Hexamethylenediamine
The six-carbon diamine supplied by Chelora Chemicals — the essential co-monomer of nylon 66 and a precursor to hexamethylene diisocyanate for polyurethanes — exported from Indonesia as flake or molten solid with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What Hexamethylenediamine is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the compound's chemistry, its foundational role in nylon manufacture, and the grades Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
Hexamethylenediamine is a six-carbon straight-chain diamine: two primary amine groups at opposite ends of a hexamethylene backbone. Each amine is independently basic and nucleophilic, and the fixed six-carbon spacing between them is exactly what a condensation partner such as adipic acid needs to build the alternating amide linkages of nylon 66, giving the polymer its characteristic spacing of amide groups along the chain.
At room temperature it is a colourless crystalline solid or flake, melting at a modest temperature into a liquid that is handled molten in some industrial dosing systems; commercial samples can appear slightly yellowish. It is fully soluble in water and most polar organic solvents once dissolved or molten, and is handled with the corrosive-solid precautions typical of reactive diamines.
Where it fits in the synthesis chain
Hexamethylenediamine's overwhelming end use is the production of nylon 66, made by condensing the diamine with adipic acid in a step-growth polymerisation that alternates the two monomers along the polymer backbone. It is also used to make hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), a key building block for polyurethane coatings and elastomers prized for their light stability, and serves as a crosslinking agent in epoxy resin systems.
Grades we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers Hexamethylenediamine in technical grade (≈99% assay) for standard nylon-66 and HDI-precursor manufacture, and high-purity grade (99.5%+) for epoxy-crosslinker applications sensitive to colour and trace-impurity content. Both grades are supplied with a batch-wise certificate of analysis.
How Hexamethylenediamine is made
An overview of the production route for orientation purposes. Our manufacturing partners' own process parameters and in-process controls are proprietary and are not disclosed beyond what is needed to interpret the certificate of analysis.
Hexamethylenediamine is manufactured by catalytic hydrogenation of adiponitrile with hydrogen, typically carried out on molten adiponitrile diluted with ammonia, using cobalt- or iron-based catalysts: NC(CH₂)₄CN + 4 H₂ → H₂N(CH₂)₆NH₂. An alternative industrial process uses a Raney nickel catalyst and operates without the ammonia dilution. The crude diamine is purified by distillation and crystallisation to the required assay and melting-point specification before flaking and packing.
Why the adiponitrile hydrogenation route is universal
Catalytic hydrogenation of adiponitrile is the dominant industrial route to hexamethylenediamine because adiponitrile itself is produced at very large scale as the nylon-66 chain's other key intermediate, making the overall adiponitrile-to-HMDA-to-nylon-66 supply chain tightly integrated at major producers.
Industries and processes that use it
Hexamethylenediamine is consumed overwhelmingly by nylon 66 manufacture, with significant secondary demand from polyurethane and epoxy chemistry. The fields below account for most of the demand we see through our export desk.
Nylon 66 Co-Monomer
Condensed with adipic acid in step-growth polymerisation to give nylon 66, the essential industrial use of this diamine.
Hexamethylene Diisocyanate (HDI) Precursor
Converted to HDI, a key building block for light-stable polyurethane coatings and elastomers.
Epoxy Resin Crosslinking Agent
Used as a crosslinking agent in epoxy resin systems, drawing on its bifunctional primary-amine reactivity.
General Polyamide Intermediate
Used as a building block wherever a six-carbon bifunctional primary diamine is required in polyamide and specialty polymer chemistry.
How the molecule is typically carried forward
The two terminal primary amines and the fixed six-carbon spacing between them govern almost all of this molecule's further reaction chemistry. Reaction classes below account for most of the ways Hexamethylenediamine is converted into a finished polymer or intermediate.
Step-Growth Condensation to Nylon 66
Reacts with adipic acid in alternating fashion, forming amide bonds at each step to build the nylon 66 polymer chain.
Phosgenation to HDI
Reaction with phosgene (or a phosgene-free equivalent route) converts both amine groups to isocyanate groups, giving hexamethylene diisocyanate.
Epoxide Ring-Opening (Crosslinking)
Each of the two terminal amines opens an epoxide ring in turn, crosslinking epoxy resin into a thermoset network.
