Petrolatum (Vaseline) is a mixture of malthenes purified from lubricating oil, consisting of residual oil and waxy substances. It is an essential lubricant used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, fine chemical raw materials, and precision instruments.
In China, the main types of vaseline products include general-grade, industrial-grade, and medical-grade petrolatum. General petrolatum is suitable for preparing various ointments and as a softener for dark rubber products. Industrial petrolatum is used to protect metal products and mechanical components from rust, provide lubrication under light loads, and also serve as a treatment agent for leather and a softener for rubber.
Medical-grade petrolatum is the most widely utilized type and is further classified into white and yellow vaseline. It is commonly used in the preparation of ointments, skin protection creams, and cosmetic raw materials, as well as for anti-rust and lubrication purposes in medical devices and precision instruments.
Petrolatum Chemical Properties
| Melting point | 70-80 °C ((ASTM D 127)) |
| Boiling point | 322 °C |
| density | 0.84 |
| refractive index | n20/D 1.45 |
| Fp | 198 °C |
| storage temp. | Sealed in dry,Room Temperature |
| solubility | Practically insoluble in acetone, ethanol, hot or cold ethanol (95%), glycerin, and water; soluble in benzene, carbon disulfide, chloroform, ether, hexane, and most fixed and volatile oils. |
| form | extra-low viscosity oil |
| color | white |
| Specific Gravity | 0.815～0.880 (60℃) |
| PH | pH (25℃) : 4.5～8.0 |
| Odor | Odorless |
| Water Solubility | Insoluble in water |
| Dielectric constant | 2.0（Ambient） |
| Stability: | Stable. Combustible. Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents. |
| EPA Substance Registry System | Petrolatum (8009-03-8) |
| Risk Statements | 45 |
| Safety Statements | 24/25-45-53 |
| WGK Germany | 3 |
| RTECS | RV0350000 |
| Hazardous Substances Data | 8009-03-8(Hazardous Substances Data) |
Product Usage
Thanks to its colorless, odorless nature, chemical inertness, semi-solid form, lipophilicity, and good adhesion, petrolatum serves as a suitable base material for products such as hair creams, conditioners, eye creams, lipsticks, and wax-based formulations.
Medical-grade petrolatum is widely used as an ointment base because it is compatible with most drugs without causing changes. Hydrophilic petrolatum can be prepared by incorporating alcohols such as stearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, and cholesterol through melting and thorough mixing. This hydrophilic form offers strong permeability, good stability, and low irritation, making it suitable for treating dry skin conditions such as rashes, erythema, and papules, as well as aiding in the removal of scabs and scaling.
Petrolatum can also function as a non-ionic emulsifier and is compatible with substances like cholesterol, providing broad formulation flexibility. Its absorbent properties allow it to be used with liquid or aqueous drug formulations.
In industrial applications, petrolatum is used as a rubber softener, a rust-preventive agent for metal products, and a raw material in the production of anti-rust greases
.
Company Profile
Headquartered in Jinan, Shandong, Furuida (Jinan) Chemical Technology Co., Ltd. operates as a full-spectrum chemical enterprise, covering independent research and development, standardized manufacturing, global distribution and dedicated after-sales support. Focused on premium fine chemical offerings, the company adheres to a strict operational framework built on integrity, rigorous quality assurance and sustainable client collaboration. It integrates technological innovation into everyday workflows rather than nominal promotion, with systematic quality oversight implemented throughout the entire production process. This result-oriented approach drives continuous market expansion, operational efficiency improvement and solid global market reputation.
The company’s sustained competitive edge derives from a seasoned team with profound expertise in international trade and technical services, as well as a highly efficient global supply chain that ensures dependable and prompt order fulfillment. Currently recording an annual turnover of over RMB 600 million, Furuida maintains long-term cooperative ties with more than 5,000 industrial customers across Asia, Europe, Africa and Oceania. Its far-reaching global outreach has earned enduring client trust and prominent standing within the international chemical sector.
Furuida holds a versatile product portfolio encompassing pharmaceutical intermediates, food additives, electroplating chemicals, water treatment reagents, dye auxiliaries, advanced functional materials, titanium compounds, metal salts, catalysts and surfactants. These versatile materials cater to a wide range of downstream sectors, including pharmaceuticals, electronic manufacturing, coatings, rubber and plastics, specialty chemicals and environmental water treatment. Leveraging its diverse product advantages and strong corporate capability, the company supplies globally competitive, high-stability chemical products alongside customized one-stop industrial solutions, keeping its service mechanisms agile to align with evolving industrial demands.
