Difference between ethyl acrylate and butyl acrylate

In the chemical industry, understanding the nature of substances and their differences is important for R & D and production. Ethyl acrylate and butyl acrylate are two common organic compounds, which have significant differences in molecular structure, physical properties and application fields. This article will analyze the difference between ethyl acrylate and butyl acrylate from multiple perspectives, and discuss its application in different fields to help readers better understand the characteristics of these two substances.

1. Molecular Structure Differences

1. Molecular structure of ethyl acrylate Ethyl acrylate has the formula C3H5O2 and is obtained by reacting acrylic acid (CH2 = CHCOOH) with ethanol (C2H5OH). Its molecular structure has an ester group (COO), connected to a propenyl group (CH2 = CHCH2-) and an ethoxy group (OCH2CH3). Ethyl acrylate is a linear molecule, has a high molecular weight, and is easily decomposed at high temperatures.

2. Molecular structure of butyl ester The butyl ester generally refers to an ester compound formed by the reaction of butyric acid (CH2CH2CH2COOH) with an alcohol (e. g., ethanol, isopropanol, etc.). Take ethyl butyrate as an example, its molecular formula is C5H10O2, and the structure also contains an ester group, but the connection group is different. The structure of butyric acid makes it have a chain-like carbon chain structure. The molecular weight of butyl ester is generally slightly higher than that of ethyl acrylate.

Compared to ethyl acrylate, butyl ester differs in the following ways:

1. molecular weight Ethyl acrylate has a molecular weight of about 96g/mol, while butyl esters (such as ethyl butyrate) have a molecular weight of about 132g/mol. A larger molecular weight may result in differences in physical properties of the butyl esters, such as melting and boiling points.

2. structural stability The molecular structure of butyl ester is relatively stable, and it is not easy to decompose, but it may still be affected by oxidation or hydrolysis under certain conditions.

2. physical property differences

1. Solubility Ethyl acrylate has low solubility in water, but has good solubility in organic solvents, and is often used in organic chemical reactions. The solubility of butyl esters varies depending on the specific structure, but in general, butyl esters have good solubility in organic solvents and can be used as solvents in some cases.

2. Viscosity The viscosity of ethyl acrylate is high, about 0.9 mPa · s, while the viscosity of butyl ester varies depending on the type, but is usually between 0.3 and 0.7 mPa · s. The lower viscosity makes certain butyl esters suitable for applications such as emulsion stabilizers.

3. melting point and boiling point The melting point of ethyl acrylate is 74 ° C. and the boiling point is 180 ° C., and the melting point and boiling point of butyl acrylate vary depending on the molecular structure. For example, ethyl butyrate has a melting point of about 86°C and a boiling point of about 187°C. In general, the melting and boiling points of butyl ester are slightly higher than those of ethyl acrylate.

3. Application Areas Differences

1. Applications in Chemical Reactions Ethyl acrylate is often used in organic synthesis, especially as a monomer or intermediate, in polymerization or crosslinking reactions. Butyl esters, on the other hand, are widely used in the oil and gas industry as solvents or emulsifiers, as well as plasticizers for plastics and rubbers.

2. Environmental Performance Ethyl acrylate has certain toxicity in the environment and may cause harm to biological and human health. The environmental performance of butyl esters varies with specific types, but many butyl esters have better biocompatibility and degradation properties, so they are widely used in the medical and food industries.

3. economic value The production cost of ethyl acrylate is relatively high, while the production cost of butyl ester is relatively low due to the simplicity of its chemical structure. Therefore, in terms of economy, butyl ester is more advantageous.

4. Summary and Prospect

As two important organic compounds, ethyl acrylate and butyl acrylate have significant differences in molecular structure, physical properties and application fields. Ethyl acrylate plays an important role in organic synthesis and plastic manufacturing, but its high molecular weight and low biocompatibility limit its use in some applications. Butyl ester is widely used in oil, gas, pharmaceutical and food industries because of its lower molecular weight, better biocompatibility and economy.

In the future, with the increasing awareness of environmental protection and the increasing demand for biocompatibility and sustainable performance, the market prospect of butyl ester will be brighter. Ethyl acrylate is an important monomer, and its application in new materials and functional materials will continue to receive attention. Through the in-depth study of these two substances, we can provide more theoretical support and practical guidance for the development of the chemical industry.

This article analyzes the molecular structure, physical properties and application fields of ethyl acrylate and butyl acrylate to help readers better understand the differences between the two substances and their applications in chemical production. Hope to help you!