Compounds and formulations for protective coatings

A composition for forming a protective coating may include a first set of compounds, wherein each compound of the first set is a fatty acid, a fatty acid ester, or a fatty acid salt having a carbon chain length of at least 14 carbons. The composition may optionally comprise a second group of compounds selected from the group consisting of fatty acids, fatty acid esters, fatty acid salts, and combinations thereof, wherein each compound of the second group has a carbon chain length of from 7 to 13 carbons. At least some of the compounds of the first set may act as an emulsifier, thereby dissolving, suspending or dispersing the composition in a solvent. At least some of the compounds of the second set may act as a humectant in order to improve the surface wettability of an article to be coated when a solution, suspension or colloid comprising the composition is applied to the article. 用于形成保护性涂层的组合物可包含第一组化合物，其中所述第一组的每种化合物为碳链长度为至少14个碳的脂肪酸、脂肪酸酯或脂肪酸盐。所述组合物可任选地包含选自脂肪酸、脂肪酸酯、脂肪酸盐及其组合的第二组化合物，其中所述第二组的每种化合物具有7至13个碳的碳链长度。所