Monomers

Monomers are produced at very large scale and are often sold under contract or by pipeline, while specialty monomers such as functional acrylates, vinyl ethers and fluorinated monomers serve coatings, adhesives, optical and electronic applications. Monomers must be very pure because impurities can stop polymerisation or change the polymer.

Ask for purity, inhibitor type and level (for example MEHQ in acrylates or TBC in styrene), water, acidity, colour and the content of specific impurities such as aldehydes or peroxides. Many monomers are flammable, toxic or sensitising, and reactive monomers need temperature control and oxygen management during storage and shipping to prevent runaway polymerisation.