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Aliphatic Polyamine Curatives

Fast-curing aliphatic polyamine epoxy hardeners u2014 DETA, TETA, and TEPA u2014 for ambient-temperature cure of primers, grouts, and concrete-repair mortars.

Overview

Aliphatic polyamine curatives are low-molecular-weight ethylene amines u2014 DETA,nTETA, and TEPA u2014 that crosslink liquid epoxy resin into a hard thermoset at ambientntemperature. They react fast: a DETA-cured standard epoxy can reach handlingnstrength in a few hours at 25°C with no oven. Specify them where cure speed and lowncost matter more than appearance, such as primers, epoxy grouts, anchoring compounds, andnconcrete-repair mortars.

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The trade-off is honest. Fast cure means short pot life (a DETA mix can gel in well undernan hour in any appreciable mass), and the high reaction exotherm limits how thick a singlenpour can be. These amines also blush: in cool, humid air they react with atmospheric carbonndioxide and water to leave a greasy carbamate film that can ruin recoat adhesion. Benchmarknthe induction time for your batch size and control the dew point during application.

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Within the family, reactivity climbs with amine content and molecular weight setsnflexibility. DETA gives the fastest, highest-exotherm cure; TETA is the general-purposenmiddle grade; TEPA, the heaviest, builds a slightly more flexible film. For most ambientnprimer and grout work, start with TETA, then move to DETA only if you need a faster set, ornto TEPA if the substrate flexes.

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Where it's used
  • Two-component epoxy primers for steel and concrete substrates
  • Epoxy grouts, anchoring compounds, and crack-injection resins
  • Concrete-repair mortars and floor patching where fast turnaround matters
  • Ambient-cure maintenance coatings with no oven or post-bake
  • Adhesives and laminating systems needing a low-cost room-temperature hardener
Frequently asked questions
What are aliphatic amine epoxy curatives used for?
Aliphatic polyamine curatives (DETA, TETA, TEPA) crosslink epoxy resin into a hard thermoset at room temperature. They cure fast and at low cost, which makes them the standard hardeners for epoxy primers, grouts, anchoring compounds, and concrete-repair mortars where appearance is secondary to speed and chemical resistance.
What is the difference between DETA, TETA, and TEPA?
All three are ethylene amines that differ in molecular weight and amine content. DETA is the lightest and most reactive (fastest cure, highest exotherm), TETA is the general-purpose middle grade, and TEPA is the heaviest and gives a slightly more flexible film. Reactivity falls and flexibility rises as molecular weight increases.
Why do aliphatic amine-cured epoxies blush?
Amine blush is a greasy carbamate film that forms when the amine reacts with atmospheric carbon dioxide and moisture during cure, mainly in cool, humid conditions. It can block recoat adhesion. Control it by managing dew point and temperature during application, or switch to a blush-resistant cycloaliphatic curative.
Does RawSource supply aliphatic amines in bulk?
Yes. RawSource sources DETA, TETA, and TEPA for coatings and construction formulators. Send the CAS number and your target volume with an RFQ for current availability and pricing.
Disclaimer. Information on this page is provided for general reference and compiled from authoritative public sources (e.g. PubChem/ECHA). Values are typical and are not a guaranteed specification; the Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for the lot you purchase governs. Products are sold for industrial and professional use only. Nothing here is a medical, health, or efficacy claim. Always consult the current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before handling, and confirm regulatory status, classification, and suitability for your application and jurisdiction.
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