Dimethyl adipate carved out its place in the world of industrial chemistry at the intersection of innovation and necessity. The push to create flexible, resilient plastics led researchers in the mid-20th century to dibasic esters like DMA, fueling its adoption in plasticizer and resin manufacturing. Over the decades, companies in Europe, North America, and Asia ramped up production as global industries grew more reliant on efficient solvents and intermediates. Insights from industry veterans show that the switch from older, less efficient solvents to DMA dramatically improved working conditions, leading to better performance, fewer emissions, and reduced worker exposure to toxic fumes. The history of DMA reflects a larger environmental trend: demand for versatile, lower-toxicity chemicals shaped regulatory guidance as well as market adoption.
DMA sits in that valuable spot between specialty and commodity, allowing for broad use without the complexity of more reactive counterparts. Industrial operators reach for DMA for its solvency, ease of blending, and regulatory acceptance. You see DMA on spec sheets for plasticizers, polyester polyols, and lubricants, and hear its name in coatings and personal care labs. My own experience with DMA came early in my career, as I saw firsthand how it replaced less stable phthalates in paint formulations that demanded clarity, flexibility, and low odor.
DMA appears as a clear, colorless liquid with a mild, almost sweet odor. It remains stable across a broad range of storage and operational temperatures, ensuring predictable performance. At standard conditions, DMA exhibits a boiling point nearing 230°C and a melting point at -16°C. Its density hovers around 1.06 g/cm³ and it dissolves well in both organic solvents and water, which broadens its applications tremendously. The molecule’s methyl ester groups replace hydrogens on an adipic acid backbone, bringing a silky low viscosity and manageable volatility that suits industrial scaling.
Producers and regulatory agencies require tight controls on DMA’s purity and labeling. Commercial DMA typically carries a purity above 99.5%, limiting moisture, acidity, and color to keep quality high. Labels must reflect proper UN number (UN 1993 for flammable liquids) and hazard pictograms aligned with GHS. Material Safety Data Sheets warn of possible skin and eye irritation, but DMA’s relative mildness allows for safe handling with standard protocols. Specification sheets often list water content below 0.1%, acidity as acetic acid under 0.01%, and color (APHA) below 30. These numbers matter; minor impurities can frustrate downstream polymerization or shift final product consistency.
DMA comes to life in large reactors where adipic acid reacts with excess methanol under acidic catalysis. Factories recover methanol for recycling. Methanol and adipic acid feed into stainless steel vessels, mixing under heat with a sulfuric acid catalyst. Reactor temperature rises to drive esterification, pushing water off as a byproduct. Workers monitor temperature, acidity, and pressure, watching for completion before distilling off DMA under reduced pressure. Other methods tweak this reaction, such as using solid acid catalysts to reduce waste or using alternative solvents for greener processing. DMA’s production scale and maturity have made the process efficient and relatively low cost.
DMA often acts as an intermediate, making it valuable in both research and the plant. Alcoholysis or transesterification swaps its methyl groups for other alkyl chains, offering building blocks for specialty esters or lubricants. Hydrolysis under acidic or basic conditions returns DMA to adipic acid, helpful for controlled release or biodegradable plastics. In my work, DMA’s predictable reactivity allowed us to engineer slow-release agricultural formulations, as the ester groups break down under field conditions. Scientists have modified DMA to create polyesters by reacting it with various glycols, tuning properties for elasticity, hydrolytic resistance, and biodegradability.
DMA carries a handful of alternative names in global commerce: adipic acid dimethyl ester, dimethyl hexanedioate, and just about every language variant you’ll see on import manifests. Chemical catalogs list it as CAS 627-93-0. Producers sometimes brand DMA with unique tradenames for niche applications, but at its core, it remains the same useful molecule.
