Product

Glacial Acrylic Acid (GAA) is the high-purity, polymerisation-grade form of acrylic acid, obtained by distillation purification of crude acrylic acid from the propylene oxidation process. The name “glacial” refers to its tendency to freeze into ice-like crystals just below room temperature (melting point ~13.5 °C).

Typical characteristics:

Handling notes: GAA must be stored at 15–25 °C — cool enough to limit spontaneous polymerisation and dimer formation, but warm enough to avoid freezing, since partially frozen acid concentrates impurities and inhibitor in the liquid phase, creating polymerisation risk on remelting. An air/oxygen atmosphere is maintained in storage to keep the MEHQ inhibitor active.

Applications (direct polymerisation uses):

• Superabsorbent polymers (SAP) — sodium polyacrylate for diapers, incontinence, and hygiene products; the largest single GAA end use

• Carbomers and thickeners — cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, personal care gels

• Polyacrylic acid dispersants — water treatment, detergents, mineral processing

• Flocculants and water-soluble copolymers (with acrylamide and other monomers)

• Specialty acrylates and crosslinked polymers where high purity is essential

Key distinction: unlike crude/ester-grade acid, GAA’s tight impurity limits (especially low aldehydes and acetic acid) are essential because trace impurities act as chain-transfer or inhibiting agents that would compromise polymer molecular weight and performance.