metallic soap

noun

, Chemistry.

1. any usually water-insoluble salt formed by the interaction of a fatty acid and a metal, especially lead or aluminum: used chiefly as a drier in paints and varnishes and for waterproofing textiles.

metallic soap

noun

1. any one of a number of colloidal stearates, palmitates, or oleates of various metals, including aluminium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc. They are used as bases for ointments, fungicides, fireproofing and waterproofing agents, and dryers for paints and varnishes

Word History and Origins

Origin of metallic soap¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

A portion of oxide combines also with the stearine to form a metallic soap.

From Project Gutenberg