Complexation. According to the query of 960 Chemical Network, triethanolamine is added to Formula 5 of electroless nickel plating, which not only has complexing effect, but also can adjust pH value, so that the plating solution can still have a high deposition rate at low temperature. Triethanolamine is tris (2- hydroxyethyl) amine, which can be regarded as a trihydroxy substitute of triethylamine. Similar to other amine compounds, triethanolamine is weakly alkaline due to the presence of lone pair on the nitrogen atom, and can react with inorganic or organic acids to form salts.