Display omitted •Δη is more sensitive to temperature than VE.•Negative VE advocates the structural breaking of the solute in solution.•Hydrogen bond and the molecular filling effect are dominant on VE.•Free activation energy of solution studied is higher low temperature. Densities and viscosities were measured for binary solutions MEA (monoethanolamine) + 3DMA1P (3-dimethylamino-1-propanol), 3DMA1P + H2O and ternary solutions MEA + 3DMA1P + H2O at P = 0.101 MPa, T = 293.15 K ∼ 333.15 K. Based on the experimental densities of solutions, the volume properties of the excess molar volume, partial molar volume, apparent molar volume and limiting partial molar volume were calculated. Moreover, the viscosity deviation and viscous flow activation energy were calculated based on the experimental viscosity. Additionally, the intermolecular interactions of the mixed solutions were analyzed and discussed, and the Redlich-Kister equation was used to correlate the excess molar volume and viscosity deviation of the binary solutions.