Methylamines are used as chemical building blocks for the synthesis of polar, aprotic solvents such as dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP).

DMF (Dimethylformamide) is made through the reaction of dimethylamine with carbon monoxide or methylformate. This solvent is used to dissolve resins used in the production of synthetic leather and textile coatings, as dry spinning solvent for acrylic and elastane fibers, as extraction solvent in the petrochemical industry and finally as a processing and reaction solvent in the pharmaceutical industry.

The reaction of dimethylamine with acetic acid or acetic anhydride produces DMAC (dimethylacetamide), also used as a fiber spinning solvent. Furthermore DMAC has an important role in the synthesis and processing of certain pharmaceuticals, dyes and polymers.

Finally, NMP (N-methylpyrrolidone) is synthesized in the reaction between monomethylamine and gamma-butyrolactone. Again, this solvent is used in spinning processes and as an extraction solvent in petrochemistry. NMP plays also an indispensable role in special applications like wire enamel coatings (made from polyamide, -imide resins) and in photoresist strippers used during the production of electronic components. The reduction of methylene chloride in paint strippers and cleaners has opened new opportunities for the use of NMP.

Choline Base is a strong organic base used in the cleaning and degreasing of metal in the microelectronics industry.

• Applications

DMF, DMAc and NMP solvents are used in, amongst other applications, fiber spinning (e.g. textile fiber, artificial leather); electronics; surface cleaning; petrochemicals; polyamides; polymer processing and pharmaceuticals (x-ray contrast fluids, antibiotics).

For a full list of our solvent products applications, click here.