An acrylate polymer (also known as acrylic or polyacrylate) is any of a group of

polymer A polymer () is a chemical substance, substance or material that consists of very large molecules, or macromolecules, that are constituted by many repeat unit, repeating subunits derived from one or more species of monomers. Due to their br ...

s prepared from acrylate monomers. These plastics are noted for their transparency, resistance to breakage, and elasticity. Acrylate polymer is commonly used in

cosmetics Cosmetics are substances that are intended for application to the body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering appearance. They are mixtures of chemical compounds derived from either Natural product, natural source ...

, such as

nail polish Nail polish (also known as nail varnish in British English or nail enamel) is a lacquer that can be applied to the human Nail (anatomy), fingernails or toenails to decorate and protect the nail plates. The formula has been revised repeatedly t ...

, as an adhesive.

History

The first synthesis of acrylic polymer was reported by G. W. A. Kahlbaum in 1880.

Acrylic elastomers

Acrylic

elastomer An elastomer is a polymer with viscoelasticity (i.e. both viscosity and elasticity) and with weak intermolecular forces, generally low Young's modulus (E) and high failure strain compared with other materials. The term, a portmanteau of ''ela ...

is a general term for a type of

synthetic rubber A synthetic rubber is an artificial elastomer. They are polymers synthesized from petroleum byproducts. About of rubber is produced annually in the United States, and of that amount two thirds are synthetic. Synthetic rubber, just like natural ru ...

whose primary component is acrylic acid

alkyl In organic chemistry, an alkyl group is an alkane missing one hydrogen. The term ''alkyl'' is intentionally unspecific to include many possible substitutions. An acyclic alkyl has the general formula of . A cycloalkyl group is derived from a cy ...

ester In chemistry, an ester is a compound derived from an acid (either organic or inorganic) in which the hydrogen atom (H) of at least one acidic hydroxyl group () of that acid is replaced by an organyl group (R). These compounds contain a distin ...

( ethyl or butyl ester). Acrylic elastomer possesses characteristics of heat and oil resistance, with the ability to withstand temperatures of 170–180 °C. It is used primarily for producing oil seals and packaging related to automobiles. Acrylic elastomer can generally be characterized as one of two types. "Old" types include ACM ( copolymer of acrylic acid ester and 2-chloroethyl vinyl ether) containing

chlorine Chlorine is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Cl and atomic number 17. The second-lightest of the halogens, it appears between fluorine and bromine in the periodic table and its properties are mostly intermediate between ...

and ANM (copolymer of acrylic acid ester and acrylonitrile) without chloride. "New" types do not contain chlorine and are less prone to mold-related staining. Other than the slightly better water resistance of ANM there are no physical differences between the two types. The material is less resistant in terms of cold weather with a saturation point of −15 °C for old types and −28 °C to −30 °C for new types. In terms of vulcanization, the standard method for the old type is amine vulcanization. To minimize permanent deformation, the old type requires curing for 24 hours at a temperature of 150 °C. On the other hand, for the new type, the press curing time and follow-up vulcanization time are significantly reduced by combining metal soap and sulfur. It has no special characteristics. The rebound resilience and abrasion resistance of the new type are poor, and even its electrical characteristics are considerably poor compared with acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber and butyl rubber.

Uses

* Polyacrylate emulsion, water-borne coating, are used as binder for outdoor and indoor "latex" house

paints Paint is a material or mixture that, when applied to a solid material and allowed to dry, adds a film-like layer. As art, this is used to create an image or images known as a painting. Paint can be made in many colors and types. Most paints are ...

. * Acrylic paints as artist paints. * Acrylic fibre. * Sodium polyacrylate water-soluble thickeners, a polymer for the production of the Superabsorbent polymer (SAP) used in disposable diapers due to its high absorbency per unit mass. * Acrylic resin as

pressure-sensitive adhesive Pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA, self-adhesive, self-stick adhesive) is a type of nonreactive adhesive which forms a bond when pressure is applied to bond the adhesive with a surface. No solvent, water, or heat is needed to activate the adhesive ...

. * " Super glue" is a formulation of cyanoacrylate. * Polymethyl methacrylate is the clear break-resistant sheeting sold as acrylic glass (or simply acrylic sheet) or under the trade name Plexiglas, Perspex, etc. * Polyacrylates are used in cosmetic products as rheology modifiers and film formers, and these are typically polymers of acrylic acid fluids.

Related polymers

* PVAc copolymer emulsion glue of vinyl acetate (VAM) and acrylic acid (VAA) * Polyacrylamide copolymer used as

flocculation In colloidal chemistry, flocculation is a process by which colloidal particles come out of Suspension (chemistry), suspension to sediment in the form of floc or flake, either spontaneously or due to the addition of a clarifying agent. The actio ...

agent in water treatment

References

{{plastics Acrylate esters Optical materials Plastics Elastomers

History

Acrylic elastomers

Uses

Related polymers

See also

References