(Hydroxyethyl)methacrylate

• Methacrylic acid -2 -hydroxyethyl
• Glycolmethacrylate
• HEMA

Colorless liquid with a fruity odor

Liquid

1.07 g · cm -3

-12 ° C.

250.5 ° C

About 0.1 hPa ( 20.5 ° C)

Miscible with water

1.453 at 20 ° C.

Attention

5050 mg · kg -1 ( LD50, rat, oral)

Template: Infobox chemical / molecular formula search available

2 -hydroxyethyl methacrylate, HEMA short, is a chemical compound selected from the group of the substituted carboxylic acid esters and alcohols.

Production and representation

2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate is prepared by reaction of methacrylic acid with ethylene oxide in the presence of hydroquinone. 1999 were produced world-wide about 42,000 t. Thus, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate is one of the High Production Volume Chemical.

Properties

2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate is a slightly flammable, colorless liquid with a fruity odor. Their aqueous solution is acidic.

Use

2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate is used as a reactive diluent in the radiation curing radical and as a comonomer for the production of acrylic resins. It is also for the production of acrylic polymers (as polyHEMA or as a copolymer with methacrylic acid, styrene, methyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate and other ), as dental filling plastic materials, contact lenses, artificial nails (made of UV light - cured acrylates ), in the production of printing plates ( printing) and are used in acrylic coatings. Wicherle and Lim were the first that a hydrogel could are based on hydroxyethyl methacrylate as a biocompatible material. 1953 Otto Wichterle has patented for the production together with the chemist Drahoslav Lím a method.

Health hazards

The effects of 2- hydroxyethyl methacrylate on human health and the environment are tested under REACH in 2014 as part of the fabric rating of France.

Safety

The vapors of 2- hydroxyethyl methacrylate can combine with air (flash point 101 ° C) to form an explosive mixture.