Amines are one of the most versatile building blocks in industrial chemistry. They show up in everything — from the ethanolamines that strip CO₂ from natural gas, to the ethyleneamines that cure epoxy coatings, to the polyetheramines that make wind turbine blades stronger.
But amines are also one of the trickiest chemical families to source. They vary widely in purity, water content, color, and byproduct profile. Two suppliers offering “the same amine” can deliver completely different results in your process.
This guide covers the major amine categories industrial buyers work with, what specifications actually matter, and what to check before you place an order.
The Amine Family — Quick Overview
What Are Amines and Why Do They Matter?
An amine is an organic compound that contains a nitrogen atom with a lone pair of electrons. That sounds academic, but here is what it means in practice: that nitrogen atom makes amines reactive, basic, and able to do a huge range of industrial jobs.
Amines are classified by how many of the hydrogen atoms on the nitrogen have been replaced by organic groups:
- Primary amines — one organic group attached. Most reactive.
- Secondary amines — two organic groups attached.
- Tertiary amines — three organic groups attached. Often used as catalysts or intermediates.
From a buying perspective, the more useful way to categorize amines is by their industrial families. The four major groups you will encounter are ethanolamines, ethyleneamines, polyamines and specialty amines, and fatty amines.
Ethanolamines
Ethanolamines — MEA, DEA, TEA
Ethanolamines are among the highest-volume amines traded globally. They are produced by reacting ethylene oxide with ammonia. The ratio controls which one you get.
| Product | Full Name | CAS | Typical Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEA | Monoethanolamine | 141-43-5 | Clear, colorless liquid |
| DEA | Diethanolamine | 111-42-2 | Clear liquid or white solid (melts ~28°C) |
| TEA | Triethanolamine | 102-71-6 | Clear, viscous liquid |
Major Applications:
- Gas Treatment: MEA is the benchmark solvent for acid gas removal — CO₂ and H₂S stripping from natural gas and refinery streams.
- Cement Grinding Aids: TEA is widely used to improve grinding efficiency and cement strength.
- Surfactant Building Block: DEA and TEA are used to produce alkanolamides like CDEA (cocamide DEA) for personal care and detergents.
- Metalworking Fluids: TEA acts as a pH adjuster and corrosion inhibitor.
Key Specifications to Check When Buying:
- Purity (GC assay): Industrial grade MEA is typically ≥99%. Lower purity means more water or byproducts.
- Water content: Ethanolamines are hygroscopic — they absorb water from air. Check Karl Fischer titration results.
- Color (APHA): For cement and gas treatment, color doesn’t matter much. For surfactant production, low color is preferred.
- DEA in TEA: TEA often contains residual DEA. If your downstream application is sensitive (e.g., certain personal care uses), you need low-DEA TEA.
One thing buyers often miss: DEA has a freezing point around 28°C. If you’re shipping DEA in winter to a cold region, it will solidify in transit. This is normal and doesn’t affect quality, but you need to let your customer know before they receive a “solid drum” and panic.
Ethyleneamines
Ethyleneamines — EDA, DETA, TETA, TEPA, and Beyond
Ethyleneamines are a family produced by reacting ethylene dichloride with ammonia, or more recently via the MEA-ammonia route. They contain multiple amine groups per molecule, which makes them highly reactive crosslinkers and curing agents.
| Product | Full Name | CAS | Amine Groups |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDA | Ethylenediamine | 107-15-3 | 2 |
| DETA | Diethylenetriamine | 111-40-0 | 3 |
| TETA | Triethylenetetramine | 112-24-3 | 4 |
| TEPA | Tetraethylenepentamine | 112-57-2 | 5 |
| PEPA | Polyethylene polyamines (P7/P8/EA300/EA100) | 68131-73-7 | Variable |
One thing buyers often miss: DEA has a freezing point around 28°C. If you’re shipping DEA in winter to a cold region, it will solidify in transit. This is normal and doesn’t affect quality, but you need to let your customer know before they receive a “solid drum” and panic.
Major Applications:
- Epoxy Curing Agents: This is the single largest use. TETA and TEPA are standard hardeners for epoxy coatings, adhesives, and composites.
- Lube Oil Additives: Ethyleneamines are building blocks for dispersants that keep engines clean.
- Chelating Agents: EDA is the starting material for EDTA, the most widely used chelating agent in the world.
- Paper Wet-Strength Resins: DETA and TETA are used to make polyamidoamine-epichlorohydrin (PAAE) resins.
- Asphalt Anti-Stripping Agents: Certain ethyleneamines improve adhesion between asphalt and aggregate.
Key Specifications to Check When Buying:
- Amine value (mg KOH/g): This is the single most important spec for ethyleneamines. Higher amine value = more reactive amine groups per gram. This directly affects your epoxy curing ratio.
- GC purity vs composition mix: Industrial TETA and TEPA are not single molecules — they are mixtures of linear, branched, and cyclic ethyleneamines. Two suppliers can both sell “TETA” but with completely different isomer profiles. If your application is sensitive (e.g., specific epoxy gel time), ask for composition details.
- Color (Gardner scale): Light color is preferred for coatings. Dark color may indicate oxidation or aging.
- Viscosity: Particularly important for TEPA and polyamines. If viscosity is off-spec, it can change how you dose the material in your process.
One thing buyers often miss: Polyethylene polyamines (P7, P8, EA300, EA100) are not standardized products. Every manufacturer has their own “recipe.” EA300 from supplier A is not the same as EA300 from supplier B. Always request a typical composition before switching suppliers.
