Lauryl Acrylate: A Versatile Monomer for Polymer Synthesis and Modification
2023/5/23
Lauryl acrylate (LA) is an ester of acrylic acid and lauryl alcohol. It has a molecular formula of C15H28O2 and a molecular weight of 240.38 g/mol. It is a clear, colorless liquid with a melting point of -14 to 2 °C and a boiling point of 110 °C. It has a low viscosity and a low toxicity. It contains monomethyl ether hydroquinone (MEHQ) as an inhibitor to prevent unwanted polymerization during storage.
LA can be polymerized by various methods such as free radical polymerization, atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, and ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). The resulting polymers have a long pendant aliphatic chain and a high reactivity of acrylates. They can be used for applications in oil additives, floor waxes, textile and metal coatings, paints, varnishes, pressure-sensitive adhesives, and low-temperature sealants.
LA can also be used as a modifier of other (meth)acrylate resins to improve their properties such as adhesion, water resistance, abrasion resistance, and weatherability. For example, LA can be blended with epoxy resins to reduce their viscosity and enhance their flexibility. LA can also be copolymerized with other monomers such as styrene, methyl methacrylate, vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, butadiene, unsaturated polyesters and drying oils to obtain copolymers with different characteristics.
LA is a versatile monomer that can be used to create polymers with various applications in different fields. It is an important building block for the synthesis and modification of acrylic materials that have superior performance and functionality.