Polyacrylic acid
| Names | |
|---|---|
| IUPAC name Poly(acrylic acid), poly(1-carboxyethylene) | |
| Other names PAA, PAAc, Acrysol, Acumer, Alcosperse, Aquatreat, Carbomer, Sokalan | |
| Identifiers | |
| ChEBI | |
| ChemSpider | 
 | 
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.115.375 | 
| EC Number | 
 | 
| KEGG | |
| UNII | 
 | 
| CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | |
| Properties | |
| (C3H4O2)n | |
| Molar mass | variable | 
| log P | 0.25700 | 
| Hazards | |
| GHS labelling: | |
| Warning | |
| H315, H319, H335 | |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | |
| Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references | |
Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA; trade name Carbomer) is a polymer with the formula (CH2−CHCO2H)n. It is a derivative of acrylic acid (CH2=CHCO2H). In addition to the homopolymers, a variety of copolymers and crosslinked polymers, and partially deprotonated derivatives thereof, are known and of commercial value. In a water solution at neutral pH, PAA is an anionic polymer, i.e., many of the side chains of PAA lose their protons and acquire a negative charge. Partially or wholly deprotonated PAAs are polyelectrolytes, with the ability to absorb and retain water and swell to many times their original volume. These properties – acid–base and water-attracting – are the basis of many applications.