N,N-Dimethylethanolamine

Product Details

CasNo： 108-01-0

MF： C4H11NO

Appearance： liquid

Delivery Time： 15 days

Packing： 200kg/drum

Purity： 99%

1. Basic Information

• Chemical Formula: C4​H11​NO
• Synonyms: 2-Dimethylaminoethanol; DMAE; Diethanolmethylamine
• Molecular Weight: 89.14
• CAS No.: 108-01-0
• Appearance: Colorless to slightly yellow transparent liquid (homogeneous, with no visible impurities). Fresh or high-purity products are clear and transparent; slight yellowing may occur due to mild oxidation during storage, but high-quality grades show minimal discoloration.
• Odor: Characteristic ammonia-like or faint fishy odor (detectable at low concentrations, with rapid accumulation in poorly ventilated environments).
• Solubility: Excellent solubility—miscible with water in all proportions (forming a stable homogeneous solution); fully soluble in most organic solvents such as ether, acetone, and aromatic hydrocarbons. This broad solubility makes it valuable for organic synthesis and formulation preparation.
• Density: Relative density (water = 1) ~0.886–0.89 g/mL (at 20℃, slightly less dense than water, determining its phase distribution in processes involving layer separation).
• Melting Point: -70℃ (solidifies at low temperatures; precautions against solidification are required during transportation/storage in cold regions).
• Boiling Point: 134–136℃ (at atmospheric pressure, volatile under conventional heating, a key parameter for distillation and purification processes).
• Flash Point: 23–40.5℃ (closed cup; classified as a flammable liquid—strict control of ignition sources and temperature is mandatory during production, storage, and use).
• Refractive Index: nD20​ ~1.4294 (an optical property used for purity testing and quality control; deviations indicate impurity contamination).
• Vapor Pressure: Varies significantly with temperature—~10 mmHg at 20℃, ~3.39 mmHg at 25℃. Vapor pressure determines its volatilization rate, guiding ventilation design in workplaces and sealing requirements for packaging.
• Stability: Relatively stable under normal temperature/pressure without exposure to strong oxidants or acids. However, it reacts violently with strong oxidants (risk of combustion/explosion) and neutralizes with acids (causing degradation). It is also hygroscopic—absorbs moisture in air, affecting purity and performance.

2. Product Quality Standards

DMEA is categorized into industrial, reagent, and pharmaceutical grades based on application, with strict differences in purity and impurity limits:

• Industrial Grade: Ensures effectiveness and stability in industrial production, preventing side reactions or quality issues caused by impurities.
• Reagent Grade: Strict purity/impurity control for scientific research and analytical testing, guaranteeing accurate experimental data.
• Pharmaceutical Grade: Produced under GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards, with rigorous control over raw materials, production, and testing to ensure safety and efficacy in pharmaceutical applications.

3. Core Applications

3.1 Polyurethane Industry

As a key catalyst, DMEA is widely used in manufacturing flexible slab foam, molded foam, and rigid polyurethane foam:

• Promotes the reaction between isocyanates and polyols, improving foaming efficiency and creating a more uniform, fine foam structure.
• Enhances foam performance (elasticity, toughness, thermal insulation) and, due to its hydroxyl group, participates in polyurethane polymerization—becoming part of the polymer chain. This provides better durability than volatile catalysts.

3.2 Water Treatment

Acts as a corrosion inhibitor, scale inhibitor, and flocculant:

• Corrosion Inhibition: Neutralizes acidic substances in water systems to adjust pH; nitrogen/oxygen atoms in its structure chemically adsorb to metal surfaces, forming a dense protective film that prevents corrosion of pipes and boilers.
• Scale Inhibition: Chelates calcium and magnesium ions in water to prevent insoluble scale formation, maintaining smooth water flow and reducing energy consumption.
• Flocculation: Reaction products with acrylic acid serve as flocculants in municipal water treatment, aggregating suspended particles and colloids for water purification.

3.3 Coatings & Resin Industry

• Neutralizer in Waterborne Coatings: Neutralizes acidic resins (e.g., acrylic resins) to convert them into water-soluble salts, enabling water-based coatings. This reduces VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions, improves storage stability, leveling, and substrate adhesion.
• Resin Synthesis: Serves as a raw material for specialty resins (e.g., ion exchange resins). Its amino and hydroxyl groups polymerize with other monomers to impart ion exchange capabilities, used in high-purity water preparation, sugar decolorization, and industrial wastewater treatment.

