Acrylic acid is the simplest unsaturated carboxylic acid which has double bond
and carboxyl group in C3 one molecule with the formula CH2=CHCOOH. The vinyl
group is attached to the carbonyl carbon directly. The systemic name is
2-propenoic acid. Acrylic acid has two reaction points or functional groups
required for polymerization process. Purified (glacial) acrylic acid is a clear,
colorless liquid with a characteristic acrid odor. It is miscible with water,
alcohols and ethers. Acrylic acid is produced from C 3 refinery. Acrylic acid
undergoes the typical reactions of a carboxylic acid and forms acrylic esters -
basic alkyl esters are methyl, butyl, ethyl acrylate, and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate.
Acrylic acid and its esters undergo the reactions of the double bond which
readily combine with themselves or other monomers (e.g amides, methacrylates,
acrylonitrile, vinyl, styrene and butadiene) to form homopolymers or co-polymers
which are used in the production of coatings, adhesives, elastomers, super
absorbent polymers, flocculants, as well as fibres and plastics. Acrylate
polymers show a wide range of properties dependent on the type of the monomers
and reaction conditions.
Alkyl acrylates are clear,
volatile liquid; slightly soluble in water and complete soluble in alcohols,
ethers and almost organic solvents; Acrylate esters containing a double bond and
functional carboxyl group are used chiefly as a monomer or co-monomer in making
acrylic and modacrylic fibres. It is used in formulating paints and dispersions
for paints, inks, and adhesives. It is used in making cleaning products,
antioxidant agents, amphoteric surfactants. It is used in making aqueous resins
and dispersions for textiles and papers. Methyl acrylate also used in making
vitamin B1.
|
Methyl acrylate |
Ethyl acrylate |
Butyl
acrylate
|
2-Ethylhexyl
acrylate
|
CAS
RN
|
96-33-3 |
140-88-5 |
141-32-2 |
103-11-7 |
Formula
(MW)
|
CH2=CHCOOCH3 |
CH2=CHCOOCH2CH3 |
CH2=CHCOO(CH2)3CH3 |
CH2=CHCOOC8H17
|
Mole
Weight
|
86.09 |
100.12 |
128.17 |
184.28
|
Specific
Gravity
|
0.9567
|
0.923
|
0.9015
|
0.887
|
Viscosity
cP (20 C)
|
0.49
|
0.6
|
0.9
|
1.7
|
Boiling
Point C at 760 mm Hg
|
79.6
|
100
|
147
|
216
C (Decomposes)
|
Melting
Point C
|
<
-75
|
-72
|
-64
|
-90
|
Solubility
in water
|
slightly soluble
30
- 60 (g/l) |
slightly soluble
(15 g/l) |
Slightly
soluble (2-7 g/l) |
negligible
|
Methyl methacrylate (MMA) is ester of the unsaturated C4 carboxylic acid. The
term of metha indicates an additional methyl group attached to the alpha carbon
of acrylic acid. Methyl methacrylate is a flammable, colorless liquid; melting
at -48 C, boiling at 101 C, soluble in the most organic solvents but insoluble
in water. It is prepared by the esterification of methacrylamide sulfate with
methanol. (The reaction of acetone and hydrogen cyanide forms acetone
cyanohydrin, which is further treated with sulfuric acid to produce
methacrylamide sulfate). Ammonium bisulfate is a byproduct. MMA is produced
commercially also from C4 route ( isobutylene and tert-butyl alcohol) through
two oxidation process. This process don't need sulphuric acid and no acidic
by-products. MMA is the monomer to make polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) used as a
shatterproof replacement for glass. It is a key ingredient in the production of
cast and extruded acrylic sheet, acrylic emulsions, molding powders and
extrusion resins. Polymers and copolymers of methyl methacrylate are also used
in undissolved surface coatings, adhesives, sealants, impact modifiers, emulsion
polymers, surgical bone cements, packaging applications, vinyl siding and other
construction materials.
Acrylics including (meth)acrylic acids, acrylic esters, and acrylic compounds
containing reactive halogens, nitrile and amide groups are versatile monomers
forming any class of hard, soft, resilient and transparent synthetic plastics or
resins and viscous oils by varying the starting materials and the polymerization
processes. The monomers can be either homopolymerized or be copolymerized with
other type monomers capable of being polymerized. The resultant homopolymers can
provide abundance hydrophilic property groups. Copolymers may be either
hydrophilic or hydrophobic. Sodium acrylate is copolymerized with acrylamide to
make an anionic copolymer used as a flocculant in water treatment. Acrylic esters copolymers with minor amounts of another functional
monomer containing a
reactive halogen or ethylenically unsaturated ester can form inter-linked polymer chains that display good heat and
oil resistance. Homopolymers
and copolymers have a variety of industrial applications including;
- Plastics
- Textiles
- Thickening Agents
- Dispersing
Agents
- Surfactants
- Chelating Agents
- Adhesives
- Water-based
coatings
- Water Treatment
Acryloyl chloride is a flammable,
corrosive, clear liquid; boiling point 76 C; flash Point
16 C. This substance is a reactive monomer which hydrolyzes in contact with
water and polymerizes gradually at room temperature. Stabilised acryloyl
chloride with phenothiazine or MEHQ is safe under normal conditions. The majority amount
of acryloyl chloride consumption is linked to the preparation of acrylate
monomers and to as a monomer to produce heat and hydrocarbon resistant co-polymers. The reactivity of the
molecule's double bond and reactive chloride also yield wide range of
applications as a chemical intermediate.
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