Isophorone Diamine
The cycloaliphatic diamine supplied by Chelora Chemicals — known in the trade as IPDA, a premium curing agent for ambient-cure epoxy coatings and flooring and the diamine precursor to isophorone diisocyanate — exported from Indonesia as a liquid in drums or ISO tanks with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What Isophorone Diamine is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the compound's chemistry, its role as a premium cycloaliphatic curing agent, and the grades Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
Isophorone Diamine is a cycloaliphatic diamine built on a trimethylcyclohexane ring: one primary amine is attached directly to the ring, the other sits on a pendant aminomethyl arm. This mixed arrangement — one amine on the ring, one on a flexible side-chain — gives IPDA a useful balance of reactivity, with the two amine groups curing at noticeably different rates.
At room temperature it is a colourless to pale-yellow liquid, supplied as a mixture of cis and trans ring isomers, fully miscible with water and most polar organic solvents. Its cycloaliphatic backbone gives cured epoxy systems better colour retention, UV resistance and hardness development than purely aliphatic chain diamines.
Where it fits in the synthesis chain
IPDA's principal use is as a curing agent for ambient and low-temperature-cure epoxy resin systems in protective coatings, flooring, adhesives and composites, prized for low colour and good weatherability. It is also the diamine feedstock for isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), a key aliphatic diisocyanate for light-stable polyurethane coatings, and is used in polyamide and polyurea synthesis.
Grades we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers Isophorone Diamine in technical grade (≈99% assay) for standard epoxy-curing and IPDI-precursor manufacture, and high-purity grade (99.5%+) for coatings applications sensitive to colour and amine-value consistency. Both grades are supplied with a batch-wise certificate of analysis.
How Isophorone Diamine 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.
Isophorone Diamine is manufactured from isophorone, itself produced by the base-catalysed self-condensation (aldol trimerisation) of acetone. Isophorone is reacted with hydrogen cyanide to give isophorone nitrile (3-cyano-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexanone, IPN), which is then reductively aminated with ammonia and hydrogen over a cobalt-, nickel- or ruthenium-based catalyst: the ring ketone condenses with ammonia and is hydrogenated to the ring amine, while the nitrile group is simultaneously hydrogenated to the pendant aminomethyl group, giving IPDA in a single catalytic step.
Why the isophorone route is standard
Isophorone is produced at substantial scale from acetone, a widely available petrochemical feedstock, making the acetone-to-isophorone-to-IPN-to-IPDA chain a well-established, tightly integrated route at major amine producers, and the single reductive-amination step controls both the ring amine and the aminomethyl group in one pass.
Industries and processes that use it
Isophorone Diamine is consumed overwhelmingly as an epoxy curing agent in premium coatings and flooring, with significant secondary demand as the diamine feedstock for isophorone diisocyanate. The fields below account for most of the demand we see through our export desk.
Epoxy Resin Curing Agent
Used as a cycloaliphatic hardener for ambient-cure protective coatings, self-levelling flooring and structural adhesives, prized for low colour.
Isophorone Diisocyanate (IPDI) Precursor
Converted to IPDI, a key aliphatic diisocyanate for light-stable, non-yellowing polyurethane coatings and elastomers.
Polyamide Curing Agent
Used to build cycloaliphatic polyamide and polyamidoamine curing agents that blend the ring diamine's hardness with added flexibility.
Composite & Adhesive Formulation
Supplies the long working time and good mechanical development needed in structural composite and adhesive epoxy systems.
How the molecule is typically carried forward
The ring-bound amine and the pendant aminomethyl amine react at different rates, which governs almost all of this molecule's further reaction chemistry. Reaction classes below account for most of the ways IPDA is converted into a finished coating or intermediate.
Epoxide Ring-Opening (Curing)
The more reactive primary aminomethyl group opens an epoxide ring first, followed by the less hindered ring-bound amine, crosslinking epoxy resin into a thermoset network.
Phosgenation to IPDI
Reaction with phosgene (or a phosgene-free equivalent route) converts both amine groups to isocyanate groups, giving isophorone diisocyanate.
Michael Addition (Adduct Formation)
Reacts with acrylate or epoxy-acrylate monomers to form curing-agent adducts with tailored reactivity and lower vapour pressure.
Amidation (Polyamidoamine Synthesis)
Condenses with dimer fatty acids to build flexible polyamidoamine curing agents used in tougher, more flexible epoxy coatings.
Isophorone Diamine against other amines we supply
Buyers sourcing Isophorone Diamine for premium coatings often need a related diamine for faster curing or different chain chemistry. A quick reference to what else is on our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isophorone Diamine | 2855-13-2 | Cycloaliphatic diamine | The product on this page — a premium epoxy curing agent and IPDI precursor. |
| 1,3-Propanediamine | 109-76-2 | Three-carbon diamine | A related, much faster-reacting short-chain aliphatic diamine — see its product page. |
| Hexamethylenediamine | 124-09-4 | Six-carbon diamine | A related aliphatic diamine and the essential nylon 66 co-monomer — 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. |
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 Isophorone Diamine.
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.
Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
May cause an allergic skin reaction.
Toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects.
Impervious gloves, chemical splash goggles or a face shield, and suitable respiratory protection are the baseline for routine handling.
As with most amine curing agents, repeated skin contact can lead to sensitisation — avoid skin contact entirely.
Contain and absorb with inert material; avoid discharge to drains or waterways given its aquatic toxicity.
Danger — GHS05 corrosive, GHS07 harmful and GHS09 environmental pictograms apply.
This compound causes severe skin burns and eye damage, may cause an allergic skin reaction, is harmful if swallowed, and is toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects. It must be handled with impervious gloves, splash-proof eye protection and suitable respiratory protection at all times. 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 atmospheric carbon dioxide and moisture. If a batch is held past its retest date, re-check amine value, colour and water content 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 Isophorone Diamine leaves with a documented, checkable paper trail.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-wise assay (by titration/GC), colour and relevant physical constants, 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 of Isophorone Diamine 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 Isophorone Diamine used for?+
02What is the CAS number of Isophorone Diamine?+
03How is Isophorone Diamine made?+
04What purity grades does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
05Is Isophorone Diamine hazardous?+
06Why does IPDA cure more slowly than aliphatic chain diamines?+
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 Isophorone Diamine on spec, on time?
Send us your required purity, quantity, packing preference and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.