Chemical Properties
colourless liquid
Uses
2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate is used for preparation of hydrophilic polymers for biomedical devices.
Uses
2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate is used in UV-curable inks and coatings. It is also used in adhesives, artificial nails, dental materials and lacquers. In dentistry, it is one of the main volatile acrylates along with methyl methacrylate. Further, it is used as a monomer in the synthesis of polymers for dental prosthetics and for geotechnical grouting in construction work.
Uses
2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate is the methacrylic monomer for use in UV inks, adhesives, lacquers, dental materials, artificial nails, etc.
Definition
2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate is an enoate ester that is the monomethacryloyl derivative of ethylene glycol.
General Description
2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) is biocompatible in nature. Polymeric hydrogel scaffold can be produced by polymerizing HEMA in water.
Hazard
30% grade (with xylene): Flammable, moderate fire risk.
Purification Methods
Dissolve the ester in water and extract with n-heptane to remove ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (checked by gas-liquid chromatography and by NMR) and distil it twice under reduced pressure [Strop et al. J Phys Chem 80 694 1976]. [Beilstein 2 IV 1530.]