Polyetheramines are a group of chemicals that are aliphatic organic species based on both ether and amine groups. They are produced by reacting either

ethylene oxide Ethylene oxide is an organic compound with the chemical formula, formula . It is a cyclic ether and the simplest epoxide: a three-membered ring (chemistry), ring consisting of one oxygen atom and two carbon atoms. Ethylene oxide is a colorless ...

propylene oxide Propylene oxide is an epoxide with the molecular formula C3H6O. This colourless volatile liquid with an odour similar to ether, is produced on a large scale industrially. Its major application is its use for the production of polyether polyols f ...

with

polyol In organic chemistry, a polyol is an organic compound containing multiple hydroxyl groups (). The term "polyol" can have slightly different meanings depending on whether it is used in food science or polymer chemistry. Polyols containing two, th ...

s and then aminating them. There are a number of commercially available molecules with different CAS numbers and molecular weights. They often come with a prefix of M, D or T for monofunctional, difunctional and trifunctional respectively. D-230 would mean difunctional with a molecular weight of 230. A key use is for curing

epoxy Epoxy is the family of basic components or Curing (chemistry), cured end products of epoxy Resin, resins. Epoxy resins, also known as polyepoxides, are a class of reactive prepolymers and polymers which contain epoxide groups. The epoxide fun ...

resins.

Use as epoxy resin curatives

One of the primary uses of polyether amines is as an epoxy curing agent. They are commercially available as mono, di and tri-functional. Difunctional versions tend to give flexibility and thus toughness to epoxy resin systems. Studies have been done on the cured properties of epoxy systems using different functionality polyetheramines. As epoxy curatives, they may then be further formulated into CASE applications:

coating A coating is a covering that is applied to the surface of an object, or substrate. The purpose of applying the coating may be decorative, functional, or both. Coatings may be applied as liquids, gases or solids e.g. powder coatings. Paints ...

adhesive Adhesive, also known as glue, cement, mucilage, or paste, is any non-metallic substance applied to one or both surfaces of two separate items that binds them together and resists their separation. The use of adhesives offers certain advantage ...

sealant Sealant is a substance used to block the passage of fluids through openings in materials, a type of Seal (mechanical), mechanical seal. In building construction ''sealant'' is sometimes synonymous with ''caulk'' (especially if acrylic latex or ...

s, and

elastomer An elastomer is a polymer with viscoelasticity (i.e. both viscosity and elasticity) and with weak intermolecular forces, generally low Young's modulus (E) and high failure strain compared with other materials. The term, a portmanteau of ''ela ...

s. A key component of a Mannich base apart from formaldehyde and a phenolic species, is an amine. Polyetheramines can undergo the

Mannich reaction In organic chemistry, the Mannich reaction is a three-component organic reaction that involves the amino alkylation of an acidic proton next to a carbonyl () functional group by formaldehyde () and a primary or secondary amine () or ammonia () ...

and thus may be used to make Mannich bases.

Use as a fuel additive

Sludge and other deposits build up in internal combustion engines especially gasoline powered versions. Fuel additives and detergents are thus often employed to help remove these or at least minimize them. Polyetheramines are one such additive.{{Cite report , url=https://www.sae.org/publications/technical-papers/content/2020-01-2100/ , title=Sludge and Varnish Evaluation of Polyether Amine Gasoline Fuel Additives at "Complete Fuel System Cleaner" Aftermarket Fuel Additive Concentrations , last=Smocha , first=Ruth , date=2020-09-15 , publisher=SAE Technical Paper , issue=2020–01–2100 , location=Warrendale, PA , language=English

References

Amines Polyethers