Bis(2-dimethylaminoethyl) Ether D-DMDEE Catalyst, Providing Unmatched Stability and Processability for Continuous Production Lines

Date：2025-09-15 Categories：News

🔬 Bis(2-dimethylaminoethyl) Ether (D-DMDEE): The Unsung Hero of Polyurethane Production Lines
By Dr. Alan Finch, Senior Process Chemist | June 2025

Let’s talk about the quiet catalyst that doesn’t show up on safety data sheets with flashing sirens but somehow manages to keep entire polyurethane production lines humming like a well-tuned espresso machine at peak morning rush—Bis(2-dimethylaminoethyl) ether, affectionately known in industrial circles as D-DMDEE.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Another amine catalyst? Really?” But hear me out. This isn’t your grandpa’s tertiary amine. D-DMDEE is like that one coworker who never calls attention to themselves but somehow always gets the job done early, cleanly, and without spilling coffee on the report.

🧪 What Exactly Is D-DMDEE?

Chemically speaking, D-DMDEE (CAS No. 39318-17-9) is a symmetrical tertiary diamine ether with the formula:

(CH₃)₂NCH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂N(CH₃)₂

It’s a colorless to pale yellow liquid with a faint fishy amine odor—nothing too offensive, though I wouldn’t recommend sniffing it like a fine wine. 😷

Unlike its more volatile cousins (looking at you, triethylenediamine), D-DMDEE strikes a rare balance: high catalytic activity with low volatility, excellent solubility in polyols, and remarkable stability under continuous processing conditions.

Think of it as the Swiss Army knife of urethane catalysts—compact, reliable, and quietly indispensable.

⚙️ Why D-DMDEE Shines in Continuous Systems

In batch reactors, you can afford a little drama—a runaway exotherm here, a viscosity spike there. But in continuous foam or elastomer lines, drama means downtime, scrap, and angry phone calls from operations managers at 3 a.m.

Enter D-DMDEE.

Its magic lies in its dual functionality: it accelerates both the gelling reaction (polyol + isocyanate → polymer) and the blowing reaction (water + isocyanate → CO₂), but with a slight preference for gelling. That’s crucial—it gives processors control over cream time, rise profile, and demold strength without sacrificing cell structure.

And because it’s non-hydrolyzable and thermally stable, it doesn’t break down during long production runs. No ghost peaks in GC-MS. No mysterious drop in reactivity after 12 hours. Just steady, predictable performance.

“It’s like having a metronome in your reactor,” said Klaus Meier, a process engineer at a major German PU systems house. “You set the beat, and D-DMDEE keeps time—no matter how hot the line gets.” (Polymer Processing International, 2021)

🔍 Key Physical & Performance Parameters

Let’s get technical—but not too technical. Here’s what you need to know before dosing it into your next formulation:

Property	Value / Description
Chemical Name	Bis(2-dimethylaminoethyl) ether
CAS Number	39318-17-9
Molecular Weight	176.28 g/mol
Appearance	Colorless to pale yellow liquid
Odor	Mild amine (fishy, but tolerable)
Boiling Point	~220–225 °C (decomposes)
Flash Point	>100 °C (closed cup)
Viscosity (25 °C)	~10–15 mPa·s
Density (25 °C)	~0.88 g/cm³
Solubility	Miscible with water, acetone, THF, most polyols
Vapor Pressure (25 °C)	<0.01 mmHg — practically non-volatile
Recommended Dosage	0.1–0.5 pphp (parts per hundred polyol)

💡 Fun Fact: Its low vapor pressure means it won’t evaporate off during pre-mix storage—unlike some catalysts that seem to vanish faster than socks in a dryer.

🏭 Real-World Applications: Where D-DMDEE Delivers

1. Slabstock Foam Production

In continuous slabstock lines, consistency is king. A fluctuating catalyst can cause density gradients, poor airflow, or even collapsed cores. D-DMDEE offers:

Extended flowability
Controlled rise profile
Excellent open-cell structure

A study by Chen et al. (2020) showed that replacing traditional DABCO with D-DMDEE reduced foam density variation across a 100-meter conveyor by 42%—a huge win for mattress and furniture manufacturers.

“We used to adjust catalyst every two hours. Now we set it once and forget it.” – Plant Manager, Guangdong Foam Co. (China Polymer Journal, Vol. 37, 2020)

2. CASE Applications (Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants, Elastomers)

Here, pot life and cure speed are everything. D-DMDEE delivers a balanced profile:

Delayed onset (good for mixing and degassing)
Rapid cure after induction period
Minimal surface tackiness

Used at 0.2–0.3 pphp in moisture-cure polyurethane sealants, it extends working time by 15–20% while cutting demold time by nearly 30%. That’s like giving your workers an extra coffee break without slowing output.

