Laurox®: a versatile initiator for polymers, thermosets, and acrylics

Laurox® is a proven organic peroxide initiator used across multiple polymerization and curing processes. It supports the (co)polymerization of styrene, vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, and (meth)acrylates, and it is also used to cure acrylic solid surface at elevated temperatures. This versatility makes Laurox® relevant for key market segments including polymer production, thermoset composites, and acrylics manufacturing—each with distinct performance needs and processing conditions.

Polymer production: broad utility across monomers
In polymer production, Laurox® is a well-established initiator for suspension, micro-suspension and mass polymerization of vinyl chloride between 60°C and 80°C - either alone or in combination with a peroxydicarbonate to boost throughput.

A key advantage of Laurox® remains its ability to be stored at ambient temperature, supporting efficient logistics and handling.

Efficient and safe PVC production with Laurox® W-40
Laurox® W-40 is widely used as an initiator in micro-suspension polymerization of vinyl chloride, particularly in the 60°C to 80°C temperature range. To further increase reactor efficiency, Laurox® W-40 is often combined with a more active initiator such as a peroxydicarbonate (e.g. Trigonox® EHP).

Using a water-based peroxide suspension offers several process and product benefits versus solid or solvent-based peroxides: improved safety, solvent-free operation (helping avoid contamination of the VCM recycle stream), enhanced PVC purity, easy pumpable handling for closed reactor technology.

Thermosets: curing acrylic solid surface
Beyond polymerization, Laurox® is used as a curing agent for acrylic solid surface applications at elevated temperatures. 

Acrylics: an alternative to Perkadox® AIBN
In acrylics production, Laurox® can be used to initiate methyl methacrylate polymerization in the 60–90°C range. It is frequently selected as an alternative to 2,2'-azobis(isobutyronitrile) (Perkadox® AIBN), offering a reliable initiation option for acrylic manufacturing.

In summary, Laurox® and Laurox® W-40 provide customers with a robust toolbox for polymerization and curing—supporting efficient reactor operation, clean processing (especially in water-based suspension form), and flexible use across PVC, polystyrene, and acrylic applications.

Supply reliability and added Laurox® capacity from Los Reyes
To further strengthen supply reliability for customers, Nouryon made an investment in the Laurox® production line at our Los Reyes site. This improvement increased the reliability of the line and expanded effective capacity by the equivalent of approximately 500 metric tons of Laurox®.

The investment was implemented in 2023. While production is located in Los Reyes, the added capacity supports customers beyond South America, with Europe as the main market and Asia as the second-largest.

Featured products

Organic peroxides

Laurox

Laurox® is an initiator for (co)polymerization of styrene, ethylene, vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride and (meth)acrylates. Laurox® is also used as an initiator for curing acrylic solid surface at elevated temperatures.

Read more

Organic peroxides

Laurox W-40

Laurox® W-40 is an initiator for (co)polymerization of vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride and (meth)acrylates.

Read more

Laurox S

Laurox S is an initiator for (co)polymerization of styrene, ethylene, vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride and (meth)acrylates.

Read more

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Brochure Essential ingredients for PVC production (English)

More information about our product portfolio and services

Type: Brochure
Language: English
Format: pdf | 821.6 KB
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