Acrylates, High-Purity Solvents

2-Hydroxy Ethyl Methacrylate (HEMA)

2-Hydroxy Ethyl Methacrylate, commonly referred to as HEMA, represents a vital monomeric species within the methacrylate ester family, characterized by its dual-functional chemical structure comprising both a polymerizable vinyl group and a hydrophilic hydroxyl group. This clear, colorless liquid exhibits excellent solubility in water and various organic solvents, making it a versatile building block for synthesizing specialized polymers. The presence of the hydroxyl moiety facilitates subsequent chemical modifications and imparts significant hydrophilicity to the resulting poly(HEMA) chains, which is essential for applications requiring biocompatibility and high water content. As an alpha-beta unsaturated ester, it undergoes rapid free-radical polymerization when exposed to heat, light, or chemical initiators. Its inherent stability at ambient temperatures is typically maintained through the addition of polymerization inhibitors like hydroquinone monomethyl ether. HEMA serves as a critical component in developing advanced materials where optical clarity, mechanical flexibility, and chemical resistance are paramount across diverse industrial and laboratory.

Attributes

Key Features and Benefits

High Purity: Offers exceptional chemical purity, typically exceeding 98%, ensuring consistent performance in sensitive industrial formulations.
Hydrophilic Nature: Contains a terminal hydroxyl group that provides excellent affinity for water and enhances moisture retention in polymers.
Low Volatility: Characterized by a high boiling point and low vapor pressure, reducing worker exposure during manufacturing processes.
Optical Clarity: Produces polymers with high light transmission and low refractive index, ideal for transparent coating and lens applications.
Versatile Reactivity: The vinyl group allows for seamless copolymerization with acrylics, methacrylics, and styrene monomers to tailor specific material properties.

Specifications

Technical Highlights

Molecular Formula: Represented as C6H10O3 with a precise molecular weight of 130.14 g/mol for accurate stoichiometric calculations in synthesis.
Physical State: A clear, colorless liquid with a density of 1.073 g/cm3 at 25 degrees Celsius and a refractive index of 1.453.
Boiling Point: Exhibits a boiling point of approximately 205 degrees Celsius at atmospheric pressure, ensuring stability under standard processing conditions.
Inhibitor Content: Standard grades contain 200-300 ppm of MEHQ to prevent premature polymerization during storage and transport phases.
Acid Value: Maintains a low acidity level, usually below 0.1%, to prevent interference with acid-sensitive catalyst systems during reaction.

Download Technical Data Sheet (TDS)

Practical industry uses

Applications

Contact Lenses: Widely used in the manufacture of soft contact lenses due to its biocompatibility and high water absorption capabilities.
Dental Adhesives: Acts as a primary component in light-cured dental bonding agents, improving adhesion between resins and tooth enamel structures.
Automotive Coatings: Employed in high-performance thermosetting acrylic resins to enhance the durability, gloss, and chemical resistance of automotive finishes.
Textile Finishes: Used to produce hydrophilic finishes and modifiers for synthetic fibers, improving comfort, moisture wicking, and dye uptake properties.
Printing Inks: Incorporated into UV-curable ink formulations to improve adhesion on various substrates and enhance film flexibility after polymerization.