The acrylate production process encompasses the synthesis of acrylic monomers and their subsequent polymerization into polymers or emulsions, involving precise control of chemical reactions and purification steps to ensure product quality. For monomer production, such as 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (2EHA), the process begins with the esterification of acrylic acid and 2-ethylhexanol in the presence of a catalyst (e.g., sulfuric acid or a solid acid catalyst) under controlled temperature and pressure conditions. This reaction produces crude 2EHA, which is then purified through distillation to remove unreacted raw materials and by-products, resulting in a high-purity monomer (99% purity as achieved by E Plus Chemical Co., Ltd.). For acrylic water-based resin emulsions, the production process involves emulsion polymerization: monomers (such as 2EHA, methyl acrylate, and acrylic acid) are dispersed in water with surfactants to form micelles, and a free radical initiator is added to trigger polymerization. The reaction is carried out in fully automated reactors, where temperature, agitation, and monomer addition rates are precisely controlled to ensure uniform particle size and molecular weight distribution. After polymerization, the emulsion undergoes post-treatment steps, including neutralization to adjust pH, filtration to remove impurities, and the addition of additives (e.g., defoamers, biocides) to enhance stability and performance. Throughout the production process, advanced monitoring systems track key parameters, and quality control tests are conducted at each stage to ensure compliance with specifications. E Plus Chemical’s integrated industrial chain, from monomer synthesis to emulsion production, and its use of advanced catalytic polymerization technology, enable efficient, large-scale production with consistent product quality.
EN
