Hydrolyzed Polymaleic Acid HPMA Polymaleic acid CAS 26099-09-2

Tree Chem manufactures Hydrolyzed Polymaleic Acid (HPMA) according to industrial-grade standards with consistent performance and excellent stability. HPMA is a light yellow to brown transparent liquid, featuring strong thermal resistance (up to 300 °C), good oxidation stability, and strong dispersing capability.

HPMA inhibits scale formation by distorting crystal structures and dispersing precipitated solids, making it suitable for high-hardness and high-alkalinity water systems. It performs well in multi-component formulations with phosphonates, polycarboxylates, and corrosion inhibitors. For technical support or formulation guidance, please contact info@cntreechem.com.

Specification

Basic Information

Technical Specification

Applications

Water Treatment Industry

• Hydrolyzed polymaleic anhydride (HPMA) is widely used as a low-molecular-weight scale inhibitor and dispersant in industrial water-treatment systems, particularly in circulating cooling water for power plants, chemical complexes, fertilizer units and metallurgical installations. Its polymer chain carries multiple carboxyl groups, giving HPMA strong chelation, lattice-distortion and dispersion properties. These functions allow HPMA to bind Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Fe³⁺, interfere with crystal growth sites and keep scale-forming microcrystals dispersed rather than forming dense, adherent deposits. Even at very low dosage, HPMA provides a pronounced threshold effect, enabling high-alkalinity and high-hardness operation without heavy fouling and ensuring stable heat-exchange performance over long cycles.
• In cooling-water operation, HPMA is typically dosed in the range of several to several tens of milligrams per liter. It is often compounded with phosphonates and polyacrylates to form balanced formulations in which HPMA delivers the main scale-control and dispersion effect, while co-additives assist corrosion protection and sludge dispersion. Industrial sites report that switching from phosphate programs to HPMA-based formulations can significantly reduce scale deposition, extend continuous operation cycles, improve heat-exchange efficiency and lower chemical and maintenance costs. HPMA’s high tolerance to calcium and strong resistance to hydrolysis make it especially suitable for high-concentration-ratio systems or units using high-hardness source water.
• In boiler-water treatment, HPMA appears in low-, medium- and high-pressure boilers as a dispersant and internal scale inhibitor. In low-pressure boilers it is frequently blended with EDTMPS for combined scale control and removal of old deposits. At medium pressure HPMA used alone prevents formation of carbonate and phosphate deposits, while in high-pressure boilers HPMA is used in conjunction with phosphate programs to maintain clean tube surfaces. Because HPMA remains stable above 300 °C, it maintains its activity under harsh boiler conditions, enabling higher limiting alkalinities without scale hardening and reducing the risk of under-deposit corrosion.
• Oilfield water treatment is another major downstream field. In injection-water systems, crude-oil dehydration trains and produced-water pipelines, HPMA complexes Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Ba²⁺ and suppresses formation of CaCO₃ and BaSO₄ scales that plug pipelines, pumps and reservoir pore channels. At tens of milligrams per liter, HPMA stabilizes high-mineralization waters, maintains injectivity and reduces the need for mechanical or acid descaling. In crude-oil separation equipment, HPMA helps keep heat-exchanger and separator internals free from scale, improving dehydration efficiency and reducing process pressure drops.
• In reverse-osmosis desalination and membrane systems, HPMA acts as a high-performance antiscalant. Its chelation and dispersion mechanisms limit deposition of CaCO₃, CaSO₄ and BaSO₄ on membrane surfaces, while its adsorption behavior helps form a thin barrier layer that slows scale nucleation. HPMA is often blended with polyacrylic acid to enhance colloid dispersion and maintain stable permeate flow. Industrial RO operations show that HPMA-based programs can significantly extend cleaning intervals, stabilize flux and enhance membrane longevity while maintaining high salt-rejection performance.

Pulp and Paper Industry

• In the pulp and paper industry, HPMA serves as a chelating agent, dispersant and deposit controller across pulping, bleaching, papermaking and wastewater treatment. During chemical pulping, fiber raw materials and water introduce iron, copper and manganese ions that catalyze unwanted oxidative reactions and darken the pulp. HPMA at fractional-percent levels complexes these ions, increases bleaching efficiency and reduces consumption of peroxide or other oxidants. It also disperses pitch and fine contaminants, preventing deposition on equipment and improving liquor cleanliness.
• In peroxide bleaching stages, HPMA stabilizes hydrogen peroxide by binding catalytic metals and slowing non-productive oxidation. As part of multi-component bleaching auxiliaries containing sulfonated monomers and acrylic acid, HPMA enhances brightness development, lowers brightness reversion and helps maintain fiber strength. In the papermachine system, HPMA added in small amounts stabilizes white-water quality, complexes hardness ions, improves filler dispersion and increases filler retention while minimizing sheet defects such as pinholes, agglomerates and uneven opacity.
• In papermill wastewater, HPMA chelates heavy metals such as copper, zinc and lead, lowering toxicity and improving removal efficiency. Its dispersing functions assist in particle removal, and its compatibility with biological treatment enhances COD reduction. In coating applications, HPMA is used as a pigment dispersant that reduces slurry viscosity, improves coating uniformity and delivers smoother film formation with better printing performance.

