Applications and Use Cases for Vazo™ Free Radical Initiators
Vazo™ free radical initiators can be used in a variety of applications and are available in both solvent- and water-soluble forms. They are most commonly employed as free radical polymerization initiators.
Vazo™ initiators are used to produce polymers and copolymers through bulk, solution, suspension, and, to a lesser extent, emulsion polymerizations.
Common acrylic and vinyl monomers initiated by Vazo™ include:
- vinyl chloride
- acrylonitrile
- acrylic acid
- acrylamide
- styrene
- ethylene
- vinyl acetate
- vinylidene chloride
- methyl methacrylate
- methyl acrylate
- unsaturated polyesters
There are non-polymerization uses for Vazo™ initiators as well. Vazo™ initiators activate the addition of compounds such as chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, thiols, and phosphines across double bonds.
Vazo™ initiators react with unsaturated compounds in equimolar amounts to give monomers and oligomers, which contain two derivative dinitrile groups of Vazo™ initiators. These dinitriles can be further converted to amides, amines, or acids.
Vazo™ initiators activate halogenations and oxidation of:
- Aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons
- Acrylonitrile
- Methyl methacrylate
- Vinyl acetate
Vazo™ initiators release nitrogen gas when used, which can be used as a blowing agent.
Read more about common applications below.