What Is N-Butyl Diethanolamine (BDEA)?
N-Butyl Diethanolamine (BDEA), also known as N-n-Butyldiethanolamine or 2,2'-(Butylimino)diethanol, is a tertiary alkanolamine with the molecular formula C₈H₁₉NO₂ and CAS number 102-79-4. Its structure combines one n-butyl group and two hydroxyl-bearing ethyl arms on a single tertiary nitrogen, giving it a unique combination of amine alkalinity, diol hydrophilicity, and surface activity.
BDEA is structurally distinct from mono-alkanolamines such as N-Butylethanolamine (NBEA): the two hydroxyl groups greatly enhance water solubility, hydrogen-bonding capacity, and performance as an emulsifier and metal chelating agent - making BDEA particularly valuable in metalworking fluids, corrosion inhibitors, and gas treatment applications.
BDEA is a clear, colorless to pale yellow viscous liquid at room temperature with a mild amine-like odor. It is fully miscible with water, ethanol, and most organic solvents. SinoLook Chem supplies BDEA at ≥99.0% purity from ISO 9001-certified manufacturing facilities, with higher-purity grades (≥99.5%) available on request for pharmaceutical synthesis and specialty fine chemical applications.
Key Performance Advantages of BDEA
The tertiary amine nitrogen and dual hydroxyl groups of BDEA work in concert to deliver five distinct performance advantages across industrial applications.
🛡️ Corrosion Inhibition & Metal Protection
The two hydroxyl groups and tertiary amine adsorb strongly onto metal surfaces, forming a dense protective film that prevents oxidation and rust on ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Performs across a wide pH and temperature range.
⚙️ Lubricity & Metalworking Performance
Core functional ingredient in water-based cutting fluids and grinding coolants. Provides excellent lubricity, effective pH buffering, stable emulsification, and biostability enhancement when used with standard biocide packages.
⚗️ Neutralizing Agent & pH Stabilizer
Reacts rapidly with acids to neutralize waterborne coatings, latex paints, waterborne ink systems, and resin emulsions. Lower volatility than AMP or DMEA contributes to improved film formation and reduced amine odor.
🏭 CO₂ & H₂S Absorption in Gas Treatment
Used in blended amine solutions for natural gas sweetening and industrial CO₂ capture. Dual hydroxyl groups improve CO₂/H₂S loading capacity and lower regeneration energy requirements vs. simple alkanolamines.
🧪 Versatile Reactive Intermediate
Two active hydroxyl groups and tertiary amine make BDEA a building block for cationic and non-ionic surfactants, quaternary ammonium compounds, esterification reactions, and pharmaceutical intermediates requiring bifunctional amine-diol structures.
🔗 Superior vs. Mono-Alkanolamines
Compared to NBEA (mono-alkanolamine), BDEA's dual-OH structure provides significantly better water solubility, stronger metal surface adsorption, and superior flash rust prevention on freshly machined steel parts. Typical use level: 2–8% in metalworking concentrates.
N-Butyl Diethanolamine Industrial Applications
BDEA (CAS 102-79-4) serves as a critical ingredient and intermediate across six major industrial sectors.
Metalworking Fluids & Cutting Oils
Primary corrosion inhibitor and lubricity additive in water-based cutting fluids, grinding coolants, and rolling oils. Provides excellent rust protection, pH buffering, and emulsion stability. Extends tool life and improves surface finish quality. Use level: 2–8% in finished concentrates.
Corrosion Inhibitors & Rust Preventatives
Active ingredient in rust preventative coatings, vapor-phase corrosion inhibitors (VCI), and metal surface treatment products. Forms a durable protective film on steel, iron, copper, and aluminum surfaces.
Gas Treatment & CO₂/H₂S Absorption
Used in proprietary and blended amine solutions for natural gas sweetening, LNG purification, and refinery acid gas removal. High CO₂/H₂S loading capacity with efficient thermal regeneration. Effective in high-pressure applications where capacity and selectivity are critical.
Surfactant & Emulsifier Production
Building block for non-ionic and cationic surfactants, emulsifiers, and wetting agents used in industrial cleaning, personal care, and agricultural formulations. Also used in quaternary ammonium compound synthesis.
Coatings, Inks & Waterborne Resins
Neutralizing amine and pH stabilizer for waterborne acrylic, alkyd, polyurethane (PUD), and epoxy coating systems. Improves pigment dispersion, film formation, and flash rust resistance. Lower volatility than AMP or DMEA reduces amine odor in dried coatings.
Pharmaceutical & Fine Chemical Synthesis
Intermediate in API synthesis and specialty chemicals requiring a bifunctional tertiary amine-diol structure. High-purity grade (≥99.5%) available with full CoA, SDS, TDS, and regulatory documentation on request.