Textile Printing and Dyeing Industry

• In textile pre-treatment, HPMA functions as a chelating dispersant and stabilizer in desizing, scouring and bleaching processes. It complexes calcium, magnesium and transition-metal ions in water and on fiber surfaces, preventing metal-catalyzed decomposition of peroxide and enhancing desizing and whitening performance. Typical baths contain HPMA at low gram-per-liter levels, operating across wide pH and temperature ranges.
• In dyeing processes with reactive, direct or vat dyes, HPMA serves as a chelating dispersant and leveling auxiliary. Under hard-water, high-salt conditions it prevents formation of insoluble dye–metal complexes, keeps dye particles uniformly dispersed and improves shade levelness and reproducibility. In printing pastes, HPMA acts as a stabilizer that controls metal-ion interference, prevents pigment or dye flocculation and maintains rheology for sharp, clean print patterns. In textile finishing, HPMA blocks residual metal ions, supports softener performance and reduces spotting and uneven handle on finished fabrics.
• In equipment-cleaning applications, HPMA is blended with alkaline cleaners to remove scale, deposits and dye residues from dyeing machines, printing ranges and pipelines. It chelates metal ions, disperses detached particles and restores clean internal surfaces, resulting in more stable spray-water quality and fewer equipment-related defects.

Metal Processing and Surface Treatment Industry

• In metal processing, HPMA appears in acid cleaners, non-cyanide electroplating baths, phosphating solutions, passivation systems and chemical-plating baths. As a component of acid cleaning formulations, HPMA is combined with organic acids, surfactants and corrosion inhibitors to remove oxides, rust and water scale while moderating metal attack. It enhances the dissolution of carbonate and sulfate scales and keeps dissolved and detached particles suspended, preventing redeposition.
• In non-cyanide copper and zinc electroplating, HPMA acts as a main complexant, forming stable metal complexes that deposit uniformly at practical current densities. HPMA-containing alkaline copper baths generate bright, fine-grained deposits without cyanide toxicity. In zinc plating, HPMA moderates zinc reduction, reducing dendritic growth and producing smooth, even coatings. As an additive in phosphating baths, HPMA refines phosphate-crystal morphology, increases coating compactness and improves corrosion resistance and paint adhesion. In passivation and chemical-plating baths, HPMA stabilizes metal ions, adjusts deposition rates and enhances overall bath performance.

Daily Chemical and Personal-Care Industry

• In laundry detergents and household cleaners, HPMA is used as a phosphate-free chelating and stabilizing agent. At fractional-percent dosage, it complexes hardness ions, prevents insoluble salt formation, boosts surfactant performance and reduces fabric graying and redeposition. It also stabilizes enzymes, fragrances and optical brighteners by limiting metal-induced degradation, improving product shelf life and clarity.
• In dishwashing liquids and hard-surface cleaners, HPMA enhances limescale removal, prevents water-spot formation and improves product storage stability. In personal-care products such as shampoos, skin-care formulations and hair dyes, HPMA chelates trace metals that would otherwise cause discoloration or degradation, and stabilizes peroxide oxidants in oxidative hair-dye systems for consistent color development.

Oilfield Chemicals and Drilling Fluids

• In drilling fluids, HPMA chelates metal ions from formation water, stabilizes viscosity and reduces fluid loss by helping maintain a uniform filter cake. As a dispersant, it improves suspension of solids such as barite and drilled cuttings, enhancing hole cleaning. In fracturing fluids, HPMA prevents BaSO₄ and CaCO₃ deposition in fractures and surface equipment, maintaining flow capacity and reducing scale-related failures.

Ceramic Industry

• In ceramic manufacturing, HPMA is used as a dispersant and anti-flocculant in ceramic slurries. It adsorbs on particle surfaces, imparts negative charge and introduces electrostatic repulsion that prevents particle agglomeration, lowers slurry viscosity and improves flowability. This allows higher solids loading, better molding performance and more consistent green-body properties, while also reducing settling during storage.

Construction, Food and Environmental Fields

• In concrete admixtures, HPMA acts at very low dosage as a set retarder and water reducer, improving workability and enhancing impermeability and durability. HPMA-derived polycarboxylate grinding-aid structures improve cement grinding efficiency and early strength development at extremely low dosages. HPMA may be used in selected food-contact applications as a stabilizer and dispersant. In environmental applications, HPMA complexes heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and chromium, enabling their removal from wastewater and supporting biodegradable composite-material development in packaging.

