High-Purity Solvents, Personal Care

Octadecyl Amine

Octadecyl Amine, also known as stearylamine or 1-octadecanamine, is a long-chain primary aliphatic amine derived typically from the reduction of stearic acid or the amination of octadecanol. It is characterized by a straight 18-carbon saturated alkyl chain attached to a primary amino group. Physically, it presents as a white, waxy crystalline solid at room temperature with a faint, characteristic ammoniacal odor.

As a cationic surfactant precursor, Octadecyl Amine is prized for its strong affinity for negatively charged surfaces, including metals, minerals, and fibers. This property allows it to form protective monomolecular films that act as barriers against moisture and corrosive agents. In the chemical industry, it serves as a critical building block for the synthesis of quaternary ammonium compounds, ethoxylates, and amides. While it is insoluble in water, it exhibits good solubility in organic solvents such as ethanol, ether, and chloroform. Its versatile functionality makes it indispensable in sectors ranging from water treatment and textile processing to asphalt road construction and polymer additives.

Attributes

Key Features and Benefits

Superior Surface Adhesion: Its cationic nature allows for the formation of stable, hydrophobic monolayers on various substrates, providing exceptional moisture resistance.
Effective Corrosion Inhibition: Acts as a potent film-forming amine (FFA) in boiler systems and steam lines, preventing oxygen and carbon dioxide-induced corrosion.
Versatile Chemical Intermediate: The primary amine group is highly reactive, facilitating easy quaternization, alkoxylation, or neutralization to create specialized surfactants.
Lubricity and Anti-static Properties: Reduces friction and prevents the buildup of static electricity in synthetic fibers and plastic resins.
Thermal Stability: Maintains functional integrity under moderate industrial processing temperatures, typical of bitumen and polymer manufacturing.

Specifications

Technical Highlights

Chemical Formula: C₁₈H₃₉N (Molecular Weight: 269.51 g/mol).
Melting Point: Typically ranges between 50°C and 55°C, making it easy to handle in molten form for industrial blending.
Amine Value: High primary amine content, usually specified between 205–215 mg KOH/g depending on purity grade.
Hydrophobicity: High log P value (~7.7), ensuring minimal water solubility and maximum oil-phase partitioning.
Purity Standards: Available in technical grades (typically >98% total amines) with controlled levels of secondary amines and moisture (<0.5%).
Safety Profile: Classified as a skin irritant and serious eye damager; environmentally regulated due to high toxicity to aquatic life.

Download Technical Data Sheet (TDS)

Practical industry uses

Applications

Water Treatment: Used as a film-forming amine in steam-generating plants to protect condensate return lines from acidic corrosion.
Bitumen Emulsifiers: Acts as an adhesion promoter in asphalt formulations, improving the bond between the bitumen binder and mineral aggregates in road construction.
Textile Industry: Employed in the production of fabric softeners and anti-static agents to improve the hand-feel and processability of synthetic yarns.
Plastics and Rubber: Functions as an internal lubricant and mold-release agent, enhancing the flow and surface finish of polyolefins.
Pigment Dispersion: Utilized as a surface-active agent to coat inorganic pigments, improving their dispersibility in non-polar organic coatings and inks.