Technical Specifications
| Property | Unit | Typical Value | Test Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demulsibility | min | 5 | — |
| Nitrogen | % | 0.6 | ASTM D5762 |
| Flash point | °C | 130 | ASTM D93 |
| Density at 20°C | kg/m³ | 998 | ASTM D4052 |
| Water content | % | 0.01 | ASTM D95 |
| Solubility (Mineral Group I–III) | Slightly soluble | — | |
| Appearance | Light yellow transparent liquid | Visual |
* Typical values from batch production. Batch-specific COA available on request.
Technical content reviewed by the CheMost additives team · Specifications last reviewed
Molecular Structure
Molecular structure · amine polyether demulsifier
R–N[(C₃H₆O)ₙ–H]₂
Amine-initiated polypropylene-oxide demulsifier: a polyamine core carrying propylene-oxide (PO) chains; the balance of the amino groups and the PO chains sets the interfacial activity that separates oil and water.
What Is an Amine Polyether Demulsifier?
CheMost-D1 is an oil-soluble amine-polyether demulsifier — an additive built from amino groups and propylene oxide that breaks oil-water emulsions and speeds the separation of water from a lubricant. It works at the oil-water interface, changing the surface tension so that finely dispersed water droplets coalesce and settle out instead of staying emulsified in the oil. It is supplied as a light-yellow transparent liquid (grade D1).
What sets the amine type apart is that it does more than separate water. The amino groups give it strong water extractability, making it particularly suited to lubricating oils that come into contact with water in service; the trace nitrogen it carries (0.6%) provides a degree of antioxidant capacity; and it shows a useful synergistic effect with succinic-acid type rust inhibitors. Because it is oil-soluble it can be blended at room temperature without heating.
CheMost offers two complementary demulsifier chemistries: this amine-polyether D1, and the non-ionic polyether demulsifier (D2) — see the comparison below.
How an Amine Polyether Demulsifier Works
Interfacial demulsification
The additive migrates to the oil-water interface and lowers the interfacial tension that holds an emulsion together, displacing the natural emulsifying species so that the small dispersed water droplets can merge into larger drops and separate from the oil under gravity — restoring fast water shedding.
Water extractability
The amine-polyether structure is especially effective at pulling emulsified and dissolved water out of the oil phase, which is why D1 is favoured for lubricating oils that are repeatedly exposed to water in their working environment.
Trace-nitrogen antioxidancy
The small amount of nitrogen in the molecule contributes a degree of oxidation resistance on top of the demulsifying function — a secondary benefit, not a substitute for a dedicated antioxidant.
Rust-inhibitor synergy
D1 works synergistically with succinic-acid type rust inhibitors — a constructive pairing, because polar rust inhibitors can otherwise hold water in the oil and drag demulsibility down. Matching the two lets a formulation keep both rust protection and clean water separation.
Amine vs Polyether Demulsifier
CheMost’s two demulsifier chemistries are chosen by what the oil needs:
| Property | Amine polyether (D1) | Polyether (D2) |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | Amine + propylene oxide | Non-ionic EO/PO polyether |
| Nitrogen | 0.6% (adds antioxidancy) | None |
| Flash point | 130 °C | 235 °C |
| Extra benefit | Rust-inhibitor synergy, antioxidancy | Helps suppress foam |
| Best suited to | Lube oils that contact water | Marine, turbine & hydraulic oils |
Choose D1 where water extractability, antioxidancy and compatibility with succinic-acid rust inhibitors matter; choose the polyether D2 for marine oils and where foam suppression is also wanted. Both are dosed at very low levels.
Applications
This amine polyether demulsifier is used as the water-separation component in formulations targeting the categories below; the finished-oil water-handling performance depends on the complete additive system.
Hydraulic & circulating oils
Hydraulic and circulating systems frequently take in water; D1 keeps the oil shedding that water quickly so it can be drained rather than emulsified, protecting pumps and surfaces from water-related wear and corrosion.
Turbine oils
Steam and water ingress make fast water release essential in turbine oils; the demulsifier restores the demulsibility that polar additives can otherwise reduce.
Industrial gear oils
In industrial gear oils exposed to washdown or condensation, D1 helps the oil separate from water, working alongside the rust inhibitors it is compatible with.
Water-exposed lubricating oils
Any lubricating oil that repeatedly contacts water in service benefits from the amine type’s strong water extractability — the application the TDS specifically highlights.
Finished-oil performance and any industry approvals belong to the fully formulated oil, not to an individual demulsifier component.
