Fatty Acid Diethanolamide, known in the industry as CDEA, belongs to a group of non-ionic surfactants which often show up in cleaning products and personal care items. People handle this substance in day-to-day situations without realizing it—a good example being shampoos and liquid soaps. CDEA develops from the reaction between diethanolamine and fatty acids, most often sourced from coconut or palm oils. The process feels practical because these raw ingredients are abundant and renewal keeps pace with demand. I have seen how manufacturers favor CDEA over less sustainable alternatives to help balance performance with responsible sourcing; that choice ties into the way modern industry tries to follow responsible production streams.
Fatty Acid Diethanolamide features a characteristic yellow to pale amber appearance, shifting from solid flakes or crystals to a waxy mass as room temperature goes up. Sometimes it presents as a semi-solid or a creamy liquid, depending on ambient conditions and the precise fatty acid content. Those who handle large bags in production plants have noticed the faint ammonia-like odor, giving away the diethanolamine backbone in the compound. The molecular formula for CDEA sits at C11H23CON(CH2CH2OH)2, with a molecular weight usually listed around 285 grams per mole—facts that matter for lab work, especially for quality control. Its density typically ranges from 0.98 to 1.01 grams per cubic centimeter, meaning the compound floats just under water’s surface. From my own experience in the lab, I noticed that the melting point sits around 28-30°C, which means CDEA transitions from a solid to a viscous liquid right in the neighborhood of a typical summer day, a feature that influences how manufacturers store and transport it.
CDEA comes in several physical forms. Commercial suppliers often offer it as flakes for easier storage or as a waxy solid that’s simple to section and melt. Some customers request free-flowing powder or small pearls for automated blending systems, while large operations favor liquid (solution) forms designed for swift dosing at high throughput sites. Solid blocks can get broken down into liter-specific portions, making inventory straightforward. After handling these different forms on a busy production floor, I recommend considering environmental factors—humidity and temperature especially—as they shift the balance between solid and flowable. In smaller cosmetic labs and larger industrial plants alike, CDEA moves between the blending tank and the product line with relative ease, thanks partly to its solubility in both water and various organic solvents.
CDEA works as a foaming agent, emulsifier, and stabilizer. It stabilizes foams so soaps, shampoos, and detergents keep their texture when agitated. The molecular structure presents a polar amide group and two hydroxyethyl branches, which help maintain emulsions by preventing oil and water separation—an essential trait in lotions and cleaning agents alike. This dual-action site (hydrophilic and lipophilic) leads to stable blends in personal care and household products. Chemically, the property of CDEA to resist breaking down under mild acids and bases allows for broad compatibility across many recipes. Unlike some older surfactants, CDEA does not corrode metals or plastics, keeping production equipment running smoother for longer. Spec sheets mark the active content around 85% or higher in quality-assured batches, with free diethanolamine content monitored well below legal safety limits due to raw material selection and strong process control.
According to global customs systems, Fatty Acid Diethanolamide typically falls under the HS Code 3402.13.00, which covers non-ionic organic surfactants. This code tracks international trade and makes sure exporters and importers meet their documentation and tariff obligations. Anyone involved in supply chain management or customs clearance for chemicals will run into this code frequently during import and export, especially in regions with tight audits on chemical raw materials.
CDEA does not swim in the same toxicity waters as some harsher surfactants, but workplace safety deserves attention. Handling the raw compound may cause mild eye or skin irritation for some people, especially after long contact, so gloves and goggles become standard in processing plants. Inhalation risks stay low thanks to its low volatility, but dust from broken flakes could bother the airways in poorly ventilated spaces. Over the years, studies in the US and EU pointed out possible impurities—mainly traces of diethanolamine and nitrosamines—that have been linked to stricter regulations in cosmetic and food-related applications. These findings spurred stronger process hygiene at the factory level and shifted the industry toward tighter limits on residual reactants. I have seen many labs move to batch testing for compliance well ahead of shipping finished goods. Used correctly, CDEA upholds regulatory standards, but personnel training and modern production controls remain non-negotiable.
Fatty Acid Diethanolamide finds its biggest audience in daily-use items, from dishwashing liquids to car washes and personal care. That ability to boost foam and add creamy texture goes up against price and regulatory pressure, motivating manufacturers to reexamine supply chain ethics and technical performance at every step. Staying up-to-date with testing not only keeps customers safe but also reflects a growing global push to replace or reformulate with safer, biodegradable materials wherever possible. Despite all the advances, one stubborn problem stands out: balancing performance with safer chemistry, especially with global calls to phase out potentially harmful feedstocks or byproducts. The solution demands continuous investment in green chemistry and better traceability, requiring everyone in the chain—from raw material suppliers to end users—to cooperate instead of leaving the heavy lifting to regulators alone.