Technical Specifications & CoA
High-purity BDEA produced by advanced catalytic synthesis under strict quality control. A full Certificate of Analysis (CoA), Safety Data Sheet (SDS), and Technical Data Sheet (TDS) are provided with every shipment. Higher-purity grades (≥99.5%) available on request.
BDEA - Standard Quality Specification & Typical CoA Results
| Parameter | Specification | Typical CoA Result |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Clear, colorless to pale yellow liquid | Clear colorless liquid |
| Assay (GC), wt% | ≥ 99.0% | 99.3 – 99.7% |
| Molecular Weight | 161.24 g/mol | 161.24 g/mol |
| Boiling Point | 270 – 275 °C | 272 °C |
| Density (20 °C), g/cm³ | 0.988 – 0.994 g/cm³ | 0.991 g/cm³ |
| Water Content, wt% | ≤ 0.3% | 0.10 – 0.18% |
| Color (APHA / Hazen) | ≤ 30 | ≤ 15 |
| Flash Point (closed cup) | ≥ 130 °C | 132 °C |
| pH (10% aq., 25 °C) | 10.5 – 11.5 | 11.0 |
| Amine Value | 340 – 360 mg KOH/g | 348 mg KOH/g |
| Refractive Index (20 °C) | 1.460 – 1.466 | 1.462 |
Safety, Handling & Regulatory Information
BDEA is a corrosive liquid with a high flash point (≥130 °C) and low vapor pressure, making fire risk manageable under normal conditions. However, it is corrosive to skin and eyes and requires full amine chemical PPE. Full GHS-compliant SDS available in English, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese.
| Safety Parameter | Value / Notes |
|---|---|
| GHS Classification | Skin Corr. 1; Eye Dam. 1; Acute Tox. 4 (oral) |
| GHS Signal Word | DANGER |
| UN Number / Packing Group | UN 3265 (Corrosive liquid, acidic, organic) / PG III |
| Flash Point (closed cup) | ≥ 130 °C (132 °C typical) - ASTM D93 |
| PPE Required | Chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile/butyl), safety goggles, face shield, chemical apron; work in ventilated area |
| Storage | Cool, well-ventilated area; 5–40 °C; away from strong acids, oxidizers, and isocyanates |
| Incompatibilities | Strong acids, strong oxidizers, acid chlorides, isocyanates, copper and copper alloys |
| REACH Status | Pre-registered (CAS 102-79-4); EU REACH compliance documentation available |
| Certifications | ISO 9001 · ISO 14001 · OHSAS 18001 · UN GHS compliant |
| SDS Languages | English, German, French, Spanish, Chinese |
| SDS / CoA / TDS Request | sales@sinolookchem.com - all documents issued promptly upon order confirmation |
B2B Supply Solutions & Pricing
SinoLook Chem exports BDEA to B2B clients in 50+ countries across Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, North America, and South America. Over 15 years of export experience with transparent, market-aligned pricing and volume discounts.
| Order Volume | Packaging | Included Services |
|---|---|---|
| 50 – 500 kg (Trial Order) | 200 kg steel drums | CoA, SDS, TDS; free sample option for qualified buyers |
| 500 – 5,000 kg (Regular Supply) | 200 kg drums / 1,000 kg IBC tanks | Volume discount; dedicated account manager; priority scheduling |
| 5,000+ kg (Bulk / Long-Term) | IBC tanks / ISO tank / Flexitank / custom | Lowest unit price; fixed-price contract; 24/7 technical support |
📦 MOQ
50 kg for trial orders. Free samples: 500 g – 1 kg with full CoA & SDS for qualified buyers.
🚢 Delivery Terms
FOB, CIF, EXW available. Ex-Shanghai, Guangzhou, Qingdao, Tianjin. Dangerous goods compliance handled.
⏱ Response Time
Customized quote within 12 hours. In-stock: 3–5 working days. Custom or bulk: 10–15 days.
💳 Payment Terms
T/T 30% advance, 70% vs B/L. L/C at sight for large orders. Fixed-price contracts for long-term buyers.
- ✓ ISO 9001 · ISO 14001 · OHSAS 18001 certified - vertically integrated production with direct QC at every stage
- ✓ Full export documentation: commercial invoice, packing list, CoA, SDS, TDS, certificate of origin
- ✓ EU REACH, UN GHS, and US import compliance documentation - available in advance for import compliance review
- ✓ Free 500 g – 1 kg samples with full CoA for qualified buyers; ≥99.5% purity grade available for pharma applications
- ✓ Custom packaging: 25 kg drums, 200 kg steel drums, 1,000 kg IBC, ISO tank / Flexitank for 10,000–25,000 kg shipments
- ✓ 24/7 technical support from experienced chemical engineers - formulation optimization, gas treatment blending, regulatory queries
Frequently Asked Questions
Common technical and commercial questions about N-Butyl Diethanolamine from our B2B customers worldwide.
What is N-Butyl Diethanolamine (BDEA) and what is it used for?
N-Butyl Diethanolamine (BDEA, CAS 102-79-4) is a tertiary alkanolamine with formula C₈H₁₉NO₂, also known as N-n-Butyldiethanolamine. Its primary industrial uses are: (1) primary corrosion inhibitor and lubricity additive in water-based metalworking fluids and cutting oils; (2) active ingredient in rust preventative coatings and VCI products; (3) component in blended amine solutions for natural gas sweetening and CO₂/H₂S absorption; (4) neutralizing amine for waterborne coatings, inks, and resin systems; and (5) building block for cationic surfactants and quaternary ammonium compounds.
What is the difference between BDEA and NBEA?
NBEA (N-Butylethanolamine, CAS 111-75-1) is a secondary alkanolamine with one hydroxyl group (C₆H₁₅NO, MW 117.19), while BDEA (N-Butyl Diethanolamine, CAS 102-79-4) is a tertiary alkanolamine with two hydroxyl groups (C₈H₁₉NO₂, MW 161.24). BDEA's dual-OH structure provides significantly better water solubility, stronger metal surface adsorption, and superior flash rust prevention - making it the preferred choice for metalworking fluid formulation and corrosion inhibitor applications. NBEA is more suited to fine chemical synthesis where a secondary amine reactive site is required.
What purity grade does SinoLook Chem supply for BDEA?
SinoLook Chem supplies BDEA at ≥99.0% purity (GC assay), with typical batch results of 99.3–99.7%. A higher-purity grade (≥99.5%) is available on request for pharmaceutical synthesis and specialty fine chemical applications. Water content is ≤0.3% (typically 0.10–0.18%) and color is ≤30 APHA (typically ≤15). A full Certificate of Analysis (CoA), Safety Data Sheet (SDS), and Technical Data Sheet (TDS) are issued with every shipment.
How is BDEA used in metalworking fluids?
In water-based metalworking fluid concentrates, BDEA is typically used at 2–8% by weight. It functions as a primary corrosion inhibitor (preventing flash rust on freshly machined steel), a lubricity additive (reducing tool wear and friction), and a pH buffer (maintaining optimal alkalinity in emulsion systems). BDEA is compatible with a wide range of synthetic lubricant bases, mineral oil emulsions, and biocide packages. Its dual hydroxyl groups provide superior metal surface adsorption compared to monoethanolamines.
How is BDEA used in waterborne coatings?
In waterborne coating systems (acrylic, alkyd, polyurethane dispersion, epoxy emulsion), BDEA neutralizes acidic carboxyl groups in resin backbones to improve water dispersibility and pH stability. Compared to smaller, more volatile neutralizing amines such as AMP or DMEA, BDEA's higher boiling point (270–275 °C) and lower vapor pressure contribute to better film formation, reduced amine odor in the dried coating, and improved flash rust resistance on metal substrates.
What is the N-Butyl Diethanolamine HS code?
N-Butyl Diethanolamine (CAS 102-79-4) is classified under HS code 2922.19 (amino alcohols - other, other than those containing only oxygen-containing groups as heteroatoms, their ethers and esters; salts thereof). Always confirm the applicable tariff code with your local customs authority, as classifications may vary by jurisdiction and product concentration.
What is the N-Butyl Diethanolamine price?
BDEA pricing depends on purity grade, order volume, packaging format, and delivery terms. Volume discounts apply from 500 kg, with fixed-price contract options for long-term buyers of 5,000+ kg. Contact sales@sinolookchem.com or WhatsApp +86 134 0071 5622 with your required quantity and destination for a customized quote within 12 hours.
How do I place an order or request a free sample?
Free 500 g – 1 kg samples with full CoA are available for qualified buyers. To order or request a sample:
- Step 1: Contact us by email, WhatsApp, or website with your requirements (quantity, purity, packaging, delivery terms, destination).
- Step 2: Receive a detailed, customized quote within 12 hours including price, lead time, and logistics options.
- Step 3: Request a free sample (500 g – 1 kg) with full CoA for quality validation in your specific application.
- Step 4: Confirm your order - our team handles production scheduling, packaging, documentation, and freight booking end-to-end.
- Step 5: Receive your shipment on time with full traceability documentation and post-delivery technical support.
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