Amines and Chelates
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Amines and Chelates
Making valuable products even better with amines and chelates
Amines and chelates are versatile materials that deliver a wide range of performance properties in many different applications and products.
What are amines?
Amines are multi-functional organic compounds derived from ammonia. Like ammonia, amines are weak bases, so they work well for neutralizing acidic components and buffering pH in a wide variety of products and processes. Additionally, amines can be reacted further to create derivatives with unique functionality for a broad range of uses. Known for their versatility, amines can help you achieve the desired performance in a wide range of applications, whether neutralizing acids, emulsifying properties, lubrication or viscosity are required.
Amines are used in a wide variety of applications and products including:
Beauty and Personal Care
Helping balance pH in personal care products while still being gentle on the eyes – often used in baby and pet shampoos.
Coatings
Providing pH adjustment while improving the solubility and dispersibility of other components in both water-based and solvent-based coating formulations.
Industrial Cleaning
Enabling multi-functional cleaning products with low streaking and filming, as well as contributing to excellent stability for a longer shelf life.
Fabric Softeners
Offering excellent emulsifying and softening properties with low sensitivity for fabric softeners.
Multi-use Emulsifier
Providing excellent corrosion protection and emulsifying capabilities when added to asphalt chemicals and lube oil additives.
Pharmaceuticals
Delivering solutions that are widely used as intermediates in the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients.
What are chelates?
Chelates, also referred to as chelating agents, are versatile materials made up of molecules capable of forming bonds to metal ions. Because of this capability, chelating agents are used to neutralize a variety of metal ions commonly found in water-based formulations and processes.
Chelating agents are often used in the following applications:
Food and Beverage
Providing protection against naturally occurring metals that can cause spoilage and discoloration in both foods and beverages, resulting in improved flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, and product life.
Beauty and Personal Care
Reducing sensitivity to hard water resulting in improved lather in soaps and shampoos, while increasing product life and improving the stability of fragrances, oils, fats, and water-soluble ingredients.
Home Care, Industrial and Institutional Cleaning
Decreasing the sensitivity to hard water improving foaming, cleaning, and rinsing along with increasing product shelf life.
Industrial Cleaning
Preventing and reducing scaling from water and steam used in manufacturing processes; extending equipment life in oil field operations, metal cleaning and working, water treatment, textiles, pulp and paper, and geothermal systems.
Amines and Chelates
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Amines and chelates storage and handling guides
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Amines and chelates technical content
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Resources
See essential information related to health effects, training, physical properties and storage regarding ethyleneimines.
Explore design guidelines for bulk storage and handling facilities for VERSENE™ liquid chelating agents.
Discover how Dow manufactures ethyleneamines for a wide variety of end uses with proper storage and handling to maintain quality.
See other ethanolamines storage and handling tips to help maintain the quality of our products.
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