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Dimethyl(tridecyl)amine oxide is a long-chain tertiary amine oxide surfactant with the formula C₁₃H₂₇N(CH₃)₂O. Its structure features a hydrophobic tridecyl group and a hydrophilic, polar amine oxide headgroup. This amphiphilic nature allows it to act as a foaming agent and viscosity modifier. It is amphoteric, behaving as a nonionic surfactant at high pH and a cationic species under acidic conditions. It is commonly used in detergents and personal care products for its emulsifying and stabilising properties.
Items | Specifications | Results |
Appearance | Pass | |
PH value | 6-9 | 7.25 |
Content(%) | 30%±1 | 30.20% |
Unreactive amine | ≤1 | 0.65 |
Chroma | ≤50 | 10 |
Conclusion | Confirmed with pharmaceutical grade standards |
Dimethyl(tridecyl)amine oxide is a versatile surfactant (a compound that lowers surface tension) and foaming agent. You'll most commonly find it in personal care and household cleaning products like shampoos, body washes, and dish soaps, where it helps to create a rich, stable lather and thicken the formula.
Let's break down the name to understand its structure and properties:
Amine Oxide Core: The "amine oxide" part is the functional group. It consists of a nitrogen atom (N) bonded to three carbon atoms and one oxygen atom (N→O). This group is key to its behavior.
Dimethyl: This means two of the groups attached to the nitrogen are methyl groups (-CH₃).
Tridecyl: This is a 13-carbon alkyl chain (-C₁₃H₂₇). This long carbon chain is hydrophobic (water-repelling).
So, the molecule has:
A hydrophilic (water-loving) "head": The amine oxide group.
A hydrophobic (water-hating) "tail": The tridecyl chain.
This structure makes it a classic surfactant.
Surfactant and Foaming Agent: In solutions, the molecules arrange themselves at the interface between water and air or oil. This reduces surface tension, allowing the product to spread easily and trap air to create a stable, dense foam.
Amphoteric Nature: This is a crucial characteristic.
This pH-dependent behavior makes it very versatile and compatible with a wide range of other ingredients.
In neutral or acidic conditions (low pH), the amine oxide can accept a proton (H⁺) and become a cationic surfactant (positively charged). This form is mild and has conditioning properties.
In alkaline conditions (high pH, like most soaps and shampoos), it acts as a nonionic surfactant (no charge). This form is an excellent foamer and is compatible with anionic surfactants (like SLS/SLES).
Viscosity Modifier: It can help thicken liquid formulations, giving them a more luxurious, creamy consistency.
Conditioning Agent: In its cationic form (at low pH), it can bind to the negatively charged surface of hair, providing softness and manageability.
You will find dimethyl(tridecyl)amine oxide in a wide variety of products:
Hair Care: Shampoos, conditioners, and hair dyes (for foaming and conditioning).
Body Care: Body washes, bubble baths, and liquid soaps (for its rich lather).
Household Cleaners: Dishwashing liquids, all-purpose cleaners, and hard surface cleaners (for grease cutting and foaming).
Industrial Applications: As a wetting agent and foam stabilizer in various processes.
Safety: It is generally considered safe for use in cosmetics and cleaning products at low concentrations. It is known to be mild to the skin and eyes, especially when formulated with other ingredients.
Irritation: Like many surfactants, it can be a mild irritant at high concentrations, but in finished products, it is well-tolerated by most people.
Regulation: It is approved for use by regulatory bodies like the FDA (in the US) and the European Commission (for use in cosmetics in the EU).
Feature | Description |
---|---|
Chemical Class | Amine oxide, Surfactant |
Primary Function | Foam booster, Surfactant, Viscosity modifier |
Behavior | Amphoteric (nonionic at high pH, cationic at low pH) |
Common Uses | Shampoos, body washes, dish soaps, household cleaners |
Key Benefit | Creates rich, stable lather and is mild on the skin. |
In essence, dimethyl(tridecyl)amine oxide is a workhorse ingredient that gives cleaning and personal care products their desirable foaming and thickening properties while remaining relatively mild.
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