AC

Acrylic Latex Emulsion.

Water-based acrylic binders for emulsion paints, textiles and construction chemicals. Low odour, durable and easy to clean up.

Bright white with a blue sheenAcrylic monomers in water → polymer dispersion

How it’s made

Seed, grow, filter

Emulsion polymerisation happens inside particles far too small to see, but the colour of the batch tells you exactly where it is.

  1. 01 / 04 Milky macroemulsion

    Pre-emulsion

    Acrylic monomers, functional acids and surfactants are mixed into water at high speed to form a stable, milky pre-emulsion. Nitrogen is bubbled through to remove oxygen.

    Pre-emulsion: Milky macroemulsion
  2. 02 / 04 Translucent blue-grey

    Seeding

    A portion of the pre-emulsion and initiator go into hot water in the reactor. The batch turns a translucent blue-grey as the first tiny polymer particles form.

    Seeding: Translucent blue-grey
  3. 03 / 04 Thickening, turning white

    Particle growth

    The rest of the monomer is fed in over several hours. Particles grow evenly while the jacket removes the heat of reaction, and the latex thickens and turns fully white.

    Particle growth: Thickening, turning white
  4. 04 / 04 Bright white dispersion

    Filtration and filling

    A final initiator shot mops up any leftover monomer. The batch is cooled, adjusted for pH and passed through bag filters before filling.

    Filtration and filling: Bright white dispersion
Particle size
Solids
Viscosity
Temperature
Process film

The same four stages, frame by frame

  1. 01 / 04 Milky macroemulsion

    Pre-emulsion

    Pre-emulsion: Milky macroemulsion
  2. 02 / 04 Translucent blue-grey

    Seeding

    Seeding: Translucent blue-grey
  3. 03 / 04 Thickening, turning white

    Particle growth

    Particle growth: Thickening, turning white
  4. 04 / 04 Bright white dispersion

    Filtration and filling

    Filtration and filling: Bright white dispersion
Waterborne binders

Overview

Acrylic latex is a stable dispersion of very fine acrylic polymer particles in water. As the water evaporates, the particles pack together and fuse into a continuous, flexible film. That makes it the binder of choice for emulsion paints and for a wide range of waterborne coatings, textile and construction products.

Our emulsions are made by semi-batch emulsion polymerisation, which lets us control particle size and film properties closely. Grades are available for interior and exterior paints, textile printing and finishing, waterproofing and tile adhesives, with solids, viscosity and film-forming temperature set to the application.

Applications

Emulsion paintsInterior and exterior wall paints with good scrub resistance and colour retention.
Textile bindersPigment printing and finishing binders with a soft hand.
WaterproofingElastomeric roof coatings and cementitious waterproofing modifiers.
Adhesives & constructionTile adhesives, primers and polymer-modified mortars.
Indicative properties · WP-AC series
AppearanceMilky white liquid with a bluish tinge
Solid content45 – 55 %
Viscosity (Brookfield, 30 °C)500 – 5,000 cP (by grade)
pH7.5 – 9.0
Minimum film-forming temperatureBy grade
Particle size0.1 – 0.3 µm
Shelf life6 months, protected from frost

Typical values, not a sales specification. A certificate of analysis accompanies every consignment; parameters are tailored to order.

Packaging & storage

Supplied in HDPE drums, IBCs or by tanker. Store between 5 °C and 35 °C and protect from frost and direct sunlight. Keep containers closed to prevent skinning.

SINCE 1980

Trial it on your line.

We supply sample quantities with full technical support. Send us your process conditions to begin.