Storage & Handling

• Store in sealed plastic drums, kept in a cool and ventilated place
• Avoid exposure to strong oxidizers and extreme heat
• Ensure equipment grounding to prevent static discharge
• Maintain clean and dry transfer systems

Usage Notice

• Wear protective gloves and goggles during handling
• Avoid mixing with strong alkaline additives before compatibility testing
• Follow local regulations for chemical disposal and handling
• Conduct small-scale testing before use in compound formulations
• Cooling-water inhibitor: a blend containing 10–20 % HPMA, 10 % HEDP, 5 % polyacrylic acid and 1 % benzotriazole dosed at 5–20 mg/L provides high scale-inhibition and corrosion-protection performance in general industrial cooling systems.
• Low-pressure boiler treatment: HPMA combined with EDTMPS at a mass ratio of 1:3 and dosed at 3–10 mg/L controls carbonate and phosphate scaling while helping remove historical deposits.
• Medium-pressure boiler program: HPMA used alone at 10–20 mg/L prevents carbonate and phosphate scales in boilers operating in the 1–4 MPa range.
• High-pressure boiler program: HPMA dosed at 15–30 mg/L works with phosphate treatment to keep high-pressure boiler tubes clean at elevated temperatures.
• Oilfield injection-water scale control: HPMA at 20–50 mg/L suppresses BaSO₄ and CaCO₃ scaling in high-salinity injection-water systems and maintains injectivity.
• Reverse-osmosis antiscalant: HPMA blended with polyacrylic acid at a 1:2 mass ratio and dosed at 2–20 mg/L extends RO cleaning intervals and stabilizes permeate flow.
• Cooling-water composite: a formulation containing 8 mg/L HPMA, 12 mg/L HEDP, 0.2 mg/L sodium gluconate, 0.35 mg/L Zn²⁺ and 0.2 mg/L surfactant achieves combined scale- and corrosion-control performance in high-alkalinity river-water systems.
• High-chloride cooling-water inhibitor: a composite of HEDP, HPMA, AA–AMPS copolymer, zinc sulfate and benzotriazole controls scaling and corrosion in chloride-rich water systems.
• Pulping chelant: HPMA added at 0.01–0.1 % (dry-pulp basis) complexes catalytic metals and improves pulp brightness.
• Bleaching auxiliary: a multi-component hydrogen-peroxide bleaching aid containing HPMA enhances peroxide stability and brightness development.
• Papermaking wet-end aid: HPMA at 0.01–0.1 % improves filler retention, sheet formation and white-water stability.
• Pigment-coating dispersant: HPMA at 0.1–0.5 % improves pigment dispersion and coating smoothness.
• Textile pre-treatment: HPMA at 0.5–2 g/L chelates metal ions and stabilizes peroxide in desizing and bleaching baths.
• Reactive/disperse-dye dyeing: HPMA at 0.5–1.5 g/L prevents dye flocculation and improves leveling and color yield.
• Printing-paste stabilizer: HPMA at 0.2–1.0 % stabilizes paste rheology and prevents pigment/dye agglomeration.
• Finishing auxiliary: HPMA at 0.1–0.5 g/L blocks metal ions and improves softener performance in textile finishing.
• Equipment-cleaning solution: HPMA at 3–5 g/L removes scale and deposits from dyeing machines and pipelines in alkaline cleaning systems.
• Acidic metal cleaner: a cleaner with 5 % HPMA, 10 % citric acid, 0.5 % thiourea and 1 % surfactant removes rust and water scale at 40–60 °C.
• Non-cyanide copper plating bath: HPMA-complexed alkaline copper baths produce uniform, dense deposits at 0.5–1 A/dm².
• Phosphating solution: HPMA at 0.5–2.0 g/L improves crystal refinement and corrosion resistance in zinc-phosphate coatings.
• Laundry-liquid formulation: 0.1–0.5 % HPMA with anionic surfactants and co-builders improves hard-water cleaning and prevents redeposition.
• Dishwashing-liquid formulation: HPMA enhances limescale removal and maintains product clarity during storage.
• Hair-dye composition: HPMA at 0.1–0.5 % stabilizes peroxide components for consistent color development.
• Shampoo/body-wash system: HPMA enhances stability, cleansing efficiency and foam performance in personal-care formulations.
• Detergent powder: HPMA with co-builders and enzymes enables phosphate-free washing performance.
• Drilling-fluid additive: HPMA at 0.5–2.0 % improves rheology, reduces fluid loss and stabilizes solids suspension.
• Fracturing-fluid antiscalant: HPMA at 1–3 % prevents BaSO₄ and CaCO₃ deposition in fractures and surface equipment.
• Ceramic-slurry dispersant: HPMA at 0.1–0.5 % disperses ceramic particles and improves casting properties.
• Concrete admixture: HPMA at 0.01–0.1 % extends setting time and improves durability in cement systems.
• Cement grinding aid: HPMA-derived polycarboxylate structures at <0.1 % enhance cement grinding efficiency.
• Food-contact stabilizer: HPMA at 0.1–1.0 % improves stability and dispersion in selected food-contact applications.
• Heavy-metal adsorbent: HPMA-based materials capture Pb, Cd and Cr for wastewater purification.

Packaging

• Plastic drum, 25 kg net each
• Packaging can be customized based on user requirements