Dow Amines Selection Guide
| Amines | Grades | Application |
| DOW Triethanolamine | TEA 99%, TEA 99% Low Freezing Grade (LFG), TEA Commercial Grade, & TEA Commercial LFG | •Detergents •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. •Textile Finishing •TEA is used as reaction intermediates for the preparation of durable press fabric finishes and softeners. •Because it is hygroscopic, TEA is used in the preparation of vat printing pastes. |
| Dow Diethanolamine | DEA & DEA Low Freezing Grade (LFG) | Detergents • DEA imparts a reserve alkalinity to the laundry bath, which is essential to efficient cleaning. • DEA is an effective oil and anti-redeposition agent. Personal Care • DEA is reacted with fats, oils or derived fatty acids to form fatty acid amides to form foam stabilizers, emulsifiers and viscosity builders in products such as shampoos and cosmetics. Textile Finishing •DEA 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, DEA is used in the preparation of vat printing pastes. |
| DOW Monoethanolamine | MEA Low Freezing Grade (LFG), and MEA Iron & Chloride-Free Grade (ICF) | Detergents •MEA imparts a reserve alkalinity to the laundry bath, which is essential to efficient cleaning. •MEA is an effective oil and anti-redeposition agent. Personal Care • Fatty acids neutralized with MEA are used as emulsifiers for oil-in water emulsions such as gel-type industrial hand cleaners, aerosol shave creams, and hand and body lotions. Textile Finishing •MEA is used as reaction intermediates for the preparation of durable press fabric finishes and softeners. •Because it is hygroscopic, MEA is used in the preparation of vat printing pastes. |
