Elliot Band Group Head, Product and Process Development

An industrially important family of surfactants is the ester quaternaries. These are typically derived from methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) or triethanolamine (TEA) and fatty acids or esters. Esterquaternaries and their precursors, esteramines, can potentially be used in a variety of applications, including fabric care where the substantivity of these molecules is employed to treat fabrics.  Performance in this application is superior to amidoamines. These same properties can also be used in personal care applications and wherever substantivity is a key objective.

The hydrophobic chain typically derives from a natural, renewable source, such as vegetable oil or tallow. These chemical structures are sustainable.  Some examples are shown below.

 Akzo Nobel has substantial experience in the synthesis and manufacture of esteramine and ester quaternary surfactants.  We can tailor the product performance in a variety of ways according to your needs:  fatty chain source, modification of chain unsaturation, mole ratio of the acid to amine, counter ion type, and solvent.

For ester quaternaries derived from TEA the product is a distribution of mono, di, and triesters.  Akzo Nobel can adjust this distribution by the careful control of process conditions, including the patented synthesis of high diester containing esteramines and quaternaries.

Let us provide you the technical support to explore the many possibilities of esteramine derivatives. Please contact your local Akzo Nobel Surfactants account manager, or visit us at the locations listed in this electronic publication.