If you work with UV curing, pressure‑sensitive adhesives, polymer modification, or textile finishing, you've probably run into long‑chain alkyl acrylates. They are the workhorses that bring hydrophobicity, flexibility, low shrinkage, and easy processing to a formulation.
Among them, SINOMER LA (lauryl acrylate) and SINOMER LMA (lauryl methacrylate) stand out as a complementary pair. Same C12 backbone, but different double‑bond chemistry. That small difference makes each one better suited for different jobs.
Let’s break down their structures, properties, and real‑world applications – no fluff, just what you need to choose the right one.
Chemical name: Lauryl acrylate
CAS No.: 2156‑97‑0
Core structure: Long C12 alkyl chain + acrylate double bond
High flexibility – The long alkyl chain makes coatings and adhesives soft, bendable, and impact‑resistant.
Excellent water & chemical resistance – The hydrophobic C12 tail repels water and improves weatherability.
Low viscosity, easy to apply – Good flow and fast wetting, works well with coating, spraying, and UV processes.
Low shrinkage, good adhesion – Cures with minimal volume change, so films don’t warp or lift. Adhesion to many substrates is reliable.
UV coatings & inks – As a reactive diluent or crosslinker, it boosts flexibility, scratch resistance, and water resistance on films, plastics, and wood.
Acrylic pressure‑sensitive adhesives (PSA) – Used in tapes, labels, and protective films. Improves tack, holding power, and weatherability. Also helps adhesion to low‑surface‑energy substrates.
Polymer modification & industrial additives – For thermoplastic acrylic resin modification, textile finishing agents, rubber additives, and organic synthesis intermediates.
Chemical name: Lauryl methacrylate
CAS No.: 142‑90‑5
Core structure: Long C12 alkyl chain + methacrylate double bond
Strong hydrophobicity & weather resistance – The C12 chain provides excellent water repellence and aging resistance, especially in humid or outdoor environments.
Good low‑temperature flexibility – Acts as an internal plasticizer. The material stays flexible and doesn’t become brittle in the cold.
Easy copolymerization – The methacrylate group copolymerizes efficiently with styrene, other acrylates, and many common monomers.
Low viscosity, low shrinkage – Good flow and dimensional stability during curing or processing.
Polymer modification & lubricant additives – Used as an internal plasticizer, viscosity modifier, or lubricant additive to improve cold resistance, water resistance, and processing flow.
High‑performance oil‑absorbing resins – As a key monomer, it shows strong adsorption for organic solvents. Useful for environmental oil‑spill cleanup and wastewater treatment.
Cosmetic & textile finishing films – Forms uniform, water‑resistant films with a smooth feel. Used in hair styling, leather finishing, and fiber treatments.
Property | ||
Chemical name | Lauryl acrylate | Lauryl methacrylate |
CAS No. | 2156‑97‑0 | 142‑90‑5 |
Core structure | C12 alkyl + acrylate double bond | C12 alkyl + methacrylate double bond |
Hydrophobicity / water resistance | Excellent | Excellent |
Flexibility | Excellent (very soft, high elongation) | Very good (internal plasticizing effect) |
UV curing reactivity | Higher (acrylate) | Moderate (methacrylate) |
Copolymerization range | Broad | Very broad, excellent with styrene etc. |
Low shrinkage | Good | Excellent |
Low viscosity | Good | Good |
Main application scenarios | UV coatings, PSA, textile finishing, polymer modification | Polymer modification, oil absorbing resins, cosmetics, textile finishing |
Typical end uses | Adhesives, flexible coatings, protective films | Lubricant additives, absorbent materials, hair sprays, leather finishes |
Choose SINOMER LA if you need fast UV cure, very high flexibility, and strong adhesion – especially in UV coatings, PSAs, and textile finishes.
Choose SINOMER LMA if you are making copolymers (e.g., with styrene), need low shrinkage and good low‑temperature flexibility, or are formulating oil‑absorbing resins or cosmetic films.
In many cases, they are not competitors but partners. Because they share the same C12 backbone and differ only in the double bond, they can be blended to fine‑tune reactivity, hardness, and weatherability.
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