C12–C14 alkyl glycidyl ether
The most common reactive diluent in epoxy floor systems, used to thin resin and improve flow while reacting into the cured network.
C12–C14 alkyl glycidyl ether is a monofunctional epoxy made from a blend of C12 and C14 fatty alcohols and epichlorohydrin. It is a thin, low-odor liquid with an EEW of roughly 275–300 g/eq.
Added at a few percent up to roughly 10–15% of the resin, it cuts the viscosity of BPA and BPF epoxies for self-leveling floors, flowable coatings and highly filled systems, improving wetting, flow and air release.
Its single epoxide group reacts with the amine hardener, so it becomes part of the network instead of evaporating like a solvent. Because it caps chains rather than linking them, it lowers crosslink density: more diluent means more flexibility but lower chemical resistance and Tg. Its long alkyl chain also adds hydrophobicity.
Glycidyl ethers are skin irritants and sensitizers. Avoid skin contact and use eye protection. Its low volatility makes it less of an inhalation concern than smaller diluents such as butyl glycidyl ether.
No. A reactive diluent becomes part of the cured film, so it does not count as evaporating VOC in the same way, but it does change the network.
Above roughly 10–15% of resin, chemical resistance and hardness drop noticeably. Follow the formulation and product data.
