2-Ethylhexyl acrylate is a colorless liquid acrylate used in the making of paints,[2] plastics[3] and adhesives.[4] It has an odor that has been variously described as pleasant[5] or acrid and musty.[6]
2-Ethylhexyl acrylate polymerizes easily. The polymerization can be initiated by light, peroxides, heat, or contaminants. It can react violently when combined with strong oxidants and can form explosive mixtures with air at temperatures above 82 °C (180 °F).[2] The chemical, physical, and toxicological properties, however, can be greatly modified by additives or stabilizers.
Use
2-Ethylhexyl acrylate and butyl acrylate are the major base monomers for the preparation of acrylate adhesives. 2-Ethylhexyl acrylate can react by free-radical polymerization to form macromolecules having a molecular weight of up to 200,000 g/mol. Other monomers such as vinyl acetate, methyl acrylate, and styrene may be copolymerized to modify the properties of the resulting polymer.[8]
^US 2917538, R.L. Carlyle, "Process for the production of acrylic acid esters", published 1959-12-15, assigned to The Dow Chemical Co.
^Bodo Müller, Walter Rath: Formulierung von Kleb- und Dichtstoffen 1. Auflage. Vincentz Network, Hannover 2004, ISBN3878707916, S. 235 ([1], p. 235, at Google Books)