Common synonyms

• N-bis (hydroxyethyl) coco fatty acid amides
• N-Bis (hydroxyethyl) coco amides
• cocamide diethanolamine
• coconut oil diethanolamine
• coconut DEA
• cocamide DEA
• coco diethanolamides
• coco diethanolamine
• coconut diethanolamides
• coco fatty acid diethanolamides

CDEA is typically used as a foaming agent in shampoos, hand soaps, and bath products. Additionally, it has an application in various types of cosmetics as an emulsifying agent; and in detergents Such as dishwashing liquid As a foaming agent.

Coconut diethanolamide is a mixture of amines able to neutralize acids to form salts plus water through an exothermic reaction. Amines may be incompatible with anhydrides, isocyanates, peroxides, halogenated organics, epoxides, acidic phenols, and acid halides. In combination with strong reducing agents, such as hydrides, amines can generate flammable gaseous hydrogen.

Coconut DEA features good stabilizing properties. As an anti-corrosion inhibitor, it’s utilized in metal-working fluids and polishing agents. Additional advantages of Coconut DEA include excellent decontamination, wetting, dispersion, and antistatic performances.

In washing detergent formulas, it’s a water softener, thickening, foaming, and foam-stabilizing agent. Combined with other anionic surfactants, such as LABSA, Coconut diethanolamide significantly improves the foaming ability of the formula, making the final product stable, rich, and long-lasting. CDEA can soften fiber textile, which makes it particularly suitable for use in formulas for washing rigid natural and animal fibers. The addition of Coconut diethanolamide to the washing detergent notably enhances overall laundry effects.
Coconut diethanolamide is a mixture of amines able to neutralize acids to form salts plus water through an exothermic reaction. Amines may be incompatible with anhydrides, isocyanates, peroxides, halogenated organics, epoxides, acidic phenols, and acid halides. In combination with strong reducing agents, such as hydrides, amines can generate flammable gaseous hydrogen.

CDEA is typically used as a foaming agent in shampoos, hand soaps, and bath products. Additionally, it has an application in various types of cosmetics as an emulsifying agent; and in detergents – such as dishwashing liquid – as a foaming agent.

Coconut DEA features good stabilizing properties. As an anti-corrosion inhibitor, it’s utilized in metal-working fluids and polishing agents. Additional advantages of Coconut DEA include excellent decontamination, wetting, dispersion, and antistatic performances.

In washing detergent formulas, it’s a water softener, thickening, foaming, and foam-stabilizing agent. Combined with other anionic surfactants, such as LABSA, Coconut diethanolamide significantly improves the foaming ability of the formula, making the final product stable, rich, and long-lasting. CDEA can soften fiber textile, which makes it particularly suitable for use in formulas for washing rigid natural and animal fibers. The addition of Coconut diethanolamide to the washing detergent notably enhances overall laundry effects.

Stability/Shelf life

Stable. Combustible. Incompatible with potent oxidizing agents.

Store in a cool, dry, and dark place.

Under proper storage conditions, the shelf life of Coconut diethanolamide is two years.

Manufacturing

Coconut diethanolamide is a diethanolamine condensate of coconut oil obtained by a condensation reaction at a 1:1 or 1:2 ratio of the adequate fatty acids to diethanolamine. The process requires temperatures no higher than 170 °C, and the assistance of an alkaline catalyst.

The 1:2 mixture produces a lower-quality Coconut diethanolamide, which contains residues of free diethanolamine and ethylene glycol. A higher-quality 1:1 mixture results in less free amine, which makes it suitable for use in lower concentrations than the 1:2 Coconut diethanolamide. 

Fatty acids that can be used in the process are coconut oil, methyl cocoate, whole or stripped coconut acids.

Consumer use

Coconut DEA is an ingredient in a variety of cosmetic formulations, including shampoos, conditioners, bath oils, cooling fluids, lipsticks, soap bars, hair dyes, and various household detergents, in concentrations ranging from 1 to 25%. 

Industry use

Coconut oil diethanolamine condensate belongs to the fatty acid diethanolamides extensively used in cosmetics manufacturing. Coconut DEA is commonly used as an emulsifying agent, emulsion stabilizer, surfactant, thickener, and viscosity builder for cosmetic surfactant formulas.

It’s also used as a surfactant in soap bars, light-duty detergents, and dishwashing detergents, as well as a delinting agent for cottonseed. CDEA can be added to lauryl sulfate-based liquid cleansers to help stabilize and improve foam formation.

Coconut oil diethanolamine condensate is a corrosion inhibitor in water-based, semi-synthetic, and synthetic metal-working fluids, also found in polishing agents. As an antistatic agent, it can be found in plastics, such as polyethylene film for food packaging and rigid polyvinyl chloride. In combination with metallic salts, it works as an antistatic for polystyrene and in impact-resistant rubber polystyrene blends. 

Other uses include electric plating, shoe polish, printing ink, and more.

Solubility

Coconut diethanolamide is soluble in water at 20 °C; produces an alkali in an aqueous solution.