DMA’s safety profile gives plant operators confidence compared to more hazardous esters, though care remains essential. Workers suit up with gloves, goggles, and good ventilation. DMA ignites at 91°C, so manufacturers ground storage tanks and restrict smoking nearby. Facilities keep emergency showers within easy reach, and disposal follows local hazardous waste rules. DMA’s flashpoint puts it on the radar of fire safety teams, and anyone who’s handled bulk shipments knows that drum labels and secondary containment can be the difference between a routine day and an incident. Workplace exposure limits remain attainable with good industrial hygiene, trimming risk for health and environmental events.
DMA’s best-known use lies in plasticizer production, softening plastics to keep toys, cables, and flooring flexible. Paint chemists favor DMA for low-odor, fast-setting industrial coatings. Metalworking operations include DMA in cleaning agents, where its solvency strips oil and grease from delicate components. Cosmetic formulators turn to DMA for nail polish removers that treat nails gently while dissolving tough polymers. DMA finds its way into pharmaceuticals, serving as a carrier or intermediate for API synthesis. Seasonal demand rises in agriculture, where slow-release pesticide and herbicide formulations tap DMA’s controllable hydrolysis. While DMA rarely sees headlines, anyone working in these industries will recognize its vital presence in daily workflow.
DMA’s chemical flexibility keeps it on the bench for both industrial and academic R&D. Scientists push its boundaries by reacting it with novel diamines for biodegradable plastics, or blending it with new polymer backbones in the hunt for higher performance materials. We’ve seen trends in “green chemistry” move researchers to bio-based DMA, starting from glucose rather than fossil-derived feedstocks. Lab teams evaluate DMA as a matrix for drug delivery, measuring release rates under simulated physiological conditions. In my experience, DMA’s pleasant smell and easy handling make it a favorite in teaching labs for organic synthesis.
Animal studies and regulatory reviews have painted DMA as relatively low in toxicity compared to other esters, though caution always applies. Acute oral and dermal studies generally show low systemic toxicity at doses below 2,000 mg/kg, and mutagenicity studies have not raised strong concerns. Repeated exposure in animal models can irritate skin and eyes, prompting routine PPE and quick cleanup of spills. Environmental assessments watch for aquatic impacts, where high doses might threaten fish or invertebrates. Plant operators document good practices, keeping spills contained, and wastewater treatment effective. Regulatory agencies globally have cleared DMA for most industrial use, but they monitor updated research to protect workers and communities.
Industry watchers track DMA for opportunities in shifting plastics toward bio-degradability and lower toxicity. Growth in electric vehicles, construction materials, and agricultural chemicals puts more demand on safe, renewable plasticizers and solvents. The race to produce DMA from renewable feedstocks, such as bio-adipic acid and bio-methanol, has picked up steam. Environmental pushback against persistent or high-toxic plasticizers positions DMA to win new markets as standards tighten. Universities and corporations push research, aiming for DMA-based polymers that match or beat petrochemical performance but break down more cleanly after use. In the years ahead, DMA is likely to follow trends in sustainability, regulatory pressure, and functionality demands, becoming even more central in the toolkit for formulators and process engineers.
Dimethyl adipate slips quietly into a long list of products people use every day and rarely think about. This clear liquid shows up mostly in industry, but its impact feels a lot closer than many folks realize. The big draw is its flexibility — factories count on dimethyl adipate for making plastics go from rigid to bendy, for helping other chemicals dissolve, and for creating coatings that stand up to weather or wear.
Most chemistry fans would point to plasticizers when they talk about dimethyl adipate. Without plasticizers, everyday plastics like PVC would snap or crack too fast. Slotting dimethyl adipate into that process keeps these plastics smooth and flexible, stretching their lifespan while lowering the chance of dangerous additives leaching out. It’s no surprise that offices, homes, and playgrounds all contain some trace of this compound in their plastic materials.
Paints, coatings, and inks also benefit from this stuff. Solvents are crucial in these industries — they decide how well something spreads, how fast it dries, and even how tough the surface feels once you’re finished. Strong solvents handle tough cleaning jobs, but they also add hazards for workers and the people using the finished product. Dimethyl adipate answers the call by offering strong solvency with much lower toxicity than many of its chemical cousins. This advantage has become vital with calls for safer products growing louder each year.
Concerns about chemical exposure drive a lot of changes in today’s manufacturing. Dimethyl adipate’s profile sets it apart – it doesn’t stick around in the environment like some legacy chemicals, and breakdown products don’t cause as much trouble. The EPA and the European Chemicals Agency classify it as safer than phthalates and some traditional solvents. People hope these safer chemicals will help reduce cases of chronic disease or harmful buildup in soil and water.
Take cosmetics, for instance. Formulas for nail polish removers and creams sometimes need strong dissolving power, but nobody wants irritating residues. Dimethyl adipate’s mildness to the skin and nose makes it a smart pick in personal care. The same quality pushes it into cleaning products, where performance can’t come at the cost of health risks.
No chemical comes without its own baggage. Researchers have pointed out that large spills or vapor accumulation can still irritate lungs or eyes. Long-term data on subtle health effects needs more work. But looking at the current research, dimethyl adipate stands on firmer ground than traditional options the U.S. and Europe have started to phase out.
Companies and regulators can help by pairing these newer, safer ingredients with real-world worker training, improved labeling, and smarter handling rules on the shop floor. Replacing high-risk solvents and plasticizers with dimethyl adipate could save money for both health systems and businesses, since the cost of exposure often falls not just on factories, but on communities.
My own experience in a manufacturing facility showed how quickly opinions shift once safer choices like this one enter the picture. Workers breathed easier, paperwork dropped, and nobody missed the old ingredients. With every new regulation targeting dangerous substances, dimethyl adipate will likely keep popping up in unexpected places — quietly making things work better and keeping more people safe.
Dimethyl adipate often shows up in everyday products—usually as a solvent or plasticizer. It helps make plastics flexible and helps dissolve other substances in cosmetics, paints, and coatings. Plenty of industries find it useful, from automotive manufacturing to the world of household cleaning products.
Many folks hear "chemical" and worry about toxicity. With dimethyl adipate, the science paints a less alarming picture. Peer-reviewed studies, government toxicology reports, and workplace safety data all come into play. In my own experience working with manufacturers that rely on solvents, the question often comes up: does exposure risk outweigh the benefit?
Research conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the European Chemicals Agency points to low toxicity in mammals. Rats exposed to relatively high doses did not show the sort of dangerous organ damage that brings a chemical onto regulatory hit lists. Animal studies did not reveal strong evidence of cancer-causing effects, mutagenicity, or reproductive harm. The U.S. EPA’s findings support its use in consumer products under typical handling conditions.
Short-term contact can cause mild irritation, mostly if it gets in eyes or on skin. This shouldn’t be ignored, but it also doesn’t mean panic is needed. Based on industry norms, no special handling gear is required for occasional, everyday exposure—think of what might happen through consumer products. On factory floors, where people work with large quantities, gloves and safety goggles are a smart choice.
Beyond human health, a bigger question is always what happens to a substance after use. Many solvents persist in nature and build up in water sources or soil. Dimethyl adipate breaks down faster than most. Microorganisms in water and soil eat it up, transforming it into harmless pieces. This shows up in government reports as “readily biodegradable.”
Routine industrial spills usually fade with time, though release in large amounts—like the aftermath of a tanker accident—creates a different risk. Streams or rivers could see a drop in oxygen as microbes feast on the chemical, which upends the balance for fish and other creatures. Long-term accumulation, the curse of PFAS and similar compounds, doesn’t hold true for dimethyl adipate.
Fires can ignite in labs or factories where solvents pile up, so flammability counts as a risk to keep in mind. Proper storage and ventilation go a long way. It falls to employers and product makers to stay honest with labels and offer guidance on safe use. The European Union includes dimethyl adipate on its substances with minimal restrictions, but monitoring workplace air can prevent accidents.
