Back in the 1960s, researchers who wanted better alternatives to aldehyde hardeners came across a compound by reacting adipic acid with hydrazine hydrate. They named it Adipic Dihydrazide (ADH). Progress in polymer chemistries made the manufacturing of this white crystalline powder fairly straightforward, so it spread through coatings labs and floor factories. Before ADH, crosslinkers would yellow, smell odd, and sometimes left products too rigid. Handling newer waterborne resins always meant a battle with stability or pot life, but ADH offered reliable balance for chemists tired of guessing. These stories linger in old binders, but most environmental lab folks still point to this period as a turning point in nontoxic crosslinker adoption.
Adipic Dihydrazide belongs to the family of hydrazide-based crosslinkers. People run into it when working with waterborne epoxy systems, textile binders, sealing formulations, adhesives, and, not least, organic pigments. This compound turns up as a modest white powder, odorless, with just enough molecular weight to please formulators looking for small molecules that do big work. You won't find ADH hyped on shipping labels, but countless teams treat it as their workhorse for developing coatings that last, roll out evenly, and don't scare off regulators. The compound does its job by weaving reactive groups into polyurethane or epoxy networks, giving finished products minimal formaldehyde emissions and solid durability.
A handful of numbers tell the real story of ADH's behavior in a lab or on the shop floor. It melts at about 177-183°C, which keeps it solid at room temperature. Its formula, C6H14N4O2, delivers a molecular weight of about 174.2 g/mol. You can count on ADH to dissolve slowly in water but much faster in solvents like dimethyl sulfoxide. It doesn’t react with air or light so it stores well. What drew many to it is its relatively low vapor pressure, nearly nil, so nobody worries too much about inhaling fumes during weighing or mixing. The pH of a saturated solution swings just slightly alkaline, lining up with typical resin chemistries. So, people count on stable, predictable handling during routine work or scale-up batches.
Commercial grades of ADH come with purity not usually lower than 99%, checked typically by HPLC or thin-layer chromatography. Water content stays below 0.2%, because extra moisture causes headache in isocyanate systems. Trace metals and sulfated ash get monitored below 0.05% and 0.1% respectively. Bulk bags or drums always arrive with hazard labels—not for acute toxicity, but due to its eye and skin irritation potential. Reliable suppliers print batch numbers, CAS number 1071-93-8, and manufacturing date. Everything meets the strictest requirements in Japan, Europe, or the Americas, which have pushed standards higher over the past three decades.
Making ADH isn’t rocket science, but it does demand standardized care. Manufacturers mix adipic acid with hydrazine hydrate in a stirred reactor, using enough water to manage the exothermic reaction. The process runs with constant cooling to control temperature, usually below 30°C. At completion, the ADH crystallizes out, and filtration leaves behind mother liquor and some unreacted starting material. Good operators wash the crude powder with cold water, then dry under vacuum at low temperature to keep impurities out. Across plants in China, the US, or Europe, these steps haven't changed much because they work and keep costs down.
ADH’s value rests in its two hydrazide groups, each ready to react with carbonyl groups in aldehydes or ketones. These “handles” let formulators snap together three-dimensional networks in just about every waterborne epoxy or polyurethane crosslinking job. In the classroom, teachers use this as a model case for nucleophilic addition. In real production, excess ADH ensures complete aldehyde capture, pinning down any free formaldehyde so coated surfaces don’t outgas toxins over time. Some labs go further, modifying ADH to carry other groups for smart coatings or custom adhesives. Imagine a reactive pigment stabilized with ADH—for a paint that won’t fade or stain too soon. Scientists keep tweaking, looking for properties to answer new industry demands.
Adipic Dihydrazide rarely goes by just one name in catalogs or invoices. Synonyms you spot include ADH, hexanedioic acid dihydrazide, or sometimes just hexanedihydrazide. Product lines from global chemical suppliers tack on their own branding: Kosmomid™, Hydrazinol®, or even simple “ADH Purified.” This roster of names doesn’t change much, but knowing them helps anyone digging through decades of safety sheets, patents, or technical guides.
Working with ADH means understanding its health and environmental profile. Safety data sheets tell the same story: direct contact will irritate eyes or skin, but the risk of inhalation harm remains low under normal circumstances. Standard protocols involve gloves, protective eyewear, and good ventilation, especially if powder handling spawns dust clouds. Facilities train operators to sweep up and dispose of any spills in accordance with local chemical rules. In all my plant visits, higher priorities include labeling and clear signage to avoid accidental mix-ups. Disposal routes typically make use of licensed incinerators, given ADH’s nitrogen content and low volatility, with plenty of local and international oversight. Most modern guidelines, from OSHA to REACH or Japanese CSCL, hold producers and users to account if standards drop.
The big wins for ADH come from its performance in waterborne coatings and crosslinking systems. Paint technologists favor it for finishing wood, fabric, or metal, since it boosts film hardness and blocking resistance without harsh odors. Textile labs trust it for wash-durable finishes that don’t fade during repeated laundering, while adhesive engineers build it into pressure-sensitive formulas that keep stickiness but resist temperature swings. A few ink and pigment companies added ADH to recipes for high-luster and anti-migration results. It’s rare to see cured concrete or automotive primers where ADH hasn’t played a part in lowering volatile organic compound (VOC) profiles. Companies chasing FDA or food packaging approvals sometimes count on its clean reaction profile to meet tough regulatory needs.
Academic and commercial researchers have never stopped tinkering with ADH since its debut. In the past decade, labs have investigated its potential in smart coatings, where triggerable reactions grant self-healing properties or resistance to specific stains. Pharmaceutical scientists explored it for drug delivery matrices, counting on its predictable hydrolysis and biocompatibility. Polymer teams keep filling journals with work on ADH-modified hydrogels, targeting wound dressings or advanced sealants. Environmental chemists dig into its role in eliminating aldehyde pollutants through efficient scavenging. Some even study ADH in ultra-high purity forms for use in microelectronics, aiming at reliable chip encapsulation or printable circuit protection.
Findings from animal studies and cell-based assays agree: ADH shows low acute oral and dermal toxicity, especially compared to aldehyde crosslinkers like glutaraldehyde. Most published reports flag mild to moderate irritation risks for eyes and skin, though no strong mutagenic or carcinogenic patterns emerged from long-term tests. Industry groups sponsored further work to study aquatic toxicity, with outcomes indicating moderate persistence but little likelihood to bioaccumulate. Regulatory bodies watch for accidental releases, but large uncontrolled spills remain rare. Flammability concerns don’t really crop up, since ADH doesn’t burn easily. Medical device or food-contact use always calls for additional scrutiny, just in case trace levels migrate through finished matrices—a challenge that keeps testing labs busy.
The next chapters for ADH look full of promise and challenge. Stricter product safety rules in Europe, North America, and parts of Asia force even cleaner synthesis and closer control over trace impurities. As buyers lean ever harder on suppliers to cut formaldehyde offgassing to zero, demand for ADH in eco-labeled paints and adhesives will stay strong. Emerging fields keep knocking on its door. In battery packs, ADH-based binders help manage swelling and conductivity during charge cycles. High-durability textile coatings for sportswear and smart garments need its stable linkage. Bio-derived alternatives, now just a curiosity, might soon cut into fossil-based ADH production—but technical hurdles linger. Research investments in China, Japan, and Germany target lower-energy synthesis and recovery of used ADH from industrial water streams. Watchdogs want even deeper hazard analysis, but my own read is that the practical nature of ADH—predictable chemistry, manageable safety, useful crosslinking—will keep it visible across labs and industries for decades to come.
Adipic dihydrazide, or ADH, isn’t a staple in household conversations, but it quietly drives change in manufacturing and environmental circles. I first heard about it from a friend in coatings research, and, just like that, it became clear how easily one small compound can help shape bigger solutions, especially for products that touch our daily lives.
Take water-based paints, for example. Traditional solvent-based paints release a fair bit of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which pose health risks and degrade air quality. To get the right durability and chemical resistance in water-based versions, manufacturers turn to crosslinking agents like ADH. This compound works as a key hardener in two-component systems, reacting with blocked isocyanates or aldehydes. What you get is a tough, water-resistant finish that stands up to scrubbing and cleaning — plain old soap and a sponge won’t send it running for cover. This isn’t just good for your walls; it helps protect air and water, too, so everyone benefits.
ADH matters to anyone wearing stain-resistant shirts, spill-proof upholstery, or sports gear that refuses to hold odors. Textile finishers use it because it reacts reliably with formaldehyde-based resins. This means fewer chemicals linger in finished fabrics, which matters for people with allergies or skin sensitivities. After hearing from friends who battle eczema, I found out the presence of ADH can play a small part in making life more comfortable.
Glues are everywhere: woodwork, automotive trim, shoe repair. The industry uses ADH to cure waterborne adhesives at room temperature, creating strong bonds without the risks that come from high heat or dangerous chemicals. The compound speeds up drying and curing, reducing wait times and energy use — it’s minor for one user, but a win across millions of applications adds up to lower emissions industry-wide.
The paper you pull from a printer or the packaging that reaches your doorstep probably received extra attention with help from ADH. It strengthens paper coatings, improving resistance to water and oil. This stops ink smears, blocks grease leaks, and generally keeps products looking better for longer. Small advances like these support sustainability every step along the supply chain, from less spoilage during transport to cutting waste from damaged goods.
Every chemical brings some level of concern, and ADH isn’t immune. Careful handling and proper disposal matter since big spills or poor management can affect waterways or soil. That said, regulatory agencies monitor and guide safe use. Industries continue to reduce toxicity and improve worker safety through better training, automation, and closed systems. Emission-reduction processes in manufacturing plants help too, reflecting a broad push to keep innovation at pace with health safeguards.
Green chemistry pushes for ingredients that break down in the environment or come from renewable sources. In my experience, companies willing to invest in research move faster toward safer alternatives or improved handling. Consumers can help by supporting products certified to safer chemical standards. Workers and communities should have direct access to safety information, updated protocols, and response plans in case of accidents. These steps — practical, focused, and ongoing — give everyone a role in shaping a safer, sturdier world.
Adipic dihydrazide, with the formula C6H14N4O2, stands out among chemical agents because of its remarkable versatility. The powder itself is white, has no noticeable smell, and dissolves in water. This ease in water signals it’s ready to integrate into all kinds of waterborne applications. The melting point comes in around 177 to 182°C, so it holds up well under heat. It resists light and most chemicals, and that toughness pays off in tough working conditions.
Growing up watching my father refinish furniture, working with different coatings always called for careful attention—you couldn’t risk ruining a finish with the wrong mix. Adipic dihydrazide’s water solubility makes it a favorite in eco-friendly coatings. A lot of companies want to lower the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in their products. By blending smoothly with water-based paints, this compound reduces environmental impact and doesn’t leave behind a harsh chemical smell.
Adipic dihydrazide does more than just dissolve in water. It shines brightest as a hardener for epoxy and polyurethane systems. That means it reacts well with resins, making the end product strong and flexible—think about workbenches, garage floors, or even hospital walls, surfaces that take a beating yet need to look good and last. I’ve seen firsthand how surfaces treated with the right cure look new for ages. This crosslinking ability comes from the hydrazide groups at both ends of the molecule, which latch onto other chemicals and bind the network together.
A lot of products that touch people’s daily lives—like paper, fabrics, adhesives—need to be handled with confidence. No one wants to worry about health risks from a hidden chemical. Adipic dihydrazide scores well here; research shows it ranks low on toxicity compared to some crosslinking agents. It can even be found in some hydrogels used for wound dressings. For people with kids or sensitive skin, knowing a product is designed with these considerations brings welcome peace of mind.
