Choosing the right reactive diluent is often the difference between a coating that flows perfectly, cures fast, and adheres well – and one that fails. Among the most widely used monomers for UV/EB curing are acrylates and acrylamides. Both have distinct strengths, and understanding their differences helps formulators optimize viscosity, cure speed, adhesion, and final film properties.
This guide compares the two families and highlights key Sinomer® monomers available for your next formulation.
| Property | Acrylates (e.g., IBOA, TMPTA, TPGDA) | Acrylamides (e.g., ACMO, DMAA) |
|---|---|---|
| Reactivity | ★★★☆☆ (moderate to high) | ★★★★★ (very high) |
| Diluting power | Good | Excellent |
| Volume shrinkage | Higher (5–15%) | Lower |
| Adhesion | Good on general substrates | Excellent on polar substrates (PET, PC, glass) |
| Odor / skin irritation | More noticeable | Lower |
| Main application | General coatings, screen inks, wood | Inkjet inks, high‑polarity adhesives |
| Sinomer® Grade | Chemical Name | Key Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Sinomer® IBOA | Isobornyl acrylate | Hard but tough, high Tg, low shrinkage, excellent adhesion |
| Sinomer® TMPTA | Trimethylolpropane triacrylate | High crosslinking, fast cure, excellent scratch resistance |
| Sinomer® TPGDA | Tripropylene glycol diacrylate | Balanced performance, cost‑effective reactive diluent |
| Sinomer® Grade | Chemical Name | Key Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Sinomer® ACMO | Acryloyl morpholine | Ultra‑low viscosity, excellent diluting power, low odor, safe for inkjet, superb adhesion to PET/PC |
| Sinomer® DMAA(NNDMA) | N,N‑Dimethylacrylamide | High polarity, good solubility, hydrophilic, ideal for high‑polarity systems |
Recommended blend: Sinomer® ACMO + Sinomer® IBOA
ACMO provides extremely low viscosity and superior wetting on plastic films.
IBOA adds hardness and toughness without raising viscosity too much.
Result: fast jetting, excellent image quality, and good adhesion on untreated PET.
Recommended blend: Sinomer® TMPTA + Sinomer® TPGDA
TMPTA delivers high crosslink density and scratch resistance.
TPGDA acts as a cost‑effective diluent that maintains good cure speed.
Suitable for high‑speed screen printing on paper, plastics, and textiles.
Recommended blend: PUA resin + Sinomer® IBOA
IBOA enhances adhesion to engineering plastics (PC, ABS, PMMA).
Combined with a polyurethane acrylate oligomer, it provides excellent flexibility and impact strength.
In real‑world formulations, very few systems rely on a single monomer type. The most practical approach is to use acrylates as the backbone (for cost and balanced cure) and acrylamides as functional enhancers (for superior wetting, low shrinkage, or high polarity). A typical blend might be:
70‑80% acrylates (e.g., IBOA, TPGDA) + 20‑30% acrylamide (e.g., ACMO)
This combination balances viscosity, cost, reactivity, and final film properties.
Whether you need the high reactivity of acrylamides or the proven versatility of acrylates, Sinomer® offers a full range of UV‑curable monomers backed by reliable quality and technical support.
Contact us for samples and formulation advice: [info@sinocurechem.com]
This guide is for informational purposes. Always test in your specific formulation.
