Stearamide DEA is a chemical compound alkylamide, diethanolamide, a mixture of ethanolamines and stearic acid. DEA (diethanolamine) is a water-soluble molecule obtained by the reaction of ethylene oxide with ammonia. DEA shows reactive capacity is an aminoalcohol as it combines the properties of alcohols and amines.

The name describes the structure of the molecule:

• Stearamide indicates that the molecule is derived from stearic acid, a saturated fatty acid.
• DEA stands for Diethanolamine. It indicates that the molecule has undergone a reaction with diethanolamine, which is an organic compound used to enhance the consistency and stability of products.

Description of the raw materials used in its production:

• Stearic acid is a long-chain fatty acid obtained from natural sources such as palm oil, coconut oil, or other vegetable oils and fats. It serves as the main raw material for the production of stearamide DEA.
• Monoethanolamine (MEA) is a weak base that is used to react with stearic acid and form stearamide DEA. It acts as a reagent in the synthesis of the compound.

Industrial chemical synthesis step-by-step:

• Melting of stearic acid - Stearic acid is melted by heating it to an appropriate temperature.
• Addition of monoethanolamine - Monoethanolamine is added to the melted stearic acid. This reaction forms stearamide DEA, with the release of water as a by-product.
• Reaction and formation of stearamide DEA - The mixture of melted stearic acid and monoethanolamine is allowed to react, resulting in the formation of stearamide DEA. The reaction is typically carried out under controlled conditions of temperature and pressure.
• Purification - The synthesized stearamide DEA is purified to remove impurities and any remaining reactants or by-products. Purification methods may include filtration, distillation, or other separation techniques.
• Drying and solidification - The purified stearamide DEA is dried to remove any residual moisture and then solidified into the desired form, such as flakes or pellets.
• Quality control and analysis - The final product undergoes quality control tests and analysis to ensure its purity, composition, and adherence to industry standards.
• Incorporation into products - Stearamide DEA is incorporated into various formulations, such as detergents, shampoos, conditioners, and other personal care products, where it provides its surfactant and stabilizing properties.
• Packaging and distribution - The final product, containing stearamide DEA, is packaged and distributed for use in different industries.

Safety

Some of the scientific literature warns of the possible danger of DEA, while a 1998 study by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) did not establish a link between DEA and cancer risk in humans.

The most relevant studies on this ingredient have been selected with a summary of their contents: 

Diethanolamine (tiiips.com)

What it is used for and where it is used

It is used as a surfactant in cosmetics and a corrosion inhibitor in industrial applications.

Cosmetics

Surfactant - Foam booster. Its function is to introduce gas bubbles into the water for a purely aesthetic factor, which does not affect the cleaning process, but only satisfies the commercial aspect of the detergent by helping to spread the detergent on the hair. This helps in the commercial success of a shampoo formulation. Since sebum has an inhibiting action on the bubble, more foam is produced in the second shampoo.

Viscosity Enhancing Agent - aqueous. Since viscosity is important for increasing the chemical and physical stability of the product, Viscosity Enhancing Agent acqueous is an important dosage factor in gels, suspensions, emulsions, solutions. Increasing viscosity makes formulations less sedimentary and more homogeneously thickened.

Synonyms:

• Stearic diethanolamide
• Stearic acid diethanolamide
• Stearoyl diethanolamide

Trade name:

• D81489
• W-109348

CAS: 93-82-3

Chemical Safety: