Dimethylformamide
A powerful polar aprotic solvent — behind acrylic and spandex fibre spinning, pharmaceutical synthesis, and specialty coatings.
Chelora Chemicals supplies dimethylformamide to fibre, pharmaceutical and specialty-chemical producers worldwide, with full documentation on every consignment.
Product identity
- CAS Number
- 68-12-2
- IUPAC name
- N,N-Dimethylformamide
- Molecular formula
- C₃H₇NO
- Molecular weight
- 73.09 g/mol
- Boiling point
- 153 °C
- Melting point
- -61 °C
- UN Number
- UN 2265
- HS Code
- 2924 19
Note: DMF is readily absorbed through skin, which is a major route of occupational exposure; confirm PPE requirements with your regulatory affairs team.
What DMF is used for
Dimethylformamide (DMF) is a colourless, high-boiling, polar aprotic liquid with a faint amine-like odour, fully miscible with water and most organic solvents. It is produced industrially by the reaction of dimethylamine with carbon monoxide (or, in some processes, with methyl formate).
DMF's largest use is as the spinning solvent for acrylic (polyacrylonitrile) and spandex (polyurethane) fibre, where its ability to dissolve these polymers at high concentration is essential to wet- and dry-spinning processes. It is also a workhorse solvent in pharmaceutical and agrochemical synthesis, in polyurethane and vinyl coating formulations, and as a reaction medium in specialty chemical manufacturing.
Where it sits in the petrochemical value chain
- Dimethylamine + Carbon Monoxide the two feedstocks reacted into DMF (not separately listed on this site).
- Dimethylformamide (this product) the aprotic solvent for the fibre, pharma and coatings applications below.
- Acrylonitrile (Acrylic Fibre) a key downstream application as the acrylic-fibre spinning solvent. See Acrylonitrile.
Handling character
DMF is a suspected reproductive toxicant and is readily absorbed through intact skin, requiring careful PPE and exposure control. Full hazard detail is in the Safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Colourless liquid |
| Assay | 99.8% min (fibre/pharma grade) |
| Water content | < 0.1% |
| Dimethylamine content | Within producer specification |
Important: the figures above are indicative of commercial material and are offered for planning only. The batch certificate of analysis is the governing document.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | Colourless, high-boiling liquid |
| Boiling point | 153 °C |
| Melting point | -61 °C |
| Density | 0.944 g/cm³ |
| Water solubility | Fully miscible |
| Flash point | 58 °C (combustible) |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 68-12-2 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put DMF to work
The high-performance aprotic solvent behind acrylic/spandex fibre and pharmaceutical synthesis.
Acrylic fibre spinning
The principal solvent for wet- and dry-spinning polyacrylonitrile into acrylic textile fibre.
- Fibre-grade specification
- Bulk & drum supply
- Technical desk review on request
Spandex (elastane) fibre
The dominant spinning solvent for polyurethane-based spandex/elastane fibre production.
- Fibre-grade specification
- Documented batch traceability
- Contract & spot supply
Pharmaceutical synthesis
A widely used reaction solvent and reagent (via Bouveault and Vilsmeier-Haack reactions) in API synthesis.
- Pharma-grade specification
- Full analytical documentation available
- Retained sample held against the lot
Polyurethane & vinyl coatings
Used as a solvent in polyurethane and vinyl coating and adhesive formulations.
- Documented batch traceability
- Technical desk review on request
Agrochemical synthesis
Used as a reaction solvent in agrochemical active-ingredient manufacturing.
- Research & process-scale quantities
- Full documentation supplied
Contract & scheduled supply
Fibre and pharmaceutical plants running continuous consumption are supported with scheduled bulk delivery.
- Annual contracts with scheduled call-off
- Price held across the contract period
- Second source held in reserve
How we supply Dimethylformamide
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. Purity and trace-amine content are critical to fibre-spinning and pharmaceutical-synthesis consistency — that shapes how we manage this line.
We place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your required grade, your price point and your delivery window, and confirm your jurisdiction's import and reproductive-toxicant labelling requirements before booking.
We keep a second qualified source on this line, so a single-plant disruption never becomes your production problem.
- Purity and trace-amine content confirmed before we quote. Consistency matters to downstream fibre-spinning and pharmaceutical-synthesis quality.
- UN 2265 documentation managed end to end. Classification, labelling and carrier compliance confirmed before booking.
- Scheduled call-off scheduling. We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
- Batch traceability to the producing plant. Full chain of custody documentation on request.
- Export machinery handled in-house. Classification, approved packing, labelling, freight booking and customs paperwork are ours to manage.
- Fibre-grade and pharma-grade both sourced. Matched precisely to your end-use specification.
Packed the way your plant receives it
Drum, tote or bulk tank — tell us your preferred format and we will quote and classify to it.
200-210 litre drums
Steel drums for smaller-volume orders and trial quantities.
~1,000 litre totes
Returnable or one-way IBC totes sized for mid-volume converter orders.
Large-volume bulk shipment
ISO tank or flexi-tank bulk shipment for continuous-consumption fibre and pharmaceutical plants.
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to, with documentation filed before booking.
Trial / sample quantities
Small packs dispatched for process trials before a commercial order is placed.
Contracted call-off supply
We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
Reproductive toxicant — handle accordingly
DMF is suspected of damaging fertility and the unborn child, is readily absorbed through skin, and causes eye irritation. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch is the authoritative document.
Classified hazards
H226Flammable liquid and vapour.H312+H319+H332Harmful in contact with skin, causes eye irritation, harmful if inhaled.H360DMay damage the unborn child.
Avoid any skin contact. DMF is readily absorbed through intact skin, which is a major route of occupational exposure; always read the SDS issued with your specific batch and use impermeable gloves rated for DMF specifically (many common glove materials are not protective).
Storage
Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, away from heat, sunlight, strong oxidisers and strong acids/bases.
Handling
Use DMF-rated impermeable gloves, eye/face protection and adequate ventilation (local exhaust where concentrations may build). Avoid any skin contact, inhalation and ingestion; alcohol consumption should be avoided around exposure periods, as DMF can potentiate alcohol intolerance.
Transport
Shipped as UN 2265 (N,N-Dimethylformamide), a flammable liquid. We confirm and document exact classification for your specific shipment and destination.
Every batch, documented
We verify documentation before dispatch so there are no surprises at your incoming-goods bench.
Specification agreed
Assay, water content and trace-amine content confirmed against your process requirement before order placement.
Producer batch testing
The producing plant tests each batch against the agreed specification before release.
Documentation review
COA, SDS and transport paperwork checked by our desk before the shipment is booked.
Traceable dispatch
Each shipment is traceable to its producing batch, with full chain-of-custody records on request.
How DMF is made
DMF is produced industrially by the reaction of dimethylamine with carbon monoxide under catalytic conditions, or alternatively by the reaction of dimethylamine with methyl formate. The crude product is purified by distillation to the assay required for fibre-spinning or pharmaceutical-grade use.
We do not publish operating process parameters here; this is background only. Full technical documentation accompanies every shipment, and any process-specific detail you need is best confirmed directly with our technical desk.
| Chemical family | Aprotic amide solvent |
|---|---|
| Functional groups | Formamide (amide) group |
| Reactivity | Vilsmeier-Haack and Bouveault reagent; excellent polymer-dissolving aprotic solvent |
| Related compounds | Acrylonitrile (acrylic fibre route), Dimethylacetamide (related amide solvent) |
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Dimethylformamide, answered
What is Dimethylformamide used for?
How is Dimethylformamide made?
Is Dimethylformamide hazardous?
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What packing do you offer?
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