Humidity, temperature swings, and light can wreak havoc on some chemicals. Adipic dihydrazide hangs tight even when exposed to these factors. Long-term stability cuts down on waste and lowers the need for replacement. Manufacturers can ship and store supplies without constant anxiety about expiration. In large-scale production, this property can save thousands of dollars and reassure customers that they’re investing in materials made to last.
No chemical is perfect. Adipic dihydrazide, for all its strengths, doesn’t always deliver the fastest curing speed. For industries on tight timelines, this leads to slowdowns or shifting to alternatives that might not be as safe. That’s where chemists step up, working to tweak formulations so you get both a quick cure and the safety benefits. Opportunities for improvement keep companies honest, encourage greener ingredients, and help developers respond to real needs.
Properties like strong crosslinking, water solubility, resilience, and safety shape the practical role of adipic dihydrazide. Back in my graduate chemistry lab, the simplest compounds often brought the most impressive results. This one keeps showing up in new research for coatings, adhesives, and hydrogels, each time bringing a few more wins for safety and longevity. Keeping an eye on how it’s used and improved helps everyone, from manufacturers to home renovators, make smarter decisions about what goes into the products we trust.
Adipic dihydrazide (ADH) often shows up in specialty adhesives, coatings, and certain plastics. People who work in plants or labs with this chemical may wonder if their health is at risk. I’ve read SDS sheets, chemical reviews, even spoken with friends in the coatings industry. Here’s what stands out: ADH is not classified as acutely toxic by major regulatory agencies such as OSHA or the European Chemicals Agency. You won’t see it flagged as a cancer-causing or reproductive hazard either. It doesn’t give off volatile fumes at room temperature. That makes it less risky for inhalation compared to chemicals like formaldehyde or ammonia.
Still, any powder poses inhalation risk if it gets fine enough. ADH is a white powder, so dust in poorly ventilated spaces could irritate the lungs, throat, or eyes. That’s no different from flour in a bakery, except repeated chemical exposure sometimes causes allergic skin reactions for a subset of people. I learned of a painter who developed red, itchy hands after months of handling certain crosslinkers without gloves. Turns out, it’s the repeated contact—any irritant can break down the skin’s natural barrier over time.
Government oversight relies on published health and environmental data. Right now, ADH sits in a category that’s watched but not heavily restricted. The EPA lists it with a low profile for aquatic toxicity. It biodegrades in the environment, which lowers the threat for long-term accumulation in water or soil. European food-safety regulators have even evaluated its use as a color fixative or chemical intermediate and found exposure levels low enough to avoid alarm for consumers. For a chemical to trigger big restrictions, agencies expect evidence showing chronic toxicity, mutagenic effects, or harm to wildlife. That evidence hasn’t turned up for ADH.
I’ve seen factory safety posters that stress personal responsibility. Safety routines matter more than paperwork. Glove use, dust masks, splash goggles—these simple tools prevent minor issues from turning into work-loss incidents. ADH shouldn’t be dumped down the drain, mixed with acids, or left exposed to open heat sources. Some countries ask for closed system use for large-scale manufacturing, further keeping risks in check.
I visited a research site where ADH crosslinkers were weighed out with a microbalance. The techs kept surfaces clean, containers labeled, and hands washed. In cases where workers forgot eye protection, minor redness sometimes appeared, but no cases of severe, lasting harm entered the safety log. A few old studies talk about possible bladder effects in rodents—but only at sky-high doses you’d never reach in daily work.
For most jobs, common sense goes a long way. Keep powders out of the air. Wash up after spills. If your skin reacts, swap to thicker gloves or rotate tasks, and report symptoms to the safety officer. Larger companies train new hires with videos and posters—“work smart, avoid contact.” Industries that use ADH in closed mixing or automated processes rarely log health complaints. If questions remain, request a professional review of the specific workplace set-up. When incidents drop and workers stay healthy, it proves the point: everyday prevention keeps ADH risks low.
A lot can go wrong if you ignore the basics of handling chemicals. Adipic dihydrazide, or ADH, often turns up in labs and manufacturing floors as an ingredient for resins and cross-linking in paints and coatings. It looks like a white powder, almost harmless, but beneath the surface lie risks: it reacts pretty strongly with oxidizing agents, and careless storage could mean clumping, contamination, or even exposure to moisture that ruins an entire batch.
Moisture makes things tricky. Even a small slip in sealing a drum can allow water to creep in. ADH pulls water from the air and breaks down over time, so its storage needs special attention. From what I’ve seen handling hygroscopic chemicals, those careless “quick seals” and half-lidded containers usually lead to products that don’t meet quality specs. So the simple act of closing and locking up containers well really counts.
Put ADH in a warm, humid storeroom and you’re asking for trouble. In my experience, a dry, cool room does wonders. Setting the temperature below 30°C keeps the powder stable. Direct sunlight is another hazard, and even overhead lights left on get the temperature up fast. So a shaded, roofed space away from process lines keeps ADH safe.
Cross-contamination might seem easy to avoid, but in cramped storage areas, bagged or loose chemicals can swap dust during handling. Stored next to acids or oxidizers, you could get dangerous reactions. In warehouses, I’ve seen bad spills from stacking incompatible chemicals, and cleanup always takes longer than keeping things separated in the first place.
The thick plastic or fiber drums that ADH arrives in stand up to bumps, moisture, and punctures pretty well. But if you cut corners with liners or closures, contents can clump or spoil. One broken seal and the whole lot might be ruined. Most places keep a stock of extra lids and liners for exactly this reason, keeping every container tightly closed between uses.
Smaller operations sometimes write off careful labeling as overkill, but the headaches from a mix-up can get expensive fast. Legible, detailed labels showing substance name, arrival date, risk info, and shelf life stop confusion. Regular checks for leaks, damage, or expired stock let staff pull compromised product before it enters the production line.
For anyone working with ADH, a dry storeroom with low temperature, sealed packaging, and a clear system for labeling and inventory spells peace of mind. Neglect in handling often turns into lost money, ruined products, and safety scares. Taking a practical, vigilant approach sets up the whole operation for smoother runs.
People who work with chemicals like Adipic Dihydrazide expect clear information about packaging, not marketing fluff. Over the years, I've spent plenty of mornings tearing open different chemical sacks and drums, looking for both product labels and the right documentation. With Adipic Dihydrazide, the packaging tells you a lot right away about how suppliers think about quality and safety.
Adipic Dihydrazide rarely comes in eye-catching containers. Most of the time, you get a white or off-white crystalline powder bagged in sturdy, compounded polyethylene (PE) bags or high-density polyethylene liners, stuffed inside either paper or fiber sacks, with a weight close to 25 kilograms. The PE lining prevents clumping and blocks moisture, which can ruin your lot faster than you’d expect. For those who deal in larger volumes, you usually see big, woven polypropylene bags—known as FIBCs or “super sacks”—holding about 500 to 1000 kilograms. These bulk sacks simplify logistics and keep costs lower for big operations.
Chemical plants and resellers don't bother with fancy graphics or colors. Labels go on straight, almost always featuring the product name, batch number, net weight, manufacturer’s mark, and safety warnings. All of this makes handling and inventory checks easier. Hazard symbols for skin and respiratory irritation end up printed too, to satisfy both local and international compliance rules. Years of audits have taught me that inattentive labeling invites fines and shutdowns.
Moisture spells trouble for Adipic Dihydrazide. I remember one winter in the Midwest: a shipment spent too much time on an uncovered pallet, and the powder caked up into useless bricks. That shipment cost our team extra hours and plenty of frustration. Good sacks, with their thick liners and sealed seams, make the difference between a chemical that’s fit for use and a total write-off.
