What is the solubility of butyl acrylate in water and its miscibility with organic solvents?

Solubility of n-butyl acrylate in water and its miscibility with organic solvents

Butyl acrylate (Acrylate) is a kind of common acrylate compounds, widely used in coatings, adhesives, plastics and emulsion polymerization and other fields. In practical applications, the solubility and miscibility of n-butyl acrylate are important indicators of its performance. This article will analyze in detail the solubility of n-butyl acrylate in water and its miscibility with organic solvents to help better understand its characteristics.

Basic properties of n-butyl acrylate

n-Butyl acrylate is a colorless liquid with a chemical formula of C≡H≡O₂ and a molecular weight of 100.12g/mol. It is produced by the esterification of acrylic acid (acrylic acid) with n-butanol (n-butanol). In the structure of n-butyl acrylate, the acrylic acid part has a strong polarity (due to the presence of carboxylic acid groups), while the n-butyl part has a certain degree of hydrophobicity. This structure makes it hydrophilic and hydrophobic at the same time, resulting in its solubility and miscibility in different media is more complex.

Solubility of n-butyl acrylate in water

the solubility of n-butyl acrylate in water is relatively low. According to experimental data, the solubility of n-butyl acrylate in water is about 0.5%(by mass) at room temperature (25°C). This is because although the n-butyl acrylate molecule contains polar carboxylate groups, the overall molecule exhibits strong hydrophobicity due to the predominance of the hydrophobic n-butyl moiety in its structure.

The water solubility of n-butyl acrylate is not completely fixed. Changes in temperature and pressure can significantly affect their solubility. The solubility of n-butyl acrylate increases with increasing temperature according to the temperature coefficient of solubility (solubility temperature coefficient). Under high temperature conditions, its solubility in water can be significantly improved. The solubility of n-butyl acrylate in water can also be increased if surfactants (surfactant) or other co-solvents are added.

Miscibility of n-butyl acrylate with organic solvents

n-Butyl acrylate has good miscibility in organic solvents, which is closely related to its molecular structure. Due to its hydrophobic n-butyl moiety in the molecule, n-butyl acrylate is readily soluble in non-polar or weakly polar organic solvents such as toluene (toluene), ethyl acetate, acetone (acetone) and chloroform (chloroform).

n-Butyl acrylate is also soluble to some extent in polar organic solvents, such as ethanol (ethanol), propylene glycol (propylene), etc. However, its solubility in polar solvents is low compared to non-polar solvents. This feature makes n-butyl acrylate have high flexibility in practical applications, and can choose the appropriate solvent system according to specific needs.

Application Significance of n-Butyl Acrylate Solubility and Miscibility

The solubility and miscibility of n-butyl acrylate in water and organic solvents have an important influence on industrial production and application. For example, in the preparation of coatings and adhesives, the solubility of n-butyl acrylate facilitates its mixing with other binders and solvents, thereby improving product performance. In emulsion polymerization (emulsion polymerization), n-butyl acrylate is poor in water solubility, but its dispersibility can be improved by adding an emulsifier (emulsifier) to achieve uniform emulsion formation.

Summary and Prospect

Through the analysis of the solubility of n-butyl acrylate in water and its miscibility with organic solvents, it can be seen that its solubility characteristics are significantly affected by the molecular structure and external conditions. Future studies can further explore the solubility of n-butyl acrylate in different solvent systems, and improve its solubility and miscibility through molecular modification (such as the introduction of more polar groups). This will help to better play the potential of n-butyl acrylate in various industrial applications and promote the development of related fields.

Conclusion: The solubility and miscibility of n-butyl acrylate are important reasons for its excellent performance in industrial applications. By understanding these features in depth, we can further optimize their application in actual production.