Dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride solution

Dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride, often abbreviated DTAC, is a cationic surfactant with a C12 alkyl chain and a permanently charged quaternary ammonium head group. It adsorbs onto negatively charged surfaces, contributes interfacial activity and can modify surface charge. These characteristics support antistatic treatment, dispersion-related processes and specialized surfactant formulations.

The aqueous commercial grade is used as a concentrate for further formulation. Its shorter alkyl chain gives it a different balance of water compatibility and surface substantivity from C16 or C18 conditioning quaternaries. The positive charge also makes compatibility with anionic ingredients a practical formulation constraint. DTAC is a single-chain quaternary ammonium compound rather than a long-chain double-tail fabric-softener active.

Typical Applications

• Industrial antistatic treatments: Used in formulated treatments for textile fibers and other suitable surfaces where cationic adsorption helps modify static behavior. It is delivered from an aqueous treatment bath or compatible formulated product.
• Cationic surfactant blends: Used as a charged surface-active component in industrial formulation development. Its role is to supply positive interfacial charge and wetting behavior in systems designed around cationic compatibility.
• Colloid and dispersion processing: Used in controlled preparation or modification of dispersed materials where a quaternary ammonium surfactant is required at the particle-water interface. It helps establish a cationic surface environment during processing.

Specifications

Specifications describe the standard grade. Tolerance, test method and documentation package are confirmed per order.