Cetrimonium Chloride
molecular structure · PubChem
AKA: 112-02-7, Hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride, N-Hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride, Dehyquart A, Genamin CTAC, Aliquat 6, Cetyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, CETAC, HTAC
Synthetic
Preservative
Cleanser
Emulsifier
Plant Oil
Not Clean
1-Hexadecanaminium, N,N,N-trimethyl-, chloride
Solubility Water solubility: 440 mg/l at 30 °C
Formula
C19H42ClN
Mol. Weight
320.00
CAS #
112-02-7
Form
Powder
State
Hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride appears as colorless to pale yellow liquid with an odor of rubbing alcohol. Floats or sinks in water. (USCG, 1999)
Functions
Antimicrobial
Keeps your product from growing bacteria, mold, or yeast. Without these, that jar of cream becomes a petri dish in about a week.
Antistatic
Preservative
Keeps your product from growing bacteria, mold, or yeast. Without these, that jar of cream becomes a petri dish in about a week.
Emulsifying
Forces oil and water to stay mixed instead of separating into layers. The unsung hero holding your lotion together.
Fights Bacteria
Traditional Use
A synthetic quaternary ammonium compound developed as a conditioning agent for cosmetics. Widely adopted in haircare products for its detangling and antistatic benefits.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewed1 paper →
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed3 reviews →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR