Dispersing agents diethanolamine

Diethanolamine is primarily used in pharmaceutical formulations as a buffering agent, such as in the preparation of emulsions with fatty acids. In cosmetics and pharmaceuticals it is used as a pH adjuster and dispersant. 

Fatty acid ethanolamides and isopropanolamides are solid or waxy products insoluble in water. Diethanolamides are usually pastes or liquids and show better dispersibility in water. In institutional and household formulations, shampoos, bath and shower preparations, fatty alkanolamides play the role of foam stabiliser, thickener, corrosion inhibitor, and ancillary agent that improves the skin compatibility of anionic surfactants. Undecylenic ethanolamide and undecylenic diethanolamide act as fungicides also [47]. Use of diethanolamine derivatives has legislative limitations today in some countries (but not its amides) because they are proved to be precursors of carcinogenic nitrosoamines. The probability of the nitrosoamine formation is assumed to increase in the presence of formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives [44-46]. 

Chem. Descrip. Phenyl diethanolamine CAS 120-07-0 EINECS/ELINCS 204-368-5 Uses Coupling agent for disperse dyes for syn. fibers intermediate for dyes cure promoter for polyester resins curing agent for urethane elastomers intermediate also in hair dyes, heavy-duty detergents, paint strippers... 

A wide variety of amine condensates can function as foam boosters, wetting agents in aqueous/nonaqueous systems, emulsifiers, and dispersants. These are mainly reaction products of diethanolamine (DEA) or mono-ethanolamide (MEA) with fatty acids at a 2 1 ratio. Excess DEA converts both the amino and the amido ester to an active 2 1 product. 

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