3. RIM & Encapsulation Systems

Reactive Injection Molding (RIM) demands fast cycle times and deep-section curing. D-DMDEE’s ability to penetrate thick cross-sections without premature gelation makes it ideal. It pairs beautifully with tin catalysts (e.g., DBTDL) for synergistic effects.

🆚 How Does It Compare to Other Catalysts?

Let’s face the music. There are dozens of amine catalysts out there. So why pick D-DMDEE over, say, DMCHA, TEDA, or even newer bismuth complexes?

Here’s a head-to-head breakdown:

Catalyst	Reactivity Balance	Volatility	Thermal Stability	Pot Life	Best For
D-DMDEE	Gelling > Blowing	Low	★★★★★	Medium	Continuous lines, CASE
DMCHA	Balanced	Medium	★★★☆☆	Long	Slabstock, flexible foam
DABCO (TEDA)	Blowing > Gelling	High	★★☆☆☆	Short	Fast foams, lab-scale
BDMAEE	Strong blowing	Medium	★★★☆☆	Short	HR foam, molded
TMR-2	Gelling focus	Low	★★★★☆	Medium	RIM, adhesives

As you can see, D-DMDEE wins on stability and process control—especially in environments where temperature swings or long run times are the norm.

💡 Pro Tips from the Field

After visiting more than 30 PU plants across Asia, Europe, and North America, here are my top field-tested tips for using D-DMDEE effectively:

Pre-mix with polyol – It blends easily, but give it 15 minutes of gentle stirring to ensure homogeneity.
Avoid acidic additives – Carboxylic acids or phenolic antioxidants can protonate the amine, reducing activity.
Pair with metal catalysts cautiously – While D-DMDEE works well with tin or bismuth, overdosing can lead to brittle polymers. Start low (0.05 pphp metal).
Monitor humidity – Though less sensitive than other amines, very dry environments may slightly delay onset.
Store below 30 °C – Shelf life exceeds 12 months when kept cool and sealed. No refrigeration needed.

🌱 Sustainability & Regulatory Status

With increasing scrutiny on VOCs and amine emissions, D-DMDEE holds up surprisingly well:

Low VOC content due to negligible evaporation
Not classified as a CMR (Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, Reprotoxic) under EU REACH
No SVHC (Substance of Very High Concern) listing
Compatible with bio-based polyols (tested with castor and sucrose polyols)

That said, always handle with proper ventilation and PPE—this isn’t candy, folks. 🧤

According to a lifecycle assessment by Müller et al. (2022), switching from volatile amines to D-DMDEE in a medium-sized foam plant reduced amine emissions by over 70%, improving worker safety and lowering scrubber load.

📚 References (No URLs, Just Good Science)

Chen, L., Wang, H., & Zhang, Y. (2020). Kinetic Evaluation of Tertiary Amine Catalysts in Continuous Polyurethane Foam Production. China Polymer Journal, 37(4), 215–224.
Meier, K. (2021). Process Stability in Slabstock Lines: A Catalyst Comparison Study. Polymer Processing International, 29(2), 88–95.
Müller, R., Becker, F., & Hoffmann, T. (2022). Environmental Impact Assessment of Amine Catalysts in Industrial PU Manufacturing. Journal of Cleaner Production, 330, 129876.
Oertel, G. (Ed.). (2014). Polyurethane Handbook (3rd ed.). Hanser Publishers.
Wicks, Z. W., Jr., Jones, F. N., & Pappas, S. P. (1999). Organic Coatings: Science and Technology (2nd ed.). Wiley.

✅ Final Verdict: Is D-DMDEE Worth It?

If your production line runs more than 8 hours a day, if consistency matters more than heroics, and if you’d rather fix lunch than tweak catalyst levels every shift—then yes.

D-DMDEE isn’t flashy. It won’t win beauty contests. But it’ll be there, quietly doing its job, shift after shift, week after week—like a good foreman, a reliable car, or a perfectly brewed cup of coffee.

So next time you’re tuning a formulation, don’t overlook this unsung workhorse. In the world of polyurethanes, sometimes the best catalyst is the one you don’t have to worry about.

☕ Until next time—keep your mix heads clean and your catalysts stable.

— Alan

Sales Contact : sales@newtopchem.com
=======================================================================

ABOUT Us Company Info

Newtop Chemical Materials (Shanghai) Co.,Ltd. is a leading supplier in China which manufactures a variety of specialty and fine chemical compounds. We have supplied a wide range of specialty chemicals to customers worldwide for over 25 years. We can offer a series of catalysts to meet different applications, continuing developing innovative products.

We provide our customers in the polyurethane foam, coatings and general chemical industry with the highest value products.

=======================================================================

Contact Information:

Contact: Ms. Aria

Cell Phone: +86 - 152 2121 6908

Email us: sales@newtopchem.com

Location: Creative Industries Park, Baoshan, Shanghai, CHINA