TEA-lauroyl/myristoyl aspartate is the triethanolamine salt of the substituted amino acid. It belongs to the Amino Acid Alkyl Amides.

The name describes the structure of the molecule:

• "TEA" stands for triethanolamine, a versatile organic compound that is often used as an emulsifier and surfactant. It is a strong base that can neutralize acids and form salts and soaps, which is why it is often used in cosmetic products and for personal care.
• "Lauroyl" and "Myristoyl" respectively refer to lauric acid fatty acids and myristic acid, saturated fatty acids found in various plant and animal sources. In this context, they are used as part of the surfactant system, helping to reduce the surface tension of substances in the product and improve the consistency and spreadability of the product.
• "Aspartate" refers to salt or ester of aspartic acid, an amino acid used as a conditioning agent, helping to improve the feeling and appearance of hair and skin.

The synthesis process takes place in several stages:

• Production of triethanolamine by reacting ethylene oxide with ammonia, which results in a mixture of ethanolamines, including triethanolamine.
• Production of Myristoyl and Lauroyl chlorides by reacting lauric acid and myristic acid with thionyl chloride to obtain the corresponding acyl chlorides.
• Formation of TEA-lauroyl/myristoyl aspartate. The final phase involves the reaction of triethanolamine with chlorides of myristoyl and lauroyl in the presence of aspartic acid. The resulting product is TEA-Lauroyl/Myristoyl Aspartate.

What it is used for and where

Cosmetics

Hair conditioning agent. A large number of ingredients with specific purposes can co-exist in a hair shampoo: cleansers, conditioners, thickeners, mattifying agents, sequestering agents, fragrances, preservatives, special additives. However, the indispensable ingredients are the cleansers and conditioners as they are necessary and sufficient for hair cleansing and manageability. The others act as commercial and non-essential auxiliaries such as: appearance, fragrance, colouring, etc. Hair conditioning agents have the task of increasing shine, manageability and volume, and reducing static electricity, especially after treatments such as colouring, ironing, waving, drying and brushing. They are, in practice, dispersing agents that may contain cationic surfactants, thickeners, emollients, polymers. The typology of hair conditioners includes: intensive conditioners, instant conditioners, thickening conditioners, drying conditioners.

Surfactant - Cleansing agent. Cosmetic products used to cleanse the skin utilise the surface-active action that produces a lowering of the surface tension of the stratum corneum, facilitating the removal of dirt and impurities.

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