I. Introduction
Unilong offers high-quality DEHA (N,N-Diethylhydroxylamine, CAS 3710-84-7). As a medium-strength organic reducing agent and highly effective free radical scavenger, DEHA plays a critical role across multiple industrial fields including polymerization control, industrial water treatment, and antioxidant protection. With excellent solubility, effective polymerization inhibition in both liquid and vapor phases, and lower toxicity, DEHA serves as an ideal upgrade alternative to traditional additives.
II. Product Overview
Diethylhydroxylamine (DEHA) is a versatile organic compound appearing as a clear, pale yellow to yellow liquid. It is miscible with water and most organic solvents. DEHA is primarily recognized for its excellent performance as an oxygen scavenger and metal passivator. It effectively inhibits free-radical polymerization of various monomers, making it a highly efficient polymerization inhibitor. Its low toxicity and ability to decompose into volatile products make it a valuable additive in numerous industrial applications, particularly in water treatment, polymer production, and photography.
III. Core Functions
The core functionality of DEHA derives from the hydroxylamine group in its molecular structure, which rapidly combines with active free radicals in the system, terminating free radical chain reactions at the source. Based on this mechanism, DEHA exhibits the following five core functions:
1. Polymerization Inhibitor
As a highly effective polymerization inhibitor for vinyl monomers (such as styrene, acrylates, butadiene, etc.), DEHA effectively inhibits premature polymerization and self-polymerization of monomers during distillation, purification, storage and transportation, preventing the formation of polymer scale and ensuring long-term stable operation of equipment. Compared with traditional polymerization inhibitors such as TBC (p-tert-butylcatechol) and ONP (o-nitrophenol), DEHA exhibits superior inhibition efficiency, and its performance is not affected by temperature variations.
2. Popcorn Polymer Inhibitor
In both liquid and vapor phases, when popcorn polymer seeds are present, DEHA can serve as a highly effective popcorn polymer inhibitor. It is particularly suitable for distillation systems of large-tonnage monomers such as styrene and butadiene, effectively preventing column fouling by polymer accumulation and reducing shutdown losses caused by polymer build-up.
3. Emulsion Polymerization Short-Stopping Agent
DEHA is an excellent terminator for styrene-butadiene emulsion polymerization and synthetic rubber production. It precisely controls the polymerization process, terminating the reaction at a predetermined conversion rate to produce rubber products with desired characteristics, and is widely used in SBR, NBR and other emulsion polymerization systems.
4. Antioxidant & Stabilizer
DEHA serves as an antioxidant and stabilizer for unsaturated oils, resins, photosensitive resins, photographic emulsions, and synthetic resins, effectively delaying material aging and enhancing durability. In the rubber and plastics industry, DEHA acts as an antioxidant and terminator, ensuring material stability and high-quality performance. Additionally, it is used as an antioxidant in photographic developers.
5. Boiler Water Oxygen Scavenger & Corrosion Inhibitor
DEHA serves as an oxygen scavenger for steam boiler water systems, effective not only for low-temperature deoxygenation but also for high-temperature steam condensate circulation systems, with oxygen scavenging performance superior to hydrazine and carbohydrazide. Its oxygen scavenging efficiency is even higher in the presence of catalysts. After reacting with oxygen, DEHA forms acetates, nitrogen, and water, without increasing dissolved solids in the boiler water. As a volatile, completely organic compound, DEHA distributes throughout the boiler and condensate system via steam, providing comprehensive protection against oxygen corrosion across all parts of the system. Additionally, DEHA acts as a passivating agent for metal surfaces on the water side of equipment, helping to form a dense Fe₃O₄ magnetite protective film that further prevents metal corrosion.
IV. Major Application Areas
1. Polymer & Resin Industry
(1) Highly effective polymerization inhibitor for vinyl monomers such as styrene, acrylates and butadiene during distillation, purification and storage, effectively preventing polymer scale formation
(2) Prevents popcorn polymer build-up in distillation columns for large-volume monomers
(3) Highly effective terminator for SBR and NBR emulsion polymerization
(4) Antioxidant for unsaturated oils and resins, delaying product aging
2. Industrial Water Treatment
(1) Oxygen scavenger for steam boilers and hot water systems, preventing pitting and general corrosion caused by dissolved oxygen
(2) Metal surface passivating agent, forming dense protective film
(3) Corrosion inhibition treatment for cooling water systems
(4) Lower-toxicity alternative to hydrazine, offering a safer and more environmentally friendly solution
3. Photosensitive Materials & Photographic Industry
(1) Effective stabilizer for photosensitive resins
(2) Stabilizer for photographic emulsions
(3) Antioxidant in photographic developers (requires photographic grade purity)
4. Environmental Protection
(1) Effective photochemical smog inhibitor, with value in environmental protection applications
(2) Antioxidant additive for gasoline and oils, extending storage life
5. Other Industrial Applications
(1) Chemical reagent for aldehyde determination
(2) Stabilizer in UV-curable systems (coatings, inks, 3D printing photosensitive resins), effectively inhibiting thermal polymerization and dark polymerization of monomers in photocurable systems, preventing gelation during storage and extending formulation shelf life without compromising rapid curing performance upon UV exposure
(3) Key intermediate in pharmaceutical and pesticide synthesis for production of high-value-added chemicals
(4) Used in electroplating and metal surface treatment to remove oxide layers and enhance metal gloss and corrosion resistance.
V. Technical Specifications
| ITEM | STANDARD |
| Appearance | Light yellow transparent liquid |
| Content | ≥85% |
| Diethylamine | ≤0.4% |
| Moisture | ≤15% |
| Color (APHA) | ≤70 |
1. Effective in Both Liquid and Vapor Phases: DEHA exhibits high polymerization inhibition efficiency not only in the liquid phase of monomers but also in the vapor phase, providing comprehensive protection against polymerization hazards in vapor pipelines.
2. High and Stable Inhibition Efficiency: DEHA demonstrates higher polymerization inhibition efficiency than traditional inhibitors such as TBC and ONP, and its performance is not affected by temperature variations, remaining stable over a wide temperature range.
3. Easily Soluble and Removable: DEHA has high solubility in monomers and can be easily removed from monomers, making it convenient to use without affecting final product quality.
4. Lower Toxicity: Compared to traditional oxygen scavengers such as hydrazine, DEHA has lower toxicity, making it a safer alternative.
5. Non-Corrosive: Non-corrosive to equipment and can serve as a corrosion inhibitor to protect metal equipment.
6. Does Not Increase Dissolved Solids: In boiler deoxygenation applications, DEHA does not increase dissolved solids in boiler water, reducing blowdown losses.
VI. Storage & Packaging
1. Storage: Should be stored in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from ignition sources and heat, protected from direct sunlight, and kept in sealed containers.
2. Packaging: 25kg / 200kg drums
VII. About Unilong
Unilong is a professional supplier of specialty chemicals, committed to providing high-quality functional additives for the polymer, water treatment, and fine chemical industries. Our DEHA products offer stable quality to meet various industrial application requirements. We do more than just supply raw materials—we provide professional technical support and service for our customers’ process challenges. Request a sample, technical data sheet (TDS), or safety data sheet (SDS) today.
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