Butyl Acrylate, known by its chemical formula C7H12O2, often shows up in conversations about polymers, coatings, and adhesives. This organic compound comes with a clear, colorless appearance and a fairly strong, sharp odor, which gets your attention if you have ever encountered it in a lab or on a factory floor. With a molecular weight of about 128.17 g/mol, Butyl Acrylate stands out not just for its role in industry, but also because its liquid state at room temperature makes it workable for a wide range of applications.
The specific gravity of Butyl Acrylate hits around 0.89 to 0.90 at 20°C, which means it floats on water. If you spill a little, it spreads fast, and its moderate volatility quickly fills the space with its signature smell. It boils close to 145°C, and despite its flammable nature, many users value the manageable flash point (about 39°C), which matters deeply when storing in bulk. In solid or crystalline form, Butyl Acrylate doesn’t show up in most settings; it’s almost always kept as a liquid, packed in drums or tanks. For folks looking for purity, commercial grades hover around 99.5% minimum, with water content below 0.2%, which matters in processes sensitive to moisture.
The structure of Butyl Acrylate, consisting of a butyl group joined to an acrylate backbone, supports flexibility and low glass transition temperatures when turned into polymer chains. The molecular structure is simple: CH2=CHCOO(CH2)3CH3. The double bond in its backbone opens the door for fast reactions, especially during polymerization. Given its liquid state under most conditions, there are no flakes, no pearls, and no powdery residue. Every time you open a sample container, you see the same clear liquid, ready to pour, mix, or react.
Paints, adhesive tapes, textiles, and plastics regularly consume Butyl Acrylate as a raw material. Water-based paints benefit from its ability to add flexibility, making coats less likely to crack. Tape manufacturers depend on BA for its balance between tackiness and physical strength. My hands-on experience walking through factories taught me that stability in quality matters most; customers complain loudly when coatings peel or adhesives slip, so consistency in the BA supply forms the backbone of many businesses. Production of acrylic polymers, which show up almost everywhere—from car parts to building facades—relies on steady streams of this chemical. If you track downstream products, you’ll see BA traces in resins, sealants, and even some floor finishes.
Global shipping sees Butyl Acrylate often classified under HS Code 2916.12. This code governs cross-border movement, tariffs, and customs duties. I have worked with import teams who always double-check paperwork because import mislabeling can stall shipments for weeks. Compliance teams focus on this number to align with country-specific regulations and environmental safety documentation.
Anyone working directly with Butyl Acrylate knows it comes with hazards. The material irritates skin and eyes, causes headaches if inhaled, and, given enough concentration, can trigger dizziness or nausea. Direct exposure leaves a burning sensation, and gloves, goggles, and masks form the first line of defense in production rooms or warehouses. As a flammable liquid, the risk stacks higher when containers aren’t kept cool and sealed tight. Emergency showers and eyewash stations are no luxury in plants using BA—these are daily essentials. Storage regulations require well-ventilated areas, away from sparks and open flames, with strict spill control procedures. After seeing a minor leak escalate because of poor line maintenance, it’s clear that regular equipment checks and staff training make all the difference. Workers avoid food or cigarette use in handling areas to prevent chemical transfer and accidental ingestion.
BA doesn’t stick around in the environment for very long; it breaks down readily, but spills can still harm aquatic life if they enter waterways. Wastewater teams, especially at newer plants, run tight ship: every drop of rinse water gets filtered or treated before release. Chronic, low-level exposure develops into headaches, fatigue, and sometimes affects lung function. Anyone spending significant time around BA keeps keen tabs on air monitoring results, and most worksites maintain rigorous respiratory protection standards.
Improvements start with strong ventilation systems and tightly sealed storage tanks. Employees open detailed logs when moving BA between processing areas, and electronic sensors now alert teams to leaks or pressure changes. Investing in automatic sprinklers and explosion-proof electrical fittings drives up costs, but this beats downtime from accidents or fire damage. Upgrading personal protective equipment—for example, recommending nitrile gloves instead of latex—reduces exposure risk. Training programs refresh knowledge every few months, reinforcing the importance of respect for even routine tasks. For companies in countries rolling out stricter rules or higher REACH standards, these steps make audits and surprise inspections less stressful. Using recycled solvents in cleaning or neutralizing spent BA with approved absorbents shrinks waste output as well.
Every time a business selects Butyl Acrylate as a feedstock, there’s a balance to strike between versatility, risk, and regulation. The hands-on work—moving drums, blending polymers, cleaning up after spills—reminds everyone that chemicals like BA demand care, not just for profit but for people’s health and the local ecosystem. Drawing on decades of industry experience, it’s easy to see that the safest plants are usually the most profitable in the long haul, because they keep staff safe, avoid legal headaches, and maintain a clean reputation. Getting familiar with facts on density, molecular structure, or regulatory code numbers forms the framework; putting those facts into daily practice builds the safety culture that lets everyone go home healthy.
