Ethyl 4-(dimethylamino)benzoate

Ethyl 4-(dimethylamino)benzoate, also known as EDAB, Parbenate, and Kayacure EPA, is a tertiary amine photoinitiator co-initiator used in UV-curable systems. It is identified by CAS 10287-53-3. This chemical accelerates free-radical photopolymerization by donating electrons to excited photoinitiators. This process enables rapid cure speeds under UV light exposure in various industrial settings.

In UV-curable inks and coatings, it functions as a co-initiator alongside Type II photoinitiators such as benzophenone. This significantly increases cure speed and surface hardness in printing and packaging lines. Radiation-curable adhesives and sealants incorporate it to achieve through-cure in pigmented or thick-film formulations. This is essential where surface cure alone is insufficient for the application.

Photopolymer resin systems for plastics and polymer composites use it to improve depth of cure. It also helps to reduce oxygen inhibition at the surface during the manufacturing process. The compound serves as a building block in the synthesis of UV stabilizer intermediates. It is also utilized in the production of specialty dye compounds for industrial colorant applications.

The product is supplied as a pale yellow to off-white crystalline powder or solid. Technical and photoinitiator-grade material is the standard commercial offering for most industrial buyers. Purity specifications are typically at 98% or higher for this material. Packaging ranges from kilogram-scale laboratory quantities to bulk drum supply for large-scale industrial formulation use.