As the world leader in sulfur chemistry, Arkema offers a comprehensive array of mercaptan compounds, worldwide production sites, extensive R&D technical support to meet your needs.

Mercaptans have two primary uses: as chain transfer agents in polymerization and as chemical intermediates in agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals and a variety of industrial applications such as gas odorants.

Markets and applications

Chain transfer agents
Mercaptans such as tertiary dodecyl (TDM) and normal-dodecyl mercaptan (NDM) have long been used as chain transfer agents to modify free radical polymerization in polystyrene, SBR rubber, ABS and other polymers. Chain transfer agents are necessary to control the molecular size and weight so that the resulting polymers have good processability and other properties required for their use.

Product	Application
N-dodecyl Mercaptan	Hot SBR, NBR, ABS, acrylic copolymers, polystyrene, PMMA
T-dodecyl Mercaptan	SBR, NBR, ABS, acrylic copolymers, polystyrene, PMMA
N-octyl Mercaptan	ABS, acrylic copolymers, PMMA

Download the technical brochure Chain Transfer Agents

Chemical Intermediates

Mercaptans are raw materials for many agrochemical, pharmaceutical and industrial products. Some important examples include:

Product	Application
Methyl Mercaptan	Raw material for methionine, an important amino acid in animal feed; various agrochemicals
Sodium Methyl Mercaptide	Aqueous version of methyl mercaptan when transport or ease of handling is an issue; numerous agrochemical and chemical intermediate applications
Ethyl Mercaptan	LPG odorization, agrochemicals
N-octyl Mercaptan	Lubricant additives, acrylic co-polymers
Tbutyl Mercaptan	Gas odorants, agrochemicals
Pennfloat® 3	Mining chemicals
Mercaptan