Over time, industry feedback pushed suppliers to add double-layer heat-sealing, sometimes using automatically stitched closures. The downside of better seals is clear—workers need to use box cutters to open new bags, and careless handling risks introducing packaging fragments into mixing vessels. I’ve seen plenty of frustrated operators complain about this, but the alternative is full product loss from minor leaks.
Factories these days pay attention to the recyclability of packaging material. Paper outer bags can be recycled, while used PE liners head to plastic recovery bins. Some suppliers have trialed return-and-refill systems for bulk containers, which not only reduce waste but help with tracking material origin.
Sealed packaging also cuts down on accidental exposure. Nobody wants to risk inhaling fine powders, and less dust escaping means safer work environments. I recall an old-timer warning about the “white cloud” you’d sometimes see in sloppy plants—now, most suppliers listen to risk management teams, and you see less of that.
Strong, functional packaging for Adipic Dihydrazide makes a difference, not just for product quality, but also for people managing shipping, storage, and usage. Many of us count on reliable sacks and drums so that production doesn’t grind to a halt. If suppliers keep using secure, clear packaging with recyclable components, buyers and workers both see the benefit.
| Names | |
| Preferred IUPAC name | N'-(1,6-diaminohexane-1,6-diyl)bis(methanamine) |
| Other names |
ADH
Hexanedioic acid dihydrazide Adipic acid dihydrazide 1,6-Hexanedioic dihydrazide Adipohydrazide |
| Pronunciation | /ˈædɪpɪk daɪhɪˈdreɪzaɪd/ |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 1071-93-8 |
| Beilstein Reference | 1718731 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:53004 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL1564245 |
| ChemSpider | 15833059 |
| DrugBank | DB14273 |
| ECHA InfoCard | 814-737-7 |
| EC Number | '204-656-2' |
| Gmelin Reference | 82140 |
| KEGG | C07890 |
| MeSH | D006801 |
| PubChem CID | 85707 |
| RTECS number | AU5950000 |
| UNII | J44A6U8A6U |
| UN number | UN3241 |
| CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | DTXSID7020183 |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | C6H16N4O2 |
| Molar mass | 174.20 g/mol |
| Appearance | White crystalline powder |
| Odor | Odorless |
| Density | 1.41 g/cm³ |
| Solubility in water | Soluble in water |
| log P | '-2.09' |
| Vapor pressure | Negligible |
| Acidity (pKa) | 11.5 |
| Basicity (pKb) | 10.1 |
| Refractive index (nD) | 1.463 |
| Viscosity | 10-30 mPa·s (25°C, 50% in water) |
| Dipole moment | 1.12 D |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std molar entropy (S⦵298) | Std molar entropy (S⦵298) of Adipic Dihydrazide(ADH) |
| Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) | -32.6 kJ/mol |
| Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) | -1072 kJ/mol |
| Pharmacology | |
| ATC code | No ATC code |
| Hazards | |
| GHS labelling | GHS02, GHS07 |
| Pictograms | GHS07,GHS08 |
| Signal word | Warning |
| Hazard statements | H317: May cause an allergic skin reaction. |
| Precautionary statements | P261, P280, P305+P351+P338, P337+P313 |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | 1-1-0 |
| Lethal dose or concentration | LD50 oral, rat: >5000 mg/kg |
| LD50 (median dose) | > 5000 mg/kg (Rat, Oral) |
| NIOSH | SCY945 |
| PEL (Permissible) | Not established |
| REL (Recommended) | 0.2 mg/m³ |
| IDLH (Immediate danger) | Not established |
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds |
Adipic acid
Adipoyl chloride Hydrazine hydrate Isophorone dihydrazone Sebacic dihydrazide Hexamethylene dihydrazide Terephthalic dihydrazide |
