monomers

Ashland manufactures monomers such as N-vinyl lactams (V-Pyrol™ and V-Cap™), vinyl ethers (Rapicure®) and 1,4-butanediol (BDO).

V-Pyrol™ and V-Cap™ accelerate UV curing rates as reactive diluents, imparting viscosity reduction to liquid formulations and enhanced adhesion of polymers, once formed, to non-polar substrates. The lactam rings also impart hydrophilicity, adhesiveness, strength & complexing capability to the amorphous copolymers formed. Polymers synthesized from V-Cap™ are significantly more hydrophobic than their V-Pyrol™ analogs.

Rapicure® is a family of vinyl ethers, used primarily for tackifying UV radiation-curable adhesives. BDO, a diol, is used as a co-monomer with dicarboxylic acids to make polyesters, such as polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), and with diisocyanates to produce polyurethanes.