will see that.

 

[pixybratt]

Thanks I've never used that site before.

 

[Woodi]

In our SoapMaker program, you can easily see the soap qualities resulting from using either of these two ingredients. Let me help here:

Let's just talk about the soap qualities of:

Fluffy lather - big initial bubbles
Stable lather -small creamy bubbles
Hardness
Moisturizing (or Non-drying factor)

SoapMaker says that for stearic acid these come out (on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest) as:
for stearic acid:
Fluffy lather 2.5 Stable 8.7 Hardness 10 Moisturizing 2.6
whereas palm kernel contributes the following:
Fluffy lather 8.9 Stable 1.6 Hardness 2.9 Moisturizing 8

Quite different indeed! Hope this helps

 

[pixybratt]

that helps a lot, and I can see how both would be nice but not always needed.

guess it's a good day to try something new.

 

[xraygrl]

The PK flakes are hydrogenated PK. Regular pk can be a BEAR to scoop in the winter months.....that stuff gets really hard in cooler temps. The PK flakes were created to make it easier to dispense. I know it has nothing to do with your question, but an interesting fact to know anyway.

 

[pixybratt]

The PK flakes are hydrogenated PK. Regular pk can be a BEAR to scoop in the winter months.....that stuff gets really hard in cooler temps. The PK flakes were created to make it easier to dispense. I know it has nothing to do with your question, but an interesting fact to know anyway.

That is what i suspected, and I thought it would be easier to store a bag of flakes as opposed to a tub of goo.

I have to move my stuff to a storage unit for the winter and will have to soap there I think it will be cold in the winter there too.

 

[Woodi]

I buy a 50 lb box of solid pk once a year, and chip it out of the box with a chisel, scraping it across the solid block to form sort-of flakes. Then I store the flakes in plastic bins. No problem buying a huge block, except that sometimes my hands get sore (a bit of arthritis).
I don't think pk oil would ever get gooey.

 

[Lindy]

I buy a 50 lb box of solid pk once a year, and chip it out of the box with a chisel, scraping it across the solid block to form sort-of flakes. Then I store the flakes in plastic bins. No problem buying a huge block, except that sometimes my hands get sore (a bit of arthritis).
I don't think pk oil would ever get gooey.

That sounds like a lot of work!

 

[xraygrl]

I buy a 50 lb box of solid pk once a year, and chip it out of the box with a chisel, scraping it across the solid block to form sort-of flakes. Then I store the flakes in plastic bins. No problem buying a huge block, except that sometimes my hands get sore (a bit of arthritis).
I don't think pk oil would ever get gooey.

I agree, that does sound like a lot of work. I have arthritis and permanent nerve damage in both hands so something like that would be very bothersome/painful to me. I prefer the flakes because of that.

 

[BakingNana]

I just recently started substituting PKO flakes for half of the coconut oil, and I really think I like the soap better all around. Wish I'd tried it sooner. Interesting post.

 

[pixybratt]

I'm real glad to hear that because i used them in my Jasmine soap, it already seems to be a bit harder than my other but I can't wait to see the whole diffrence

 

[Elly]

what's the difference between PK and PO I thought they were about the same. excuse my ignorance :?

 

[heyjude]

I just recently started substituting PKO flakes for half of the coconut oil, and I really think I like the soap better all around. Wish I'd tried it sooner. Interesting post.

Haven't used pko flakes as I can buy co at Walmart. What specifically do you find that you like about it, Nana? Hardenss? Lathering? TY

 

[Woodi]

Elly: PK is much harder than palm, and makes great bubbly lather, but is a bit more drying to skin, hence the need to blend several kinds of oils in a recipe.

If you don't understand what different oils do to soap, you might want to try doing some experiments. You could make a 100% Palm soap, then a 100% PK soap, and after curing, use them for a week or more, compare how you like them.

and Lindy: yes, it is much more work, but if you can't find the flakes, and don't want to pay the extra money it costs to buy them pre-chopped or 'flaked' then the large block is more economical, and I only chip out enough for a week's soaping....I take my time, do it a week at a time which gives my hands time to rest...

 

[honor435]

I like palm kernal, I hate chopping it, i may just separate in smaller containers, before winter!

 

[BakingNana]

I just recently started substituting PKO flakes for half of the coconut oil, and I really think I like the soap better all around. Wish I'd tried it sooner. Interesting post.

Haven't used pko flakes as I can buy co at Walmart. What specifically do you find that you like about it, Nana? Hardenss? Lathering? TY

No difference in hardness that I can see. It's the lather (a bit richer) and (funny how different we all react to things) less drying to me than all CO. I keep the percentage of CO, or PKO, or a combination below 20% most of the time. I have what is euphemistically referred to as "mature" skin. Woodi's right...experimenting for the qualities you want is the fun part! Unfortunately, if you want to try PKO I'm guessing you'd have to order it. I sure don't have a local source, and I live in a pretty large city.

 

[heyjude]

I am in with that "mature skin" group too. :? I have been thinking about ordering some pko flakes as there is no local source near me as well.

 

[BakingNana]

I am in with that "mature skin" group too. :? I have been thinking about ordering some pko flakes as there is no local source near me as well.

Holler if you find a good price. The flakes I'm using now I purchased privately from another soapmaker. I'll be looking for a supplier soon.

...sorry for the hijack!

 

[Elly]

thanks Woodi for your reply. I will try to experiment with PO & PK and see the difference