Consumers can breathe a little easier—products that contain low levels of this solvent stay well below the amounts that cause health problems in animal studies. Most exposure takes place through skin or accidental splashes—washing with plenty of water quickly eases symptoms.
No chemical is entirely free of risk, but dimethyl adipate carries a pretty low hazard under typical circumstances. Trust grows when companies share safety data and regulators stay active in reviewing new studies, especially as our use of industrial solvents spreads.
Careful reading of sources like the U.S. EPA, ECHA, and peer-reviewed toxicology journals makes it clear: low toxicity and rapid breakdown set dimethyl adipate apart from more hazardous relatives. By sticking to transparent practices and acting on updated safety info, workers and consumers can reduce risk while keeping the benefits.
Dimethyl adipate doesn’t stand out in a crowd at first glance. It’s a clear, colorless liquid, a bit like mineral oil in a bottle. No strong odor greets you when you work with it; the scent is almost not there, just a faint, sweet note. If you bump some onto your skin, it doesn't stick or leave a heavy residue, which makes sense given how manufacturers often add it to cosmetics or cleaning products.
This stuff isn’t shy around water. Its solubility sits at about 1.5 grams per liter, which means a splash won’t vanish in a puddle, but you won’t get a milky mess either. Pour it into a beaker with water and a separate layer forms before your eyes. That property matters in paint shops and factories where workers mix up formulations and need to predict how ingredients behave. It spreads fast on surfaces, so in coatings or lubricants, it fits right in.
Dimethyl adipate has a boiling point close to 230 degrees Celsius. You can heat it on a standard hotplate and it won’t disappear in a hurry. That kind of heat stability makes it valuable in plasticizers, since plenty of industrial steps get hot. Melting happens right around -2.5 degrees Celsius, so in most climates, you can pour it straight from the drum—no chipping at frozen blocks in winter.
With a molecular weight a little over 174 grams per mole, this ester feels about right for a solvent or carrier in industrial lines. Its vapor pressure hangs low, only about 0.2 mmHg at 20 degrees Celsius. What that means in practice is that it won’t fill the air with fumes. If you’ve ever worked in a shop with heavy solvent use, that’s a blessing; fewer headaches, safer work.
On workbenches, dimethyl adipate’s properties get put to use. It softens plastics, keeps paints from drying out too soon, helps dissolve active ingredients in personal care products. Its gentle touch on skin, mixed with low toxicity and the absence of concerning fumes, has opened doors to more consumer-friendly chemical products. Test reports consistently show low flammability, with a flash point near 127 degrees Celsius, giving workers more breathing space between safety checks.
Knowing the physical details isn’t just about ticking boxes for safety sheets. In my experience working around solvents, the real benefit comes from how this info saves time and headaches. Low flammability and low vapor pressure mean fire marshals worry less, and building managers don’t need special extraction fans everywhere. Sometimes, product developers look for greener options—they want safe, effective, and less smelly chemicals in everyday goods. Dimethyl adipate checks plenty of those boxes, although it’s still petroleum-based.
More companies search for sustainable sources. Until renewables take a stronger foothold in raw material supply, efficient and responsible use matters most. Bulk storage practices, tightly sealed drums, and spill prevention all play a part in managing environmental impact. Workers receive solid protection with gloves and goggles, and shifts remain safer thanks to the mild, stable profile of this ester. Every detail about its behavior, from boiling to how it spreads, can help lead to smarter, safer jobs and better products in the end.
Dimethyl Adipate shows up in a lot of places—paints, coatings, plastics, and sometimes in cleaning products. The chemical itself isn’t the most volatile around, but common sense removes a lot of risks right off the bat. People working with it should know that big mistakes rarely come from one bad move—they build up when safety slides into the background.
