Chemicals & Polymers Blog

Polycaprolactone polyols are a special class of polyester polyols preferred in polyurethane elastomer applications where high dynamic durability, broad temperature profiles, very good hydrolysis resistance, and exceptional elastomeric properties are required.  Polyester polyols, as a class, are generally selected for urethane applications where high tensile strength and tear resistance, sliding abrasion resistance, flex fatigue resistance, oil, grease and solvent resistance, and high temperature and oxidative stability are needed.

Allyl alcohol (AAL) is a readily available, water-soluble liquid used as a comonomer and a chemical intermediate. As a dual-functional monomeric building block, AAL consists of a polymerizable allylic moiety and a reactive hydroxyl moiety. For the purpose of this discussion, we will show the versatility of allyl alcohol as a functional monomer.

Gantrade offers the incredibly versatile diol, 2-Methyl-1, 3-Propanediol (MPO) for a range of market applications for unsaturated polyester resins, including composites and gelcoats, as well as saturated polyester for liquid can & coil coatings, powder coatings, polyester polyols for polyurethanes, and more.

We sat down with John Drummond of Gantrade Europe and Helen Wu with the company’s US group for a Q+A session sparked by increased interest worldwide in the use of MPO.

N-butyl acrylate (BA) is the largest-volume acrylate ester used in the production of all-acrylic, vinyl acrylic and styrene acrylic copolymers.  BA offers price-value and accounts for about 60 percent of the global acrylic ester monomer demand, with a consumption volume of over 2,000 kilo tons.  

The other major acrylate esters include methyl acrylate (MA), ethyl acrylate (EA), and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (2-EHA).  Butyl acrylate is used as a “soft-monomer” to improve low temperature properties and toughness. The major markets for BA are in paint & coatings, such as architectural and automotive coatings, followed by adhesives and sealants market.  Other application areas include inks, textile, paper and leather finishes, and caulks.

Another significant and growing segment for BA is in thermoplastic ethylene acrylate copolymers (EAC), at BA levels up to 35 % in copolymers.  EBA copolymers are used as a impact modifier and processing aid in thermoplastics improving properties such as toughness, flexibility, molding characteristics and part appearances.  End use applications include packaging, multilayer films and adhesives.

N-butyl methacrylate (n-BMA) is a versatile, plasticizing methacrylate monomer used in the production of homopolymers, copolymers and products that we see and use in everyday life.

As a homopolymer, we see poly (n-BMA) used in adhesives and as a polymeric plasticizer for harder resins.  Copolymer applications include water-borne industrial and architectural paints, textiles, paper & leather coatings, wood coatings, adhesives, inks, caulks, and sealants.  N-BMA also demonstrates flexibility, durability, UV, and moisture resistance in exterior decorative paints and automotive finishes.

In solvent based systems, it improves solubility of the copolymer resin.  Copolymers with methyl methacrylate (MMA), exhibit enhanced flexibility and toughness without the need for a plasticizer.

Acrylate esters in general, which include butyl acrylate (BA), 2-ethylhexylacrylate (2-EHA), methyl methacrylate (MMA), butyl methacrylate (BMA), and others,  represent a versatile family of building blocks for thousands of copolymer compositions. Acrylic resins based on these monomers exhibit excellent weather resistance, high gloss and color retention, and durability. For these reasons, they are the preferred compositions for architectural and industrial coatings, automotive finishes and a wide variety of other applications.

Gantrade is an active participant in the water-soluble polymers market, offering high quality cellulose ether and PVOH polymers and service. Our product line of cellulose ethers includes hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) and hydroxyl methyl cellulose (HEMC).

2-Ethylhexyl Acrylate (2-EHA ) is a highly versatile building block that readily copolymerizes with a wide variety of other acrylic and vinyl monomers to tailor specific high molecular weight copolymer properties for a diverse range of non-rigid applications.

Gantrade offers 2-Methyl 1, 3- Propanediol (MPO) to enhance unsaturated polyester resins, including both composites and gelcoats, as well as  saturated polyester for coating, polyurethane,  polycarbonate, and much more.

Let’s take a look at the many applications of this versatile diol:

At Gantrade, we offer an array of diols and polyols, a group of  versatile hydroxyl-functional intermediates used in a broad range of applications and industries.

Neopentyl Glycol, NPG (2, 2-dimethylpropane-1, 3-diol) is the standard diol for high performance coating resins. The polyesters synthesized by NPG with saturated or unsaturated di-acids offer a great ingredient for paints, lubricants, plasticizers and fiberglass-reinforced plastics applications. NPG enhances stability toward heat, light, and water.  NPG achieves high performance of resins due to its resistance to oxidation, its non-polar chemical nature, and steric retardation of hydrolysis. Most polyester resin formulations contain NPG as the sole glycol component, or feature NPG in conjunction with a modifying glycol to achieve the desired properties.