Butyl acrylate in environmentally friendly water-based emulsion formulation design points

With the increasingly stringent environmental regulations and the widespread market demand for green products, environmentally friendly water-based emulsions have been widely used in coatings, adhesives, cosmetics and other fields. In this context, n-butyl acrylate, as an important functional monomer, has gradually become the core component in the formulation design of environmentally friendly waterborne emulsions due to its excellent performance and environmental protection characteristics. In this paper, the application of n-butyl acrylate in environment-friendly water-based emulsion will be discussed in detail from the aspects of its properties, formulation design principles and formulation points in practical application.

1. Butyl acrylate properties and environmental protection characteristics

Butyl acrylate (Acrylate) is a typical acrylate monomer with good water solubility, film-forming properties and chemical stability. Compared with traditional solvent-based emulsions, the use of n-butyl acrylate in aqueous emulsions significantly reduces VOC (volatile organic compounds) emissions, which meets environmental requirements. n-Butyl acrylate also has a lower surface tension, which helps to form a continuous and uniform emulsion film, thereby improving the film-forming properties and water resistance of the emulsion.

In the formulation design, n-butyl acrylate is usually used as the main film-forming substance or thickener, which can effectively improve the adhesion and mechanical properties of the emulsion. The water-soluble nature of n-butyl acrylate makes it easy to mix with other water-based materials, reducing the complexity of the formulation.

2. Environmentally friendly water-based emulsion formulation design of the main principles

In the formulation design of environmentally friendly water-based emulsions, the following principles need to be focused on:

(1) Environmental protection priority

Formulation design should be to reduce the emission of VOC and harmful substances as the goal, select environmentally friendly raw materials. As a low toxicity and low volatility monomer, n-butyl acrylate is an ideal choice for aqueous emulsion.

(2) emulsion stability

The stability of the emulsion directly affects its storage and application performance. By selecting suitable emulsifiers, pH regulators and film-forming additives, the stability of the emulsion can be effectively improved to prevent delamination or agglomeration.

(3) Cost-benefit balance

On the premise of meeting the requirements of environmental protection and performance, the cost of raw materials and the feasibility of the process should be considered comprehensively when designing the formula to avoid unnecessary waste.

3. Butyl acrylate in the formulation design of the application points

(1) emulsifier selection

Emulsifier is a key component in the formulation of aqueous emulsions, which plays a decisive role in the dispersion and stability of emulsions. The emulsifying effect of n-butyl acrylate is closely related to the type of emulsifier selected. Commonly used emulsifiers include anionic emulsifiers (e. g., sulfated castor), nonionic emulsifiers (e. g., polyoxypropylene-polyoxyethylene block polymers), and the like. When selecting an emulsifier, it is necessary to consider its emulsifying efficiency, electrolyte resistance and pH application range.

(2)pH value control

The water solubility and emulsion properties of n-butyl acrylate are closely related to the pH value. Generally, n-butyl acrylate has high emulsification efficiency under weak alkaline conditions, so it is necessary to adjust the pH value of the emulsion by adding a buffer (such as sodium phosphate) in the formulation design to ensure the smooth progress of the emulsification process.

(3) the use of film-forming additives

In order to improve the film-forming properties of the emulsion and the mechanical properties of the coating film, it is usually necessary to add film-forming additives. N-butyl acrylate can be copolymerized with other functional monomers (such as methyl methacrylate, styrene, etc.) to form polymers with excellent film-forming properties. The addition of the film-forming additive can also increase the viscosity of the emulsion and help to form a uniform coating film.

(4) cosolvent selection

In the emulsion formulation of n-butyl acrylate, the role of cosolvent can not be ignored. Commonly used cosolvents include water, propylene glycol, etc., which can effectively improve the solubility of n-butyl acrylate, reduce the viscosity of the emulsion, thereby improving the processability of the emulsion.

4. Formulation design challenges and solutions

Although the application of n-butyl acrylate in environmentally friendly water-based emulsions has many advantages, it still faces some challenges in actual formulation design:

(1) Solubility issues

The limited solubility of n-butyl acrylate in water may lead to the instability of the emulsion and the decrease of the film-forming properties. This problem can be effectively solved by selecting efficient emulsifiers and appropriate dispersion processes.

(2) emulsion stability problem

The stability of the emulsion is affected by many factors, including temperature, pH and shear force. In the formulation design, it is necessary to optimize the emulsification process and add stabilizers (such as thickeners, anti-fouling agents) to improve the stability of the emulsion.

5. Conclusion

As a monomer with excellent performance and outstanding environmental protection, n-butyl acrylate has broad application prospects in environmentally friendly water-based emulsions. Through the selection of emulsifier, the control of pH value, and the reasonable combination of film-forming additives and cosolvents, the emulsion formula with superior performance and environmental protection requirements can be designed. In the future, with the further strictness of environmental protection regulations and the increase of market demand for green products, the application of n-butyl acrylate in water-based emulsions will be more extensive, and its formulation design will also develop in the direction of higher environmental protection and functionality.