Diacetone Acrylamide (DAAM) is a unique functional monomer widely used in various industrial fields due to its excellent balance of hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity, outstanding film-forming capability, and crosslinking reactivity. Chemically, DAAM contains both a carbon–carbon double bond for polymerization and a reactive carbonyl group, which allows it to be incorporated into copolymers and subsequently crosslinked with agents such as adipic dihydrazide (ADH). This dual functionality makes DAAM highly valuable in advanced coating, adhesive, textile, and biomedical applications.
1. Coatings and Paints
One of the most important applications of DAAM is in waterborne and solvent-based coatings. When copolymerized with acrylates, styrene, or methacrylates, DAAM introduces pendant ketone groups into the polymer backbone. These groups can later react with ADH to form strong, flexible crosslinked networks at ambient temperature. This self-crosslinking mechanism offers several advantages:
Excellent film hardness and toughness
Improved chemical resistance against water, alcohol, and solvents
Outstanding adhesion to various substrates, including plastics and metals
Enhanced durability and weather resistance
Therefore, DAAM-based copolymers are widely used in industrial coatings, automotive paints, architectural finishes, and protective topcoats.
2. Adhesives and Sealants
In adhesive formulations, DAAM provides both strong initial bonding and long-term durability. The ketone groups allow post-curing crosslinking reactions, significantly enhancing cohesion and resistance to creep. This is especially useful for pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSA) and structural adhesives, where both flexibility and strength are needed. DAAM also improves adhesion to low-energy surfaces and increases resistance to heat and solvents, making it a preferred additive in packaging adhesives, laminating adhesives, and sealant formulations.
3. Textile and Nonwoven Applications
DAAM is also widely used in the textile finishing industry. When applied to fabrics in combination with ADH, DAAM-based resins form crosslinked networks that impart:
Durable crease resistance
Improved wash-and-wear performance
Better dimensional stability
Resistance to abrasion and chemicals
Nonwoven materials and specialty textiles also benefit from DAAM due to its ability to provide softness with durability, which is often difficult to achieve with other finishing agents.
4. Paper and Ink Applications
DAAM-based polymers can improve wet strength and surface durability of paper products. In inks and overprint varnishes, DAAM contributes to scratch resistance, flexibility, and gloss retention, while also enhancing chemical resistance. Its reactive functionality ensures good compatibility with pigments and additives, supporting high-performance printing inks and specialty coatings.
5. Biomedical and Specialty Applications
In the biomedical field, DAAM is being explored for hydrogel formation, drug delivery systems, and tissue engineering scaffolds. The ketone functionality allows controlled crosslinking, enabling tailored swelling behavior, biocompatibility, and degradability. Furthermore, DAAM’s balance of hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties makes it useful in contact lenses, biomedical adhesives, and wound dressing materials.
6. Other Applications
Electronics: DAAM improves thermal stability and adhesion of coatings on electronic components.
Water treatment: Functionalized DAAM copolymers can serve as flocculants and dispersants.
Cosmetics and personal care: DAAM-based polymers are studied for use in hair styling products and film-forming agents.
DAAM is a highly versatile monomer with broad industrial value. Its unique combination of polymerizable double bonds and reactive ketone groups enables tailored copolymer design and post-polymerization crosslinking, making it indispensable in coatings, adhesives, textiles, inks, paper, and biomedical fields. The ability to form durable, flexible, and chemically resistant films has made DAAM one of the most important specialty acrylamide derivatives in modern materials science.
Post time: Sep-11-2025