Bio-Tetrahydrofurfuryl Acrylate stands out as a modern specialty chemical derived from renewable biological sources. This compound roots itself in chemistry linked to furfuryl alcohol, modified through hydrogenation and acrylation to bring about a molecule with impressive reactivity and practical promise. The molecular formula, C9H12O3, reflects the union of a saturated tetrahydrofuran ring with an acrylate group. Its CAS number carries weight in the scientific sphere: 88054-22-2. Products based on this substance carve out a niche for themselves due to their balance of flexibility, toughness, and low toxicological profile when compared to traditional acrylates. For anyone involved in formulary work, these features drive home a sense of responsibility to look beyond petrochemicals. Years of experience in the coatings and adhesives sector show that sustainability isn’t just marketing; it influences the safety of workplaces and user environments directly.
Bio-Tetrahydrofurfuryl Acrylate appears most commonly as a clear to pale yellow viscous liquid. This material boasts a density in the ballpark of 1.1 g/cm3 at 20°C, which matches typical expectations for acrylate esters coming from furanics. The product doesn’t look like those chunky hydrocarbon crystals or metallic powders stacked on warehouse shelves; its consistency makes it easy to pour, measure, and blend. Some batches may turn up as faintly crystalline at storage temps below 10°C, so warming might bring it back to full liquidity without much hassle. End users won’t find this as a flake, powder, pearl, or solid — liquid form remains the rule.
The real value of Bio-Tetrahydrofurfuryl Acrylate comes out when you look at its acrylate group. This functional group lets formulators cure coatings, resins, inks, and adhesives under ultraviolet (UV) or electron beam (EB) light. My team ran trials in UV-cured floor coatings — the result: significant reduction in volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions compared to petro-based monomers, which means less stink and better air quality for anyone on the job. The monomer’s moderate boiling point, generally around 95-98°C at 10 mmHg, gives enough leeway for solventless processes, helping cut energy costs. Solubility works in its favor: it dissolves nicely in common reactive diluents and blends without fuss in most acrylate matrices. Mechanical strength and flexibility end up solid — tough without high crosslink brittleness. This translates into coatings and polymers that take hits, flex, and handle wear while looking fresh.
HS Code 2916.14 applies for customs and logistics. Manufacturers list purity as 97% or above, aiming for a clear material with acid content below 0.5%. Hydroxyl value lands in the range of 15-25 mgKOH/g. Water content, on spec, falls under 0.2%, which means reaction quality stays high and side reactions don’t get in the way. Viscosity comes in under 25 mPa·s at 25°C, guaranteeing flowable material for filling and dispensing. Storage guidelines don’t stray from chemical basics: keep drums sealed, avoid sunlight, stay out of hot, damp warehouses. If you’ve ever had a drum of acrylate foul from sunlight or bad venting, you know how fast value gets lost.
Safety information influences everything in handling and application. Bio-Tetrahydrofurfuryl Acrylate doesn’t fall in the same risk class as some classic acrylates, but the monomer can irritate skin and eyes or cause sensitization through repeated contact. Inhalation might bring headaches or discomfort, so good ventilation matters. Personal protective equipment, including gloves and goggles, should become routine in any lab or plant environment. From years of organizing chemical inventories, the lesson remains: no shortcuts with safety. Spills call for containment with absorbent material before collection for waste treatment — don’t rinse into drains. This isn’t a chemical to treat as harmless, but its lower chronic toxicity represents real progress over legacy materials.
Understanding the structure of Bio-Tetrahydrofurfuryl Acrylate puts the focus on the tetrahydrofuran (THF) ring fused with the acrylate tail. The bio-based feedstock usually starts with agricultural byproducts: furfural from corncobs or sugarcane bagasse, which are then turned into tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol. Availability of this renewable backbone steers companies to rethink feedstock sourcing. More years in the sector push the realization that waste valorization — turning processing leftovers into chemical building blocks — pushes the entire supply chain to lower its environmental footprint.
People shape their opinions about chemicals based on direct and indirect exposure, so the perception of Bio-Tetrahydrofurfuryl Acrylate in industry circles often stays closely tied to personal safety and environmental impact. Major application areas include UV-curable inks, high-performance adhesives, dental resins, and protective coatings. Manufacturers opt for this chemical when aiming for high transparency, resistance to yellowing, and adaptability to demanding service conditions. In printing, adhesion to flexible films showed clear advantages, especially when runs involved recycled PET or polyethylene. Industrial formulators see Bio-Tetrahydrofurfuryl Acrylate as a raw material that gives cleaner results with less worker risk and fewer downstream headaches.
Shifting to bio-based acrylates always involves tradeoffs. Price stability can fluctuate based on the cost of raw agricultural products, so commodity chemical buyers watch hedging and supply diversification closely. Storage and distribution logistics can present hiccups if a plant runs tight inventories or if bulk shipment isn’t possible from all suppliers. In practice, partnering with suppliers that emphasize source-transparency and regularly update test data clears up a lot of headaches down the line. Manufacturers need the backing of reliable data on purity, stability, and tox screening. Bringing these products to global markets means regulatory compliance for every region — from REACH in the EU to TSCA in the US — and ongoing dialogue with certifying bodies.
Stepping back, E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) principles underline every decision from bench to bulk delivery. Industry players and academic labs use structured, reliable descriptions and rigorous data, not glowing claims, to build genuine confidence in new chemical offerings. My own perspective: when suppliers provide full breakdowns, batch analysis, and keep lines open for hard questions, the transition away from legacy chemicals feels far less risky — and much more productive for the people who actually use these materials each day.
