Study on synthesis of trimethylolpropane triacrylate

Trimethylol propane triacrylate(TMPTA)was synthesized from acrylic acid(AA)and trimethylol propane(TMP)using zinc acetate as the catalyst.The purified TMPTA was characterized by IR spectroscopy and the hydroxyl value was determined.The effects of various reaction conditions such as the amount of catalyst,the reaction temperature,the reaction time,and the molar ratio of acid to alcohol on the ester number of TMPTA were investigated.Results indicated that the optimum reaction conditions were as follows:a catalyst dosage of 0.4% based on reactants,a reaction temperature in the range of 180～185 ℃,a reaction time of 4 h,and an acid to alcohol molar ratio of 3.3∶1.0.The esterification rate could reach over 95% under above-mentioned reaction process conditions.