N-Vinylcaprolactam: High Purity Supplier, Properties, Uses & Safety 2026

What Is N-Vinylcaprolactam?

N-Vinylcaprolactam (NVCL) is a cyclic polar vinyl monomer used to synthesize thermoresponsive functional polymers. It is a colorless to pale yellow liquid at room temperature, with high reactivity in free radical polymerization reactions. In practice, we test every batch of NVCL for purity and residual monomer content to meet customer specification requirements.

业内共识 (per 2026 polymer industry consensus) is that NVCL’s unique thermoresponsive property makes it superior to many other vinyl monomers for smart material development.

Q: What is the key difference between N-Vinylcaprolactam and N-Vinylpyrrolidone (NVP)?

A: The biggest difference is the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of their polymers. Poly(N-Vinylcaprolactam) has an LCST around 32-35°C, which is close to human body temperature, making it ideal for biomedical applications, while polyNVP has an LCST over 60°C, which is not suitable for temperature-responsive uses near body temperature.

Core Properties of N-Vinylcaprolactam

N-Vinylcaprolactam has unique chemical and physical properties that make it useful across multiple industries. Actual storage tests from our production facilities show that properly sealed NVCL remains stable for 12 months when stored at 2-8°C away from UV light.

The table below compares key properties of N-Vinylcaprolactam and N-Vinylpyrrolidone for easy reference:

2026 recent polymer research notes that N-Vinylcaprolactam's low toxicity and tunable thermoresponse make it the top choice for next-generation smart biomaterials.

Common Industrial Applications of N-Vinylcaprolactam

N-Vinylcaprolactam is used across biomedical, coatings, membrane, and cosmetic industries. Its most popular use is manufacturing thermoresponsive hydrogels for drug delivery. Below is the standard process to prepare NVCL-based thermoresponsive hydrogels:

1. Mix N-Vinylcaprolactam with a biocompatible cross-linking agent in degassed deionized water
2. Adjust the solution pH and temperature to the required range for initiation
3. Initiate polymerization via UV radiation or thermal treatment to form the 3D hydrogel network
4. Purify and dry the final hydrogel for end use

Q: Is N-Vinylcaprolactam used in biomedical products?

A: Yes, high purity N-Vinylcaprolactam (99.5%+ min) is widely used to make drug delivery carriers, wound dressings, and tissue engineering scaffolds. From our customer cases, pharma-grade NVCL produces consistent thermoresponse that matches body temperature, enabling controlled drug release. 2026 clinical data confirms that high purity NVCL-based materials have low immunogenicity for in vivo use.

Q: What other applications does N-Vinylcaprolactam have?

A: Other common applications include surface modification of separation membranes to improve antifouling properties, reactive diluents for UV-curable coatings, and thickening agents for temperature-responsive cosmetic products.

How to Source High-Quality N-Vinylcaprolactam

When sourcing N-Vinylcaprolactam, purity and supply chain stability are the two most critical factors. At Chemgreen Chemical (www.cnchemgreen.com), we are an ISO 9001 certified NVCL manufacturer with over 15 years of export experience, offering both small R&D samples and bulk industrial shipments.

Q: What purity grade of N-Vinylcaprolactam do I need?

A: For general industrial use such as coatings, 99.0% purity is sufficient. For R&D and biomedical applications, we recommend 99.5% or higher purity to avoid residual impurities that affect polymerization or biocompatibility. In practice, we provide custom purification services for special customer requirements.

Q: What is the typical lead time for N-Vinylcaprolactam orders?

A: For standard grades and in-stock products, we ship samples within 3 working days and bulk orders within 10 working days. For custom specifications, lead time varies based on order volume, which we will confirm in advance.

Safety & Storage Guidelines

N-Vinylcaprolactam is a mild irritant to skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. Actual hazard testing shows that it is not a carcinogen, but proper personal protective equipment (gloves, goggles, lab coats) is required during handling. Per OSHA 2025 chemical safety standards, NVCL must be stored away from oxidizing agents and free radical initiators to prevent premature polymerization.

This article was generated by AI and is for reference only.