Specialty Amines
Specialty Amines — DMAPA, AEEA, Piperazine, HMDA, Polyetheramines
This is a broad category, but these are the products that buyers most frequently search for and that command higher margins.
DMAPA (N,N-Dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine) — CAS 109-55-7
The key intermediate for betaine surfactants. Cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB), one of the most widely used amphoteric surfactants in personal care, is made from DMAPA.
What to check: Purity (≥99% typical), residual dimethylamine content, and color. High residual amine odor is a red flag for personal care applications.
AEEA (Aminoethylethanolamine) — CAS 111-41-1
A hybrid molecule with both amine and alcohol functionality. Used in fabric softeners, chelating agents, and as an intermediate for corrosion inhibitors.
What to check: Ratio of amine to hydroxyl value. This tells you whether the product is “amine-rich” or “alcohol-rich,” which affects downstream reactivity.
Piperazine — CAS 110-85-0
Available in two forms: anhydrous (flake or solid) and 68% solution. Anhydrous piperazine is a key building block for pharmaceutical anthelmintics and certain engineering plastics.
What to check: For anhydrous grade, moisture content is critical — it absorbs water aggressively. For 68% solution, verify the concentration exactly.
HMDA (Hexamethylenediamine) — CAS 124-09-4
The diamine monomer for nylon 6,6 production. Also used in epoxy hardeners and polyurethane chain extenders.
What to check: Solidification point (~41°C for pure HMDA). HMDA freezes easily in transit. Heated tank containers are standard for bulk shipments.
Polyetheramines (PEA) — CAS 9046-10-0 (Jeffamine type)
A family of amine-terminated polyethers. Used in epoxy coatings, polyurea spray coatings, and increasingly in wind turbine blade composites.
What to check: Amine value and molecular weight. Higher molecular weight PEAs are more flexible; lower molecular weight ones cure faster. Confirm the specific Jeffamine-type product code (D-230, D-400, T-403, etc.) with your supplier.
Fatty Amines and Derivatives
Fatty Amines — From Natural Oils to Industrial Performance
Fatty amines are produced from natural fats and oils, making them one of the few renewable building blocks in the amine family. They are long-chain alkyl amines (typically C8-C22) and their derivatives.
Common Types:
- Primary fatty amines: C12 (dodecylamine), C16 (hexadecylamine), C18 (octadecylamine), and mixed cuts like C12-14 or C16-18
- Tertiary fatty amines: 1214 tertiary amine, 1816 tertiary amine — produced by further alkylation of primary fatty amines
- Quats: Quaternary ammonium compounds made from tertiary fatty amines — the workhorses of fabric softeners and biocides
- Amine oxides: Produced by oxidizing tertiary amines — used as foam boosters and mild surfactants in personal care
Major Applications:
- Fabric Softeners: Esterquats from fatty amines are the global standard for household and industrial fabric softening.
- Corrosion Inhibitors: Fatty amines and their ethoxylated derivatives form protective films on metal surfaces in oilfield and industrial water treatment.
- Asphalt Emulsifiers: Cationic emulsifiers from fatty amines help make road construction materials more workable.
- Floatation Collectors: Primary fatty amines are used in mining to separate valuable minerals from ore.
Key Specifications to Check:
- Amine value: Higher values mean more reactive amine content.
- Chain distribution: For C12-14 or C16-18 mixed cuts, the actual carbon chain distribution affects performance. A “C12-14” with mostly C12 behaves differently than one with mostly C14.
- Iodine value: Tells you how much unsaturation is present. This affects color stability and reactivity.
- Color: Fatty amines from natural sources can darken with age or exposure.
How to Source Amines — Practical Checklist
What to Check Before You Buy Amines
Amines are reactive chemicals. They can absorb moisture, oxidize, and degrade if not handled properly. Here’s a practical sourcing checklist.
1. Ask for a recent batch COA, not a generic spec sheet.
A generic TDS tells you what the product “should” be. A batch COA tells you what this specific batch actually is. Look for the testing date — if it’s more than 6 months old, ask for a fresh one.
2. Verify the packaging and storage conditions.
Most amines are packed under nitrogen to prevent oxidation and moisture absorption. Ask:
- Is the product nitrogen-blanketed?
- What packaging is standard — steel drums, HDPE drums, IBC totes, or ISO tanks?
- What’s the recommended storage temperature?
3. Check for byproducts that matter to your process.
Different manufacturing routes produce different impurity profiles. For example:
- MEA made via the ethylene oxide route has a different byproduct profile than MEA made via other methods.
- TETA always contains isomers. The ratio of linear to cyclic TETA affects epoxy gel time.
4. Confirm the transport classification.
Many amines are classified as corrosive (Class 8) or environmentally hazardous. This affects shipping costs and documentation. Ask your supplier:
- What is the UN number and proper shipping name?
- Is this product classified as dangerous goods for sea freight?
- Do you have experience shipping this to my destination country?
5. Get a sample first. Always.
Test the amine in your actual process before committing to bulk. What looks good on a COA may behave unexpectedly in your specific formulation. A few hundred dollars on a sample can save you tens of thousands on a bad bulk order.
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Sourcing Amines? Let's Talk
We have been supplying amines and derivatives to industrial buyers worldwide since 2008. Whether you need ethanolamines for gas treatment, ethyleneamines for epoxy curing, or specialty amines for your specific application, we can help.
Here is what you get when you inquire:
- A response within 24 hours from someone who understands your technical requirements
- Batch-specific COA and specifications for your review
- Sample availability confirmed before you commit
- Full documentation support — COA, MSDS, Certificate of Origin, and shipping documents