Methylamine Applications

Methylamines are utilized in a wide range of applications and processes. The following includes some of the many applications of our customer base.

Mono-methylamine: MMA

Di-methylamine: DMA

Tri-methylamine: TMA

Agricultural Chemicals

(MMA, DMA, TMA)

Different methylamines are used to make intermediates for many agri chemicals including herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, biocides & miticides.

• MMA reacted with carbon disulfide & caustic produces metam-sodium: which is used as a soil fumigant & sterilant (replacing methyl bromide- ozone depleter).
• Phosgenated MMA is used to produce methyl isocyanate: which is used to manufacture insecticides.
• DMA is used to produce herbicides & fungicides such as:

‒Ferbam: Fungicide for apples & tobacco

‒Ziram: Fungicide for vegetables

‒Thiram: Disinfectant for grains, bulbs, tubers & corn

• TMA reacted with SO2 produces a volatile insecticide

Animal Nutrients

(TMA)

TMA is used to produce choline chloride, a B vitamin supplement in animal feed for chickens, turkeys & swine.

Catalysts

(MMA, DMA, TMA)

Methylamines are used directly as catalysts or as raw materials to produce other compounds with catalytic activity.

• MDEA made from MMA is used as a urethane catalyst.
• DMAE made from DMA is also used as a urethane catalyst to promote foam rise & gel strength for insulation applications (appliances).
• Hydrochlorides of MMA & DMA in the presence of cupric chloride are used for the polymerization of acetylene to vinyl & devinyl acetylene.
• MMA & DMA are used as catalysts for the dealdolization of diacetone alcohol.
• TMA is a catalyst for ethyl alcohol to ethylene oxide and for Diels-Alder diene association reactions.
• DMA & calcium sulfate are used to prepare dinitroalkanes & nitro-olefins.
• MMA & DMA can be used for the condensation of phenol & formaldehyde.
• DMA is a catalyst to condense acetone with formaldehyde to produce synthetic resins used in paper bonding & coating.

Electronics

(DMA, TMA)

• DMA is used to make benzyldimethylamine which is used as an accelerator for epoxy resins in laminates for electrical equipment.

• TMA is used to make tetramethylammonium hydroxide which is a stripper for resists in printed circuit boards.

Fuel Additives

(MMA, DMA, TMA)

Fuel additives are used to improve engine performance in a variety of ways.

• DMCHA & DMAPA made from DMA are used for gasoline & motor oil additives.
• MMA & chlorobenzene are reacted with copper as a catalyst to make n-methylaniline for aviation fuel.
• DMA hydrochloride is also used as an aviation fuel additive as an antiknock compound.
• MMA nitrate is a freezing point depressant in jet engines using ammonium nitrate-urea fuels.
• Mixtures of MMA, DMA & TMA in water have been tested as coolants in some high-speed engines.

Gas & Oil Treatment

(MMA, DMA)

• MMA reacted with ethylene oxide produces methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) & monomethylethanolamine (NMEA): MDEA is used to remove acidic components in natural gas such as H2S, mercaptans, carbonyl sulfide & CO.

• DMA reacted with CO2 produces dimethylammonium: used to remove sulfur compounds, olefins & aromatic hydrocarbons from raw oil.

Paper Chemicals

(DMA, TMA)

• Both DMA, TMA are used to produce cationizing starches

Personal Care

(DMA)

• DMA is used to produce n,n-dimethylaminopropylamine & DMDAC which are used to make cosmetics, liquid soaps, hand lotions, shaving cream & shampoos.

Pharmaceuticals

(MMA, DMA)

• MMA reacted with ethylene oxide creates methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) and monomethylethanolamine (NMEA) which are used to make analgesics with sedative and antispasmodic effects.
• MMA reacted with phosgene yields n,n-dimethylurea used to make xanthine derivatives.
• MMA reacted with phenylsuccincic acid yields phensuximide which is an anticonvulsant.
• MMA is used to make intermediates for the production of tranquilizers, antidepressants muscle relaxants & x-ray contract mediums.
• MMA is used to produce sympathomimetic drugs.
• DMA is used to produce intermediates to manufacture antihistamines.
• DMA is used in the synthesis of local anesthetics.
• DMA is used to manufacture propoxyphen analgesic & doxepin antidepressants.
• Salicylates of MMA & DMA are used as ointments for skin disorders.
• DMA is used to make intermediates for tranquilizing agents.

Resin Manufacturing

(DMA, TMA)

• DMA is used to manufacture anionic resins.
• TMA is used to manufacture cationic exchange resins.

Rubber Chemicals

(DMA)

• DMA is used to make dimethyldithiocarbamate salts used for vulcanization accelerators.
• DMA oleate is an emulsifier for use in synthetic rubber production.

• DMA is used directly as a modifier in the vapor phase polymerization of butadience & as a stabilizer for natural rubber latex.

Solvents

(MMA, DMA)

• DMA reacted with CO produces dimethylformamide (DMF): which is used in urethane coatings, spinning solvents (primarily for acrylics), reaction solvents, extraction solvents & processing solvents.
• MMA reacted with acetic acid produces dimethylacetamide (DMAC): which is used as spinning solvent & reaction solvent and for the manufacture of dyes, pharmaceuticals & vinyl polymers.
• MMA reacted with gammabutyrolactone produces n-methylpyrrolidone (NMP): which is used as reaction solvent (engineering resins), extraction solvent (lube oil refining), spinning solvent, paint stripper, electronics (for strippers and cleaners) and enamel coatings (magnet wire with polyamide/imide resins).

Surfactants

(DMA)

• DMA is used to produce some specialty surfactants which are used in the manufacture of soaps, shampoos, detergents & other specialty wetting applications.

Water Treatment

(DMA)

• DMA is used as a raw material to product agents that remove suspended solids for water clarification in industrial & municipal water/wastewater treatment plants. They are used to improve sold/liquid separation in sedimentation, filtration and flotation operations.