FILM-FORMING AMINES APPLICATIONS
Boiler Water Treatment
For Power Plants Boilers & Other Steam Generator Systems
Film-Forming Amines for Water-Steam-Condensate Cycles
Boiler Water Treatment
Steam generating industries portray the majority of our FINEAMIN® – filming amine-based chemicals range users, either we talk about high pressure or low pressure boilers, drum type or once though units.
Boiler water treatment / chemical conditioning and metal pipes protection are mandatory for improved operation in power plants, refineries, wood industry, sugar mills, papers mills, food industry, waste incineration and more. Given the circumstances, our film-forming amines are up to the challenge of ensuring highest performance of any industrial boiler in your plant, even if we speak about alkaline boil out or boiler preservation.
Boiler & pipes continuous protection | polyamines-metal bonding
Film-forming amines based treatment is an alternative to conventional, anticorrosion, boiler water treatment methods. Its action is manifested through the creation of a microscopic, hydrophobic film on the metallic surface, by using polyamines, which are naturally connecting to loose nitrogen atoms present in the metal.
This prevents oxygen to attack the metallic surfaces of the boilers, while improving the heat transfer. And since the amines are volatile, they protect the whole system, not only the area where the oxygen scavenger is injected.
For an improved action and depending on the state of the plant and current chemical regime, FINEAMIN formulations may contain various dispersants, alkalizing and neutralising amine blends.
Why treat the boiler water with film-forming amines?
Applying our unique FINEAMIN anticorrosion and antiscale solutions, you have the opportunity to replace toxic and hazardous products like hydrazine considered to be carcinogenic and phosphates which are not environmentally friendly.
Over and above these safety and environmental benefits, using FINEAMIN typically protects the whole water-steam cycle and reduces the quantity of blow-down (as there are no solids to dispose of), improves heat transfer because of a better magnetite layer, thus reducing energy needs.
Using and storing FINEAMIN chemicals is extremely easy, as they do not impose any speial measures for workers or warehouse.
FINEAMIN products come as “all-in-one” mixtures – one product with multiple components that decompose according to temperatures, along the system, offering unparalleled protection in the exact place.
In 99% of the facilities using FINEAMIN products, the dosage is made through only ONE point.
References on film-forming amines water treatment
In the USA, EPRI, the American Electric Power Insitute, has been issuing documents relating to film-forming amines for many years, and is hosting yearly user conferences for industrial sites using film-forming amines for water treatment. In Russia, film-forming amines are well known, as the Moscow Power Engineering Institute, National Research University (MPEI NRU) has been using them for over 40 years now. In Europe, VGB of Germany has also been providing guidelines on film-forming amines use, as has the VTT Institute of FINLAND.
Recently, two research studies have been conducted by ICEMENERG – National Institute for Research and Development in Energy in Romania. The studies discuss the influence of polyamines in water steam circuits for a power plant and a fertilizer plant, with high and medium pressure boilers. Reference: IEEE.
Before Boiler Water Treatment with FINEAMIN®
- Existing corrosion & deposits
- Uneven magnetite layer
- Pipe leaks due to flow accelerated corrosion
After Boiler Water treatment with FINEAMIN®
- Reduced corrosion on all metal parts
- Evenly distributed magnetite layer with improved structure
- Reduction in pipe wall thinning
Boiler water treatment with filming amines is one of the most efficient methods to protect boilers, steam and condensate lines against corrosion and deposits.
Fineamin’s polyamine-based technology forms a protective film on metal surfaces, reduces oxygen corrosion, stabilizes pH, and prevents scale formation in both low- and high-pressure boilers. Our products are designed for all industrial steam-generating systems, offering a safer and more advanced alternative to hydrazine, sulfites, phosphates, and other traditional water treatment chemicals.
Why Filming Amines Outperform Traditional Boiler Chemicals
Traditional boiler water treatments were designed decades ago and focus mainly on controlling oxygen or stabilizing hardness inside the boiler.
Filming amines represent the next generation of boiler chemistry: they form a protective molecular layer on all metal surfaces, reduce maintenance needs, and improve energy efficiency across the entire steam cycle. Traditional methods require multiple chemicals to achieve the same effect. To understand the advantages more clearly, here is a direct comparison between filming amines and older treatment methods.
| Comparison Criteria | FINEAMIN (Filming Amine-Based Mixtures) | Traditional Treatments (Hydrazine, Sulfites, Phosphates) |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment Approach | Single drum, all-in-one formulation | Usually, 2-3 separate chemicals needed to achieve similar results |
| Protection | Film formation, scale dispersion, and system-wide pH control | Oxygen scavenging, pH adjustment, and deposit control |
| Magnetite Layer | Prevents it frm growing more than necessary, better heat transfer | The magnetite layer is thick, uneven |
| Oxygen Handling | Hydrophobic layer prevents oxygen from touching the metal | The oxygen scavenger removes dissolved oxygen from boiler feedwater and steam |
| Chemical Consumption | Lower chemical dosage | Large quantities of multiple products |
| Environmental & Safety | Non-toxic, food-grade safe, more than 90% biodegradable | Some are toxic or carcinogenic (hydrazine) |
| TDS Contribution | Minimal TDS contribution, cleaner water cycle | Higher TDS from salt-based products (sulfites, phosphate hideout) |
| Energy Efficiency | Lower blowdown → lower energy & water loss | Higher blowdown due to sludge/impurities |
| Startup/Shutdown Protection | Film remains on surfaces | No protection once the chemical dosing stops |
| Overall Operational Costs | Lower costs due to water, energy and maintenance savings | Higher costs because of multiple chemical dosing, higher water, energy use |
FINEAMIN® recommended products for boiler water-steam cycles: FINEAMIN® 06 (for boilers up to 120 bar), FINEAMIN® 90 (for high-pressure boilers), FINEAMIN® 24, FINEAMIN® 88, FINEAMIN® 39F (for boilers in food industry), and the newest range of chemicals: FINEAMIN® POWER – CYCLOHEXYLAMINE-FREE BOILER WATER TREATMENT
Our custom-made boiler water treatment chemicals and programs increase the efficiency and the economic viability. Any water management plan concerning the chemical regime of the plant will be established ONLY with our specialists and depending on the plant parameters (steam tons/hour, pressure, etc).
Your System Parameters Form
To be able to find together the best solution for boiler water treatment in your facility, please fill in the following STEAM questionnaire and send it by e-mail at the e-mail address specified on our Contact page.