Letting Dimethyl Adipate sit in a hot, sun-drenched spot never helped anyone. It likes shade, a steady temperature, and well-ventilated corners. Metal drums or HDPE containers with tight lids keep the liquid away from curious hands and accidental spills. Anyone stacking drums in a warehouse wants room between them and away from heat sources—things like steam pipes, engines, or direct sunlight all push the temperature higher than needed. Too much heat sends vapors into the air, and vapors mean headaches, cracked skin, eye sting, and, in crowded rooms, maybe worse.
Spilling this on your hands or in your eye won’t send you to the ER, but no point in testing the limits. Gloves made from nitrile or neoprene stand up well—cotton gloves soak up the liquid, which spreads the mess instead of stopping it. Safety goggles or a face shield keep splashes from landing on your skin. It doesn’t make sense to use less protection just because laws set the bar low. Every company that handles chemicals knows accidents start from "just this once" thinking.
Most people don’t see fumes, but noses pick up the odor soon enough. Some shops put local exhaust near workstations, and workers appreciate it when air stays clear. If ventilation is weak, a simple spill can leave a strong sweet smell that lingers and affects breathing. Every supervisor who’s seen a worker with headaches knows the drill here—fresh air works better than any report after the fact. Clean-up means using absorbent towels, not water. Pushing Dimethyl Adipate into a drain pollutes local streams, harming fish and plants, and violating environmental rules. Waste needs clear labeling, so janitors or haulers know what’s inside and don’t take chances.
Fast action makes a difference. A spill kit with absorbent pads, gloves, and containers sits ready by the storage site. Everyone near the liquid should know where the eyewash and showers sit. Bigger spills call for evacuation, and the right plan cuts panic short. No one enjoys drills, but even five minutes spent practicing can keep damage low. Cleaning skin with water after contact and swapping out contaminated clothes avoids most long-term risks.
Rules only matter if people give them weight. Bringing people together for short training sessions, reviewing safety data sheets, and swapping stories about past near-misses get the message across. A watched chemical almost never gets out of hand; it’s the ignored ones that turn up in the local paper. Treating every container of Dimethyl Adipate with care protects workers, the environment, and a company’s reputation—for the long haul, that pays off.
Plastic products wrap up our food, protect electronics, and give cars their shine. Dimethyl adipate plays a quiet, crucial role in building these plastics, especially flexible ones. As someone who’s tried to recycle old wires and packaging, you quickly see how tough plastics shape daily life and pile up as waste. Manufacturers turn to dimethyl adipate to chase more flexible, durable plastics because it softens tough polymers like PVC and produces materials that bend without breaking.
Industry data from the European Chemical Agency maps out a clear story: Consumer goods, automotive, and construction all buy up plasticizers based on dimethyl adipate. Producers lean into this chemical for low toxicity and a favorable environmental profile compared to some older alternatives. If you’ve noticed flexible phone cases, garden hoses, or resilient car interior parts, there’s a strong chance dimethyl adipate played a role in stretching those limits.
Coatings may seem decorative, but they need chemical strength. Paints and varnishes pick up dimethyl adipate for its solvent properties. From garage workshops to furniture factories, the ability to dissolve stubborn pigments and resins simply makes life easier. I’ve brushed far too many coats on old furniture to know how crucial a good, even finish is. The chemical’s low odor helps too, especially in indoor work.
This solvent quality carries value for artists and professionals alike. Larger manufacturers use dimethyl adipate in paint removers and graffiti cleaners as well. The European Commission lists it as a safer substitute compared to harsher, high-VOC solvents. If industry moves steadily toward eco-friendliness, this is a practical step.
