Derivatives of cycloaliphatic diamines as cosolvents for aqueous hydrophobic amines

A method for forming an aqueous solution of a hydrophobic amine comprising:

• mixing the hydrophobic amine with a cosolvent amine having the formula:
• where
• n is 2, and
• each R is independently selected from hydrogen, a 1 to 6 carbon aliphatic group, and a 0 to 6 carbon atom containing amine group, wherein each R is chosen such that the cosolvent amine comprises at least two amine groups, and wherein the amine group ratio of the hydrophobic amine to the cosolvent amine is from 0.5:1 to 5:1,
• and, a quantity of water to obtain a clear solution.

A method of solubilizing a hydrophobic amine in water, comprising the step of:

• mixing the hydrophobic amine with:
• (1) a compound having the formula:
• where
• n is 2, and
• each R is independently selected from hydrogen, a 1 to 6 carbon aliphatic group, and a 0 to 6 carbon atom containing amine group, wherein each R is chosen such that the cosolvent amine comprises at least two amine groups, and wherein the amine group ratio of said hydrophobic amine to said cosolvent amine is from 0.5:1 to 5:1, and
• (2) sufficient water to obtain a clear solution.

An aqueous solution comprising:

• a hydrophobic amine;
• a cosolvent amine of the formula:
• where
• n is 2, and
• each R is independently selected from hydrogen, a 1 to 6 carbon aliphatic group, and a 0 to 6 carbon atom containing amine group, wherein each R is chosen such that the cosolvent amine comprises at least two amine groups;
• and a quantity of water to maintain the solution as a homogeneous phase, wherein
• the solution is free of organic solvent, other than the cosolvent amine, and
• the aqueous solution is an epoxy resin curing agent system.