3.4 Pharmaceutical & Dye Intermediates

• Pharmaceuticals: A key intermediate for synthesizing local anesthetics (e.g., tetracaine hydrochloride), antihistamines, antispasmodics, and antihypertensive drugs. Its unique structure introduces functional groups that influence drug activity, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics.
• Dyes: Used to synthesize dyes with specific colors and properties, forming complex chromophores for the textile and printing industries.

3.5 Surfactants & Emulsifiers

In textiles, leather, and papermaking:

• Reduces water surface tension to enhance wetting and penetration of fibers/leather, improving absorption of dyes and auxiliaries.
• Stabilizes emulsions in emulsion polymerization (e.g., for emulsion coatings and adhesives), ensuring uniform mixing of oil and water phases.

3.6 Personal Care & Cosmetics

• pH Regulator: Adjusts the pH of shampoos, conditioners, and skincare products to match the natural pH of skin/hair, reducing irritation and improving mildness.
• Emulsifier: Aids in mixing oil-soluble and water-soluble ingredients, creating a stable emulsion texture that enhances spreadability and extends shelf life.

3.7 Other Applications

• Fuel Oil Additive: Improves combustion efficiency and reduces carbon deposits.
• Rubber Processing: Activates vulcanization accelerators to enhance rubber curing speed and quality, boosting mechanical properties of rubber products.
• Additional Uses: Production of antistatic agents, soil conditioners, conductive materials, and paper auxiliaries.

4. Manufacturing Methods

4.1 Ethylene Oxide Method (Most Common)

• Process: Dimethylamine reacts with ethylene oxide under controlled temperature, pressure, and catalyst conditions. The nitrogen atom in dimethylamine attacks the ethylene oxide ring, opening it to form DMEA.
• Purification: Post-reaction, unreacted raw materials, byproducts, and impurities are removed via distillation and rectification to obtain high-purity DMEA.
• Advantages: Mild reaction conditions and high yield, making it the preferred industrial method.

4.2 Chloroethanol Method

• Process:
  1. Chloroethanol undergoes saponification with a base (e.g., sodium hydroxide) to replace the chlorine atom with a hydroxyl group, forming ethylene oxide.
  2. Ethylene oxide then reacts with dimethylamine to synthesize DMEA.
• Purification: Multiple separation and refining steps are required to meet quality standards.
• Disadvantages: More complex process; generates saline wastewater that requires proper treatment to meet environmental regulations.

5. Safety Information

5.1 Health Hazards

• Eye/Skin Contact: Severe irritation—eye contact causes pain, tearing, redness, and potential corneal damage; skin contact leads to burns, blistering, and infection if untreated.
• Inhalation: Irritates the respiratory tract, causing laryngeal/bronchial inflammation, edema, spasms, chemical pneumonia, or pulmonary edema.
• Long-Term Exposure: May cause skin sensitization and contact dermatitis.

5.2 Fire & Explosion Risks

• Flammable liquid—vapor forms explosive mixtures with air (explosion limits: 1.6%–11.9% V/V). Contact with open flames, high heat, or electrostatic sparks can trigger combustion/explosion, leading to severe casualties and property damage.

5.3 Safety Precautions

• Personal Protection: Wear a full-face self-priming filter respirator, chemical-resistant clothing (e.g., rubberized fabric), and nitrile rubber gloves.
• Workplace Safety: Prohibit smoking, eating, or drinking; ensure good ventilation and install flammable gas detectors. Shower and change clothes after work.
• Emergency Response: Rinse eyes/skin with plenty of water for 15 minutes if contact occurs; seek medical attention immediately.

6. Packaging & Storage

6.1 Packaging

• Specifications: 180 kg/drum or 200 kg/drum.
• Materials: Galvanized steel drums (good mechanical strength and corrosion resistance) or plastic drums (lightweight, rust-proof, chemical-resistant).
• Labeling: Clearly mark product name, CAS No., specifications, production date, manufacturer, and warning signs (flammable, irritant) for easy identification.

6.2 Storage

• Conditions: Store in a cool, ventilated warehouse (temperature: 5–25℃, relative humidity ≤75%) away from direct sunlight, ignition sources, and heat.
• Segregation: Store separately from strong oxidants, acids, and metal powders to avoid reactions.
• Shelf Life: 12 months under proper storage. Retest quality after expiration before use.
• Inspection: Regularly check for packaging damage or leakage to ensure storage safety.