The personal care aisle sometimes surprises people with chemistry’s presence behind the scenes. Dimethyl adipate lands in sunscreen, lotions, creams, and makeup. Cosmetic formulators count on its skin feel — smooth, non-greasy, and fast-absorbing. Years ago, working with a friend’s start-up on natural creams, I realized that the tiniest adjustment in ingredients changes texture completely. Here, this ester brings spreadability and helps blend other ingredients, making products perform better for users.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review has cleared dimethyl adipate as a low-hazard ingredient at levels used in personal care, which reassures big players and small batches alike. This supports a wider shift to safer, more consumer-friendly chemicals — a trend worth embracing as people look closer at ingredient labels.
In the cleaning world, solvents matter. Industrial cleaning companies and home-based brands select dimethyl adipate for its ability to handle oil, grease, and grime. I’ve spent afternoons battling engine spills and stuck-on residue; products with stronger, yet safer, solvents make it quicker and less toxic overall. The Environmental Protection Agency in the U.S. features dimethyl adipate on its Safer Chemical Ingredients List as a preferred option. Industries ranging from metal finishing to electronics manufacture cleaner surfaces without relying on more hazardous chemicals.
The role of dimethyl adipate stretches beyond the lab into the real world, shaping the quality, safety, and function of goods people use every day. Companies wanting to reduce environmental risks and meet stricter standards get value from its low toxicity and biodegradability. The challenge: innovating even more sustainable alternatives without losing the qualities that keep products safe and practical for ordinary use. That work starts with understanding exactly which industries use chemicals like dimethyl adipate, and why it matters for all of us.
| Names | |
| Preferred IUPAC name | Dimethyl hexanedioate |
| Other names |
Hexanedioic acid, dimethyl ester
Adipic acid dimethyl ester DMA Dimethyl hexanedioate |
| Pronunciation | /daɪˈmiːθəl ˈæd.ɪ.peɪt/ |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 627-93-0 |
| Beilstein Reference | 1720948 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:17840 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL153354 |
| ChemSpider | 16255 |
| DrugBank | DB02040 |
| ECHA InfoCard | 13bab881-5e0e-4368-b7ec-098d9f7a8f71 |
| EC Number | 203-550-1 |
| Gmelin Reference | 809186 |
| KEGG | C01791 |
| MeSH | D000624 |
| PubChem CID | 8846 |
| RTECS number | AM4375000 |
| UNII | F93E15T6R7 |
| UN number | UN2362 |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | C8H14O4 |
| Molar mass | 174.20 g/mol |
| Appearance | Colorless transparent liquid |
| Odor | Faint ester odor |
| Density | 1.062 g/cm³ |
| Solubility in water | Slightly soluble |
| log P | 1.03 |
| Vapor pressure | 0.02 mmHg (20°C) |
| Acidity (pKa) | 8.6 |
| Basicity (pKb) | 6.84 |
| Magnetic susceptibility (χ) | -8.08×10⁻⁶ cm³/mol |
| Refractive index (nD) | 1.4290 |
| Viscosity | 1.7 mPa·s (at 25°C) |
| Dipole moment | 2.70 D |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std molar entropy (S⦵298) | 240.6 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) | -1017.9 kJ/mol |
| Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) | -3663 kJ/mol |
| Hazards | |
| GHS labelling | GHS02, GHS07 |
| Pictograms | GHS07, GHS09 |
| Signal word | Warning |
| Hazard statements | H319: Causes serious eye irritation. |
| Precautionary statements | IF ON SKIN: Wash with plenty of water. IF INHALED: Remove person to fresh air and keep comfortable for breathing. If skin irritation occurs: Get medical advice/attention. Take off contaminated clothing and wash it before reuse. |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | 1-1-0 |
| Flash point | > 199 °C |
| Autoignition temperature | > 420 °C |
| Lethal dose or concentration | LD50 (oral, rat): 6,500 mg/kg |
| LD50 (median dose) | 1800 mg/kg (rat, oral) |
| NIOSH | RN0183 |
| PEL (Permissible) | 5 mg/m3 |
| REL (Recommended) | 30 mg/kg bw/day |
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds |
Adipic acid
Diethyl adipate Monoethyl adipate Methyl adipate |
