Acrylates

Acrylates

Acrylates

Acrylates, also known as propenoates, are the salts, esters, and conjugate bases of acrylic acid and its derivatives. The molecular formula for the acrylate ion is CH₂=CHCOO−

Description

Acrylates contain vinyl groups. That is, when two-carbon atoms are double bonded to each other, they are directly attached to the carbonyl carbon.

Acrylates and methacrylates are the salts and esters of methacrylic acid. They are vital to the plastics industry because they are common monomers found in polymer plastics, forming the acrylate polymers. Acrylates form polymers easily because the double bonds are very reactive.

Acrylates are industrially produced by reacting acrylic acid with the corresponding alcohol in the presence of a catalyst.