As UV curing technology expands into coatings, inks, adhesives, and electronics, formulators face growing pressure to reduce reliance on petroleum‑based raw materials. The challenge has always been finding a renewable monomer that delivers the same – or better – performance than conventional acrylates.
SINOMER® ISDA (Isosorbide Diacrylate) changes that. Derived from isosorbide – a biomass‑sourced building block – this difunctional acrylate combines high reactivity, low shrinkage, low irritation, and excellent adhesion. It is a drop‑in capable alternative to HDDA, TMPTA, and other traditional monomers, while significantly improving the environmental footprint of your UV/EB formulations.
Unlike HDDA or TMPTA, which are 100% fossil‑based, SINOMER® ISDA uses renewable feedstocks. This means:
Lower carbon footprint per kilogram of monomer
Reduced dependency on volatile petrochemical markets
Support for your company’s sustainability goals (ESG, Green Label)
ISDA cures rapidly under UV or EB irradiation, developing surface hardness comparable to TMPTA but with much lower skin irritation. The rigid isosorbide ring structure imparts excellent mechanical strength to cured films – ideal for scratch‑resistant coatings and durable inks.
One of the biggest pain points with high‑functional acrylates is volume shrinkage, which leads to warping, poor adhesion, and stress cracking. ISDA’s unique bicyclic ring structure reduces shrinkage during polymerization, giving you better dimensional stability – especially important for thin films, 3D printed parts, and precision coatings.
Conventional monomers like TMPTA and HDDA are known skin sensitizers. ISDA offers a much milder profile, making it safer for production workers and expanding its use into consumer‑friendly applications such as nail gels and medical device coatings.
The polar nature of the isosorbide backbone promotes strong bonding to plastics (PC, PET, ABS), metals, and glass – often without the need for additional adhesion promoters.
Property | SINOMER® ISDA | ||
Bio based content | ✔ High | ✘ None | ✘ None |
Cure speed | Fast | Moderate | Very fast |
Pencil hardness | High | Moderate | High |
Scratch resistance | Good | Moderate | Good |
Shrinkage | Very low | Low | Moderate |
Skin irritation | Low | Moderate | High |
Adhesion to plastics | Excellent | Good | Fair |
Halogen free | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
SINOMER® ISDA delivers a unique balance: renewable origin, fast cure, low irritation, and low shrinkage – all in one monomer.
Thanks to its versatility, ISDA fits into a wide range of UV/EB curable systems:
UV plastic coatings – ideal for electronics housings, automotive interior parts, and consumer goods
UV printing inks – offset, screen, and flexo inks that require high scratch resistance and adhesion on films
UV adhesives – structural bonding where low shrinkage and high green strength are needed
Photosensitive resins – for printed circuit boards, solder masks, and 3D printing
Decorative and architectural coatings – wood, metal, and glass finishes with low VOC
Parameter | Typical Value |
Appearance | Light yellow to colorless clear liquid |
Color (APHA) | ≤ 50 |
Acid value (mg KOH/g) | ≤ 0.5 |
Viscosity (25°C, cps) | 12 – 16 |
Moisture (%) | ≤ 0.2 |
Refractive index (nD²⁵) | ≥ 1.4905 |
Halogen content | None (RoHS compliant) |
SINOMER® ISDA is miscible with most acrylate oligomers (epoxy acrylates, polyurethane acrylates, polyester acrylates) and common monomers (IBOA, THFA, NVC, TPGDA). It can be used as a reactive diluent or as a primary monomer, typically at 10–50% of total formulation.
Packaging options: 25 kg plastic drum or 200 kg steel drum.
Storage: Keep in a dry, well‑ventilated area away from light and heat. Shelf life is 12 months under recommended conditions (5–35°C).
Switching to a bio‑based monomer doesn’t mean sacrificing performance. SINOMER® ISDA proves that renewable chemistry can deliver fast cure, high hardness, low shrinkage, and low irritation – all while reducing your environmental impact.
