# Acrylic acid

A propylene-derived acid that makes acrylate esters for paints and adhesives, and superabsorbent polymers for diapers.

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acrylic_acid/

Commodity chemicals · Derivatives & intermediates · No. 44

- Single chemical
- Feedstock: Oil, gas or coal
- about 7 Mt a year (2025, indicative)
- 1.5 t CO₂e per t
- HS 291611
 Commodity chemicals · Derivatives & intermediates · Foundation · Matter

The same propylene acid that binds your wall paint also soaks up the liquid in every disposable nappy.

Chart: Illustration: Acrylic acid

##### Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

Propylene and air pass through two reactors in a row: the first makes acrolein, the second acrylic acid. Over 99% of world capacity uses this route.

##### Three things to know

1. About half of acrylic acid becomes esters for water-based paints and adhesives; about a third becomes nappy superabsorbent.
2. World sales were about $12.0 billion in 2024, forecast to reach about $18.2 billion by 2034.
3. It freezes at 13 C but can polymerise violently if overheated, so it ships in temperature-controlled tanks at 15-25 C.

##### The journey

1. 1 **Propylene**About 0.7 t per tonne acid
2. 2 **Acrolein**First oxidation stage at about 330 C
3. 3 **Acrylic acid**Second stage over molybdenum-vanadium, 260 C
4. 4 **Esters or SAP**Butyl acrylate, or neutralised and cross-linked
5. 5 **End products**Paints, adhesives, nappies, detergents
 Covered in [From building blocks to plastics, fibres and detergentsChemicals](https://www.materialinsights.org/learn/chemicals/building-blocks-to-polymers/)[Biorefineries and platform chemicalsChemicals](https://www.materialinsights.org/learn/chemicals/biorefineries-platform-chemicals/)[Bioplastics: PLA, PHA, bio-PE and starch blendsChemicals](https://www.materialinsights.org/learn/chemicals/bioplastics-pla-pha-biope-starch/)

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## Other sections

- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acrylic_acid/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acrylic_acid/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acrylic_acid/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acrylic_acid/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acrylic_acid/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acrylic_acid/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acrylic_acid/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acrylic_acid/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acrylic_acid/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acrylic_acid/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acrylic_acid/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acrylic_acid/links/index.md)