Salt Formation (Nylon Salt)
Neutralisation with adipic acid in precise 1:1 stoichiometry gives "nylon salt," the purified feedstock fed directly into nylon-66 polymerisation reactors.
Hexamethylenediamine against other diamines we supply
Buyers sourcing hexamethylenediamine for polymer chemistry often need a shorter-chain diamine for chelating or epoxy applications. A quick reference to what else is on our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hexamethylenediamine | 124-09-4 | Six-carbon diamine | The product on this page — the essential nylon 66 co-monomer in our range. |
| Ethylenediamine | 107-15-3 | Two-carbon diamine | A related, much shorter-chain diamine used across chelating-agent and epoxy chemistry — see its product page. |
| Diethylenetriamine | 111-40-0 | Triamine (3 N) | A related aliphatic amine used as an epoxy curing agent — see its product page. |
| Aminoethylethanolamine | 111-41-1 | Hybrid alkanolamine | A related hybrid amine/alkanolamine elsewhere in our range — see its product page. |
Exact physical constants and purity specifications are confirmed per batch on the certificate of analysis — treat the notes above as a sourcing guide, not a specification sheet, for products other than Hexamethylenediamine.
Safety classification at a glance
Based on GHS classification as commonly listed for this substance. This is a summary for orientation only — always work from the current safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch.
Harmful if swallowed.
Harmful in contact with skin.
Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
May cause respiratory irritation.
Impervious gloves, chemical splash goggles or a face shield, and suitable respiratory protection are the baseline for routine handling.
Handled molten above its melting point in some dosing systems; standard hot-material handling precautions apply.
When handled as flake or solid, minimise airborne dust during transfer and packing.
Danger — GHS05 corrosive and GHS07 harmful pictograms apply.
This compound causes severe skin burns and eye damage, may cause respiratory irritation, and is harmful if swallowed or in contact with skin. It must be handled with impervious gloves, splash-proof eye protection and suitable respiratory protection, particularly when molten or handled as fine flake. Full first-aid, storage, spill and PPE guidance is in the MSDS issued with every shipment, and should be read in full before this material is handled.
Keeping it on spec between delivery and use
General storage guidance for this grade. Site-specific storage rules, segregation requirements and re-test intervals should follow your own EHS procedures and the MSDS issued with your batch.
Store in a cool, dry area away from strong oxidizing agents and strong acids, in tightly closed original packaging, protected from moisture. If handled molten, maintain even heating to avoid localised degradation. If a batch is held past its retest date, re-check assay, colour and melting point before use.
How it ships from Indonesia
Standard packing and export terms for this product. Confirm exact figures against your order — they vary slightly by destination and quantity.
What travels with every batch
Specification is agreed before the purchase order, not discovered on arrival. Every shipment of Hexamethylenediamine leaves with a documented, checkable paper trail.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-wise assay (by titration), colour and melting point, issued against the agreed specification so your QC team can check it, not just file it.
Safety Data Sheet
GHS-format SDS in English covering hazard classification, handling, storage, first-aid and spill response for the exact grade shipped.
Technical Data Sheet
Reference physical and chemical properties, recommended storage and typical applications, for internal circulation to your process or R&D teams.
Certificate of Origin
Confirms Indonesian origin for customs clearance and any preferential-duty claim at your destination port.
Dangerous Goods Declaration
UN packing group, classification and shipper's declaration prepared ahead of loading so documentation never holds up customs.
Third-Party Inspection
Independent pre-shipment inspection and re-sampling can be arranged on request, at your cost, for buyers who require it as a matter of policy.
Frequently asked questions
What buyers most often ask our sales desk about this grade.
01What is Hexamethylenediamine used for?+
02What is the CAS number of Hexamethylenediamine?+
03How is Hexamethylenediamine made?+
04What purity grades does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
05Is Hexamethylenediamine hazardous?+
06Why does nylon 66 specifically need a six-carbon diamine?+
07What packing options are available?+
08How long does delivery take?+
09Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
10Do you supply other diamines as well?+
Need Hexamethylenediamine on spec, on time?
Send us your required purity, quantity, packing preference and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.