DOW Triethanolamine

TEA 99%, TEA 99% Low Freezing Grade (LFG), TEA Commercial Grade, & TEA Commercial
LFG

Product DOW Triethanolamine (TEA) offers a broad spectrum of application opportunities, primarily in
Description detergents, personal care products and textile finishing. Other applications include use as
intermediates in concrete additives and adhesive, rubber, agricultural and photographic chemicals;
use as a component of cement grinding aids; use as “down hole” in oil well chemicals and in
metalworking to prevent corrosion; and use as catalysts that promote stability during the reaction
process in the manufacture of flexible and rigid urethane foams.

Because TEA combines the properties of amines and alcohols, TEA exhibits the unique capability of
undergoing reactions common to both groups. As an amine, TEA is mildly alkaline and reactswith
acids to form salts or soaps. As an alcohol, TEA is hygroscopic and can be esterfied.

DOW Triethanolamine is available as TEA 99%, TEA 99% Low Freezing Grade (LFG), TEA
Commercial Grade, and TEA Commercial Grade LFG.
 TEA 99% is a tertiary amine used to react with acidic compounds to form salts.
 TEA 99% LFG is a low freeze grade variation of TEA 99% for easier handling in colder
ambient temperatures (freezing point: -5ºC/23ºF). It is a blend of an 85% solution of
TEA with 15% water.
 TEA Commercial Grade is a solution of TEA containing >=85% TEA and <= 15%
Diethanolamine (DEA).
 TEA Commercial LFG is a low freeze grade variation of TEA Commercial Grade for easier
handling in colder ambient temperatures (freezing point: -42ºC/-44ºF). It is a blended solution
of ~74% TEA, ~15% water and ~11% Diethanolamine (DEA).

Features and Detergents

Benefits  TEA imparts a reserve alkalinity to the laundry bath, which is essential to efficient
cleaning.
 TEA is an effective oil and anti-redeposition agent.

Personal Care
 TEA may be reacted with lauryl sulfate to form the foaming base surfactant used in hair
shampoos.
 Fatty acids neutralized with TEA are excellent emulsifiers for oil-in water emulsions such as
gel-type industrial hand cleaners, aerosol shave creams, and hand and body lotions.
 TEA is also used as the base component in the production of certain mild bar soaps.

Textile Finishing
 TEA is used as reaction intermediates for the preparation of durable press fabric
finishes and softeners.
 When reacted to form amine soaps, useful as scouring agents for wool and silk
because of its low alkalinity.
 Because it is hygroscopic, TEA is used in the preparation of vat printing pastes.
 TEA is also useful in making acetate rayon dyes.

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Typical Physical Properties(1)
Properties Triethanolamine
Formula (HOC2H4) 3N
Molecular Weight 149.19
Apparent Sp. Gr. at 20/20°C (supercooled liquid) 1.126
∆Sp. Gr./ ∆t at 10 to 80°C 0.00059
Boiling Point at 760 mm Hg, °C (°F) 335
At 59mm Hg, °C, Extrapolated (decomposes) 245
At 10mm Hg, °C 205
Vapor Pressure at 20°C, mm Hg <0.001
Freezing Point, °C (°F) (supercools easily) 21 (69.8)
Absolute Viscosity at 20°C, cP (supercooled liquid) 921
At 30°C, cP 404
Solubility at 20°C, % by wt
In Water (supercooled liquid) Complete
Water In (supercooled liquid) Complete
Solubility in Organic Liquids at 25°C, % by wt
Acetone Complete
Benzene 2
Carbon Tetrachloride Complete
Ethyl Ether 2
Heptane <0.03
Methanol Complete
Surface Tension at 25°C, dynes/cm 48.9
Refractive Index, nD20 (supercooled liquid) 1.4852
∆ND/∆t at 20 to 40°C per °C 0.00020
Flash Point, Pensky-Martens Closed Cup (ASTM D 93), °C (°F) 208 (407)

(1) Data represent typical physical properties only and should not be construed as product specifications.

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