Amine oxides are one of the most effective ways to build and hold foam in formulations where lather matters to the end user, from dish liquids and all-purpose cleaners to car wash concentrates. People judge these products by their foam, and lather that collapses at the first sign of grease reads as a weak product.
Amine oxides keep foam stable under real-world conditions, and they’re a practical replacement for cocamide DEA.
The challenge
- Grease and oily soils knock down foam from anionic surfactants.
- Hard water cuts lather further.
- Cocamide DEA, the traditional foam booster, is being dropped from many formulas over diethanolamine concerns.
- Formulators still need viscosity, ideally without loading up on salt.
How amine oxides help
Added to an anionic base, amine oxides pack in alongside the primary surfactant at the bubble surface. That strengthens the foam film, so lather drains more slowly and holds up against greasy soil and hard water. The same interaction builds viscosity and makes the system milder.
Amido amine oxides go a step further. A short propyl link between the fatty tail and the head group improves stability and compatibility, so they work with anionic, nonionic and cationic surfactants across a wide pH range.
Product example: AMMONYX® LMDO
AMMONYX® LMDO is a blend of lauramidopropylamine and myristamidopropylamine oxides, supplied as a clear 33% active liquid. It can replace cocamide DEA 1:1 without losing foam or viscosity. It’s readily biodegradable, NPE-free, contains 0% regulated VOC, and meets EPA Safer Choice criteria for surfactants.
Formulation examples
A car wash concentrate built on neutralized linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid uses 10% LMDO in place of cocamide DEA, with a touch of salt to set the viscosity. The finished concentrate is clear and stays stable for four weeks anywhere from 4 °C to 50 °C. Diluted at 1 oz per gallon of water, it produces thick, lasting foam and calculates to 0% VOC, well within CARB limits for vehicle washes.
A light-duty dish liquid uses just under 4% LMDO as both foam booster and thickener in a blend of lauryl and laureth sulfates. It’s made by simple cold mixing, comes out at 23% actives, pH 7 and 50 cps, and holds up through three freeze/thaw cycles. The same approach carries over to all-purpose cleaners and wax strippers, where LMDO also helps wet surfaces and penetrate soil.
Get it from J R Hess
J R Hess is a Stepan distributor serving customers across the Northeast. Beyond samples and pricing, we can help you work LMDO into your own formulas, from starting points like these to a finished product.
AMMONYX is a registered trademark of Stepan Company.