Tetraethylenepentamine
The longest-chain ethyleneamine supplied by Chelora Chemicals — an epoxy resin hardener on its own or as an amidoamine with tall oil fatty acid, and a pentadentate metal-chelating ligand — exported from Indonesia with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What Tetraethylenepentamine is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the compound's chemistry, its place as the longest-chain member of the ethyleneamine family we supply, and the grade Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
Tetraethylenepentamine extends the ethyleneamine chain to five nitrogen atoms along four ethylene bridges: two primary amine termini flanking three internal secondary amines. All five nitrogens are nucleophilic and basic, giving the molecule pentadentate chelating capacity — the strongest metal-ion binding in the ethyleneamine series we supply — and the highest density of reactive amine sites per molecule for epoxy crosslinking chemistry.
At room temperature it is a slightly viscous, yellow liquid (unlike the lower ethyleneamines, it is not colourless even when fresh) with an ammoniacal odour, fully miscible with water. Commercial technical-grade material typically contains some diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetramine, piperazine and aminoethylpiperazine alongside the pentamine itself, reflecting the chain-building process it comes from.
Where it fits in the synthesis chain
Tetraethylenepentamine is used primarily as a curing agent or hardener in epoxy resin chemistry, either alone or — more commonly in commercial formulations — reacted first with tall oil fatty acid (TOFA) and its dimer to form an amidoamine, which then serves as a lower-odour, lower-volatility curing agent for epoxy systems. In coordination chemistry it acts as a pentadentate ligand, and its reactivity and uses are broadly similar to those of ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine and triethylenetetramine, the shorter members of the same family.
Grade we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers Tetraethylenepentamine in technical grade (97%+ as the ethyleneamine mixture typical of commercial material) for standard epoxy-hardener and amidoamine-curing-agent manufacture. Each batch is supplied with a certificate of analysis.
How Tetraethylenepentamine 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.
Tetraethylenepentamine is manufactured as part of the same thermal/catalytic condensation process used across the ethyleneamine family: ethylenediamine, or ethanolamine and ammonia, are heated over an oxide catalyst, and the chain-building condensation is carried further than it is for diethylenetriamine or triethylenetetramine to reach the five-nitrogen product. The resulting mixture, which also contains shorter-chain ethyleneamines and cyclic by-products such as piperazine and aminoethylpiperazine, is separated by fractional distillation to the required technical-grade composition.
Why the shared ethyleneamine process is favoured at scale
Running the chain-building condensation to the pentamine stage from the same feedstock used for the shorter ethyleneamines lets a single process serve the whole homologous series, with product mix shifted toward whichever chain length current demand favours.
Industries and processes that use it
Tetraethylenepentamine is consumed chiefly by epoxy-hardener and amidoamine curing-agent manufacture. The fields below account for most of the demand we see through our export desk.
Epoxy Resin Hardener
Used alone as a curing agent or hardener in epoxy chemistry, offering the highest density of reactive amine sites in the ethyleneamine series.
Amidoamine Curing Agent Precursor
Reacted with tall oil fatty acid (TOFA) and its dimer to make an amidoamine, a lower-odour, lower-volatility curing agent for epoxy resin systems.
Pentadentate Coordination Chemistry
Acts as a pentadentate ligand in coordination chemistry, binding metal ions through five donor nitrogen sites at once.
Specialty Chemical Intermediate
Used in further specialty chemical synthesis wherever a five-nitrogen aliphatic amine chain is required.
How the molecule is typically carried forward
The five nucleophilic nitrogen sites govern almost all of this molecule's further reaction chemistry. Reaction classes below account for most of the ways Tetraethylenepentamine is converted into a finished curing agent.
Epoxide Ring-Opening (Hardening)
Each of the five amine sites opens an epoxide ring in turn, giving the densest crosslink network in the ethyleneamine series.
Amidation with Tall Oil Fatty Acid
Reaction with TOFA and its dimer forms an amidoamine, converting some of the primary amine sites into amide linkages and leaving the remaining amines to cure the epoxy resin.
Pentadentate Metal Chelation
The five nitrogens together coordinate a metal ion through five donor sites at once, the strongest chelation in the ethyleneamine family we supply.
Salt Formation
Neutralisation with acids gives tetraethylenepentamine salts used in some specialty formulation chemistry.
Tetraethylenepentamine against the other members of the ethyleneamine chain we supply
Buyers sourcing tetraethylenepentamine for epoxy hardening often need a shorter-chain ethyleneamine for a different cure profile. A quick reference to the full homologous series in our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tetraethylenepentamine | 112-57-2 | Pentamine (5 N) | The product on this page — the longest-chain ethyleneamine we supply, used as an epoxy hardener. |
| Ethylenediamine | 107-15-3 | Diamine (2 N) | The founding member of the chain — see its product page. |
| Diethylenetriamine | 111-40-0 | Triamine (3 N) | The second member of the chain, a common epoxy curing agent — see its product page. |
| Triethylenetetramine | 112-24-3 | Tetramine (4 N) | The third member of the chain, used as an epoxy crosslinker — 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 Tetraethylenepentamine.
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 an allergic skin reaction.
Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
Impervious gloves, chemical splash goggles or a face shield are the baseline for routine handling.
Avoid any release to drains or waterways given its aquatic toxicity profile.
Danger — GHS05 corrosive, GHS07 harmful and GHS09 environmental-hazard pictograms apply.
This compound causes severe skin burns and eye damage, may cause an allergic skin reaction, is harmful if swallowed or in contact with skin, and is toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. It must be handled with impervious gloves and splash-proof eye protection in a well-ventilated area, kept well away from drains and waterways. 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, well-ventilated area in tightly closed original packaging, protected from moisture given its hygroscopic tendency, and segregated from strong oxidizing agents and strong acids. If a batch is held past its retest date, re-check assay, 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 Tetraethylenepentamine leaves with a documented, checkable paper trail.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-wise assay (by titration), colour and water content, 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 Tetraethylenepentamine used for?+
02What is the CAS number of Tetraethylenepentamine?+
03How is Tetraethylenepentamine made?+
04What grade does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
05Is Tetraethylenepentamine hazardous?+
06Why is commercial TEPA described as a mixture rather than a single pure compound?+
07What packing options are available?+
08How long does delivery take?+
09Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
10Do you supply the other ethyleneamines as well?+
Need Tetraethylenepentamine on spec, on time?
Send us your required purity, quantity, packing preference and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.