LETZero Encyclopedia: Bio-Circular Balanced Acrylates – Main raw material of acryl, fiber, and paint!

Welcome to LETZero Encyclopedia, an introductory series to LG Chem’s eco-friendly brand LETZero and its products. Our last episode focused on Bio-Circular Balanced BR, a synthetic rubber material used in eco-friendly tires. Today, we’d like to introduce Bio-Circular Balanced Acrylates.

Unlike traditional acrylates, Bio-Circular Balanced Acrylates is produced by adding renewable vegetable oil. By replacing part of fossil fuels with plant-based raw materials, it contributes greatly to carbon reduction. Holding excellence in various chemical reactions, it is selected as the main raw material for acryl, fiber, and paint. Now then, let’s examine the major features and applications of Bio-Circular Balanced Acrylates.

Main raw material for plastic and resin production,
Bio-Circular Balanced Acrylates

Before we jump into the details of Bio-Circular Balanced Acrylates, let’s clarify what Acrylates is. Acrylates is a chemical which belongs to the ester group*, usually formed by chemical reactions between acrylic acid or methacrylic acid and alcohol. Possessing intramolecular double bond and functional group* structure, it is excellent in reactivity, as well as various chemical reactions. With high transparency and durability, it is often used in the production of plastic and resin.

*ester group chemical: ester refers to the group of chemicals formed through the chemical reaction between acid and alcohol, often applied to plastic, paint, perfumes, and food additives in different industrial fields.
*functional group: refers to a certain group of chemicals, usually under the organic chemical category. Chemicals in this group play an important role through certain chemical properties and take significant parts in the chemical reactions. Each possesses a special chemical property, contributing to the overall characteristic of the chemical and deciding its chemical behaviors.

Bio-Circular Balanced Acrylates, simply put, is an eco-friendly Acrylates. It is distinguished from the traditional fossil fuel-based Acrylates in that the fossil fuels used during production are partly replaced with waste cooking oils, plant byproducts, etc. By reducing the consumption of fossil fuels and using vegetable oils in their place, it can effectively contribute to carbon reduction.

LG Chem is Korea’s only manufacturer of acrylic acid. Based on the company’s proprietary technology, they produce high-quality Bio-Circular Balanced Acrylates. LG Chem’s Bio-Circular Balanced Acrylates is widely used as the core raw material of major plastic materials and resins. The application of Bio-Circular Balanced Acrylates extends widely from commodity plastics that are common to us, such as ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), PC (Polycarbonate), and ASA (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate), to SAP (Super Absorbent Polymer), paint, coating materials, and fiber.

What’s more, LG Chem obtained ISCC Plus International Certification which verifies the sustainability of an eco-friendly bio product, providing an eco-friendly solution to customers who are willing to produce sustainable products. ISCC Plus Certification is an international authority that proves the use of eco-friendly raw materials throughout the product’s production process, following European Union (EU)’s Renewable Energy Directive.

Application of Bio-Circular Balanced Acrylates

Bio-Circular Balanced Acrylates fulfills both keywords, high-quality and eco-friendly. It is not surprising to see the material applied to diverse fields. Acrylic acid (propylene + oxygen) is used in SAP and thickeners*, while 2-Ethylhexyl Acrylate (combination of acrylic acid + octanol) is found in adhesives/glues, adhesives for protection films, and paint. Plus, Butyl Acrylate (acrylic acid + butanol) is used in ASA resin and paint, and Methyl Acrylate (acrylic acid + methanol) is common in antioxidant and PMMA (Polymethyl Methacrylate, acryl glass), PCE (Polycarboxylate Ether, Concrete water-reducing agent). Finally, Ethyl Acrylate (acrylic acid + ethanol) is found in fiber protector, cleaning agent for semiconductors and LCD production, felt binder, etc.

*thickener: substance used to improve viscosity of a solution, and so on.

So far, we looked at the characteristics and applications of Bio-Circular Balanced Acrylates. The next LETZero Encyclopedia will come back with a story of Bio-PA.