The most exciting R&D in the Palm Kernel Diethanolamide space is happening in the application lab. Formulators are discovering new ways to leverage this versatile ingredient to solve modern challenges, especially in the booming "sulfate-free" market and in high-performance industrial blends.

This application-level innovation is where R&D directly meets the market. Tradeasia International plays a key role by connecting these innovative formulators with a stable, global supply of oleochemicals. They ensure that a great idea in the lab—whether for a new shampoo or an industrial fluid—can be reliably scaled up to a successful global product.

Solving the "Sulfate-Free" Performance Gap

The "sulfate-free" personal care market is growing at a rapid ~7.5% CAGR, but it has a persistent technical problem: the gentle, plant-derived surfactants it uses often have poor, weak foam. Application R&D labs are now using Palm Kernel Diethanolamide as a high-performance co-surfactant to fix this. R&D data shows that adding just 2-3% Palm Kernel Diethanolamide to a "sulfate-free" chassis can increase initial foam volume by 20% and, more importantly, boost foam stability after five minutes by over 40%, delivering the rich, luxurious user experience that consumers demand.

"This ingredient is our 'silver bullet' for cost-saving," admits a formulator. "With a reliable supply of high-purity, palm-derived amides, we can significantly cut back on more expensive ingredients and still hit our performance targets."

From Cost-Saving to New Industrial Frontiers

R&D is also proving its value in pure cost optimization. Application data has shown that in many liquid soap formulations, 1 part of Palm Kernel Diethanolamide can effectively replace 1.5 parts of more expensive polymeric thickeners, or reduce total primary surfactant content by 10-15% while maintaining performance. This R&D extends beyond personal care. In industrial R&D, formulators are using it in metalworking fluids, where it has shown a 25% improvement in corrosion inhibition compared to other non-ionic surfactants, opening up entirely new, high-value markets for this palm-based workhorse.

Sources:

  1. Oleochemicals Asia: APAC Formulation Trends & Market Growth

  2. Personal Care Magazine: Formulating with Sulfate-Free Surfactants

  3. MarketsandMarkets: Sulfate-Free Surfactants Market Report