If you formulate UV-curable coatings, inks, adhesives, or 3D printing resins, you know that choosing the right monofunctional acrylate monomer can make or break your system. Low viscosity, good adhesion, low shrinkage, and balanced hardness‑flexibility are often on your checklist.
Two monomers that consistently deliver these properties are SINOMER TBCHA (4‑tert‑butylcyclohexyl arylate) and SINOMER TMCHA (3,3,5‑trimethylcyclohexyl acrylate). They share a cyclohexane backbone, but their substituents – a bulky tert‑butyl group vs. three methyl branches – give them distinct personalities.
Let's cut through the technical details and see how they compare, where each excels, and which one you should reach for.
Chemical name: 4‑tert‑butylcyclohexyl acrylate
CAS No.: 84100‑23‑2
Key structural feature: A bulky tert‑butyl group attached to the cyclohexane ring.
Excellent weather resistance – The tert‑butyl group creates strong steric hindrance. It blocks UV radiation, heat, and moisture from attacking the molecular backbone. Result: coatings and adhesives stay stable outdoors, resist yellowing, and don’t degrade easily.
Good water resistance – The hydrophobic nature of the tert‑butyl group repels water. No swelling, no blistering, no adhesion loss in humid or wet environments.
Low viscosity, easy handling – The bulky side group reduces intermolecular forces, so TBCHA flows well, mixes easily, and lowers overall formulation viscosity without sacrificing performance.
EB curing – Low viscosity means excellent flow and fast cure under electron beam. The resulting films are uniform, stable, and weather‑resistant. Ideal for EB‑curable coatings and resin modification.
Printing inks – Low surface tension improves wetting and adhesion. Fast cure with low shrinkage gives sharp, full images that don’t rub off. Works well for precision and flexo printing.
UV adhesives – Low viscosity helps the adhesive penetrate and wet substrates quickly. The tert‑butyl group adds long‑term durability – even outdoors or in damp conditions, bonds stay strong. Suitable for electronics, optics, and building materials.
Property | Typical value |
Appearance | Clear liquid |
Viscosity @25°C (mPa·s) | 5 – 15 |
Color (APHA) | ≤ 50 |
Acid value (mg KOH/g) | ≤ 0.5 |
Density @25°C (g/cm³) | 1.072 – 1.132 |
Refractive index @25°C | 1.4600 – 1.4680 |
MEHQ (ppm) | 100 – 300 |
Chemical name: 3,3,5‑trimethylcyclohexyl acrylate
CAS No.: 86178‑38‑3
Key structural feature: Three methyl branches on the cyclohexane ring.
Ultra‑low viscosity – The three methyl branches effectively reduce intermolecular forces, making TMCHA one of the lowest‑viscosity monofunctional acrylates available. It dilutes resins easily and improves processing.
Strong adhesion – Lower surface tension means better wetting and compatibility with many substrates. Adhesion to metals, plastics, and other difficult surfaces is excellent.
Low shrinkage, dimensional stability – Cures with very little volume change. Parts and films stay true to shape – no warping, no cracking.
Balanced hardness and toughness – The cyclohexane ring provides stiffness, while the methyl branches add flexibility. TMCHA breaks the typical trade‑off between hard‑but‑brittle and soft‑but‑weak. You get both.
UV coatings – Low viscosity and strong dilution power make it easy to formulate. Low shrinkage + high adhesion gives smooth, wear‑resistant films with good hardness and flexibility. Works on wood, metal, plastic.
Printing inks – Improves flow and prevents nozzle clogging (important for inkjet). Good weather and water resistance keep prints sharp and fade‑free. Suitable for industrial, precision, and everyday printing.
UV adhesives – Low viscosity aids application and wetting. Strong adhesion + balanced toughness delivers fast, reliable bonds – ideal for electronics and optical assembly.
3D printing resins – Low shrinkage ensures accurate, warp‑free parts. Low viscosity helps resin flow smoothly through the print head. The cured material has both stiffness and impact resistance.
Property | Typical value |
Appearance | Clear liquid |
Viscosity @25°C (mPa·s) | 2 – 8 |
Color (APHA) | ≤ 30 |
Acid value (mg KOH/g) | ≤ 0.5 |
Density @25°C (g/cm³) | 0.91 – 0.95 |
Refractive index @25°C | 1.4515 – 1.4535 |
MEHQ (ppm) | 100 – 300 |
Property | ||
Chemical name | 4 tert butylcyclohexyl acrylate | 3,3,5 trimethylcyclohexyl acrylate |
CAS No. | 84100‑23‑2 | 86178‑38‑3 |
Key structural feature | Bulky tert butyl group | Three methyl branches |
Viscosity @25°C (mPa·s) | 5 – 15 | 2 – 8 |
Density @25°C (g/cm³) | 1.07 – 1.13 | 0.91 – 0.95 |
Refractive index | ~1.464 | ~1.4525 |
Color (APHA) | ≤ 50 | ≤ 30 |
Primary strengths | Weather resistance, water resistance, long term stability | Ultra low viscosity, strong adhesion, hardness flexibility balance |
Typical applications | EB curing, printing inks, UV adhesives (outdoor/wet conditions) | UV coatings, printing inks, UV adhesives, 3D printing |
Your end product will be used outdoors or in high‑humidity environments.
You need excellent long‑term weather and water resistance.
You are working with EB curing or UV adhesives that must survive harsh conditions.
You want a monomer that adds durability without raising viscosity too much.
You need the lowest possible viscosity to dilute a highly filled or high‑viscosity resin system.
Adhesion to difficult substrates (metals, certain plastics) is a top priority.
You require low shrinkage for dimensional accuracy – 3D printing, precision parts, or thin films.
You want to balance hardness and flexibility in one monomer.
Can you blend them? Absolutely. Many formulators use TBCHA for its weather resistance and TMCHA for its low viscosity and adhesion. Blending lets you fine‑tune performance for specific applications.
TBCHA and TMCHA are not competitors – they are complementary tools in the monomer toolbox. Both are low‑odor, low‑irritation, high‑purity monofunctional acrylates with a cyclohexane core. The difference lies in their side groups: a single tert‑butyl gives TBCHA superior weather and water resistance; three methyl branches give TMCHA even lower viscosity, stronger adhesion, and a unique hardness‑flexibility balance.
No single monomer does everything. But with these two, you can cover a wide range of UV/EB curing needs – from outdoor‑durable coatings to high‑precision 3D printing.
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