Treat Rate & Handling
Demulsifiers are low-dose, high-impact additives: the technical data sheet gives a guideline addition of about 100 ppm (≈0.01 wt%), and demulsifiers are generally effective in the order of tens to a couple of hundred ppm. They are dosed to the demulsibility result, not to a fixed percentage.
dose to the demulsibility target — more is not better
The one handling rule to respect is over-treating. The additive’s bulk solubility in mineral base oils is only slight (the Technical Specifications note it as slightly soluble in Group I–III), so although it dissolves readily and is added at room temperature at its low working level, putting in more than the oil needs exceeds that limit and causes turbidity (haze) — another reason to dose to the demulsibility result rather than higher. Because demulsibility is a whole-formulation property, the demulsifier is balanced against the polar additives (rust inhibitors, detergents) that influence it.
The figures above are the TDS guideline and typical practice; the right level depends on the base oil and the rest of the additive system. CheMost can provide demulsibility optimisation support on request.
Formulating With an Amine Polyether Demulsifier — Complementary Additives
Demulsibility is a balance across the whole additive system; D1 is matched with the components that affect it:
Rust & corrosion inhibitors
D1 is specifically synergistic with succinic-acid type rust inhibitors — the pairing keeps water-exposed oils both rust-protected and fast-separating, where a mismatched polar inhibitor would hold water in the oil.
Antioxidants
The demulsifier’s trace nitrogen adds some oxidation resistance, but aminic and phenolic antioxidants carry the main oxidation control in long-life turbine, hydraulic and circulating oils.
Foam inhibitors
Water separation and foam control are related interfacial properties; a defoamer is paired with the demulsifier where the oil must both shed water and resist foaming.
Polyether demulsifier (D2)
For marine oils, or where foam suppression is also wanted, the non-ionic polyether D2 is the alternative or complementary demulsifier chemistry.
Documentation, Qualification & Regulatory Support
Standard documentation — Certificate of Analysis (COA, per shipment), Technical Data Sheet (TDS) and Safety Data Sheet (SDS, GHS/CLP) — is provided. The full TDS is available on request rather than as a public download. Additional support is available on request:
Regulatory documentation
REACH, TSCA and country-specific market-registration documentation support available on request.
Third-party inspection
SGS / Intertek / BV pre-shipment inspection can be arranged on request.
Custom grades & packaging
Custom grades and packaging on request.
Formulation support
Demulsibility optimisation and treat-rate guidance from our technical team.
Packaging & Supply
This amine polyether demulsifier is stocked and shipped worldwide, with a typical lead time of 1–15 days and a 36-month shelf life at ambient temperature (maximum storage 50°C; maximum blending temperature 70°C). Samples and quotations are answered within 12 hours.
Packaging
25 kg or 200 kg metal drum.
Minimum order
1 drum — no minimum order value.
Incoterms
FOB · CIF · EXW, to suit your freight arrangement.
Loading ports
All major Chinese ports.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an amine polyether demulsifier used for?
It is an oil-soluble additive that breaks oil-water emulsions and helps a lubricant separate from water quickly. The amine type (CheMost D1) is especially good at extracting water and is suited to hydraulic, turbine, circulating and industrial gear oils that come into contact with water. It also adds a little oxidation resistance and works well with succinic-acid type rust inhibitors.
How is the amine (D1) demulsifier different from the polyether (D2)?
D1 is an amine-plus-propylene-oxide chemistry with trace nitrogen, giving strong water extractability, some antioxidancy and synergy with succinic-acid rust inhibitors — best for water-exposed lubricating oils. D2 is a non-ionic EO/PO polyether with a higher flash point that also suppresses foam and is aimed at marine oils. The full comparison is in the table above.
How much demulsifier should I add?
Very little — the TDS guideline is about 100 ppm (0.01 wt%), and demulsifiers generally work in the tens-to-hundreds-of-ppm range. Dose to the demulsibility result rather than to a fixed percentage, and avoid over-treating: too much demulsifier can cause turbidity in the oil. Confirm the optimum level for your formulation with our team.
Why does my oil lose its demulsibility?
Demulsibility is a property of the whole formulation, not just the demulsifier. Polar additives such as some rust inhibitors and detergents can hold water in the oil and pull demulsibility down. The remedy is to balance the demulsifier with those components — which is why D1’s synergy with succinic-acid rust inhibitors is useful.
Can it be blended at room temperature?
Yes. D1 is oil-soluble and can be added at room temperature without high-temperature conditions. The only caution is dose: optimise the amount so the oil separates water cleanly without becoming hazy.