Calcium Stearate is an insoluble salt of calcium, stearic acid and palmatic acid. In hard water, when soap of calcium ions is mixed, the scum that is formed is calcium stearate. Calcium stearate is non-toxic and has many applications as stabilizer and lubricant. Besides water, it is insoluble in water, ether, chloroform, acetone, cold alcohol as well. However, it is slightly soluble when dissolved in hot alcohol, hot vegetable and mineral oil. It shows good solublity in hot pyridine.

The use of calcium stearate is seen widely as a stabilizer for PVC resins and lubricant for plastic moulding powders or tablets. Its use is recommended also in emulsions, cements, pencils, construction chemicals, paint flattening agent, resin coated sands and foundry chemicals, decaking agent in food items like onions and cosmetics. Use of calcium stearate is seen as a lubricating agent in paper and paperboard coating compositions, iron wire drawing and leather cloth manufacturing as well. Its use has been extended as a neutralizer, colour stabilizer, reducer of fiber breakage and de-agglomerator in PP and HDPE applications.

Calcium stearate is also known as octadecanoic acid calcium salt, stearic acid calcium salt.