Methacrylates
Building durable, transparent, and high-performance materials
Methacrylates are a family of acrylic monomers derived from methacrylic acid, known for imparting rigidity and durability to polymers and plastics. They play a critical role in high-performance applications across the paints, coatings, and adhesives industries, as well as in plastics and acrylic sheets. These versatile monomers enable the creation of resins with enhanced hardness, weather resistance, and optical clarity.
Our methacrylate portfolio includes essential monomers like Methyl Methacrylate (MMA), Butyl Methacrylate, and specialty grades such as Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate (HEMA). MMA is renowned for producing polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) acrylic glass, offering exceptional transparency, UV stability, and toughness. Butyl Methacrylate, on the other hand, contributes excellent flexibility, adhesion, and weather resistance to polymer coatings and adhesives. Functional monomers like HEMA introduce hydroxyl groups that improve crosslinking and adhesion in coatings and biomedical polymers. Together, these methacrylates allow formulators to tailor materials for strength, flexibility, and durability.
Each product is listed alphabetically below and includes:
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Full chemical name, abbreviation, and CAS number
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Typical applications such as coatings, adhesives, textiles, personal care, or hydrogels
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Packaging options such as drums, IBCs, bulk or customized formats
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Suggested alternatives for formulating flexibility and supply chain resilience
Whether you need standard monomers or specialized esters, we support your product development with consistent quality and tailored service.
Discover more about our Methacrylates portfolio.
1,4-butanediol dimethacrylate
CAS: 2082-81-7
BDDMA
Main Applications: Dental Composites (crosslinker in dental resins and restorative materials to improve hardness and wear resistance), Adhesives & Coatings (provides strong adhesion and chemical/heat stability in industrial coatings and reactive adhesives) and 3D Printing Resins (used in UV-curable photopolymer formulations for high-precision printing)
IBC, Packaging options available on request
Alternative to: HDDA.
BDDMA provides higher thermal resistance and greater hardness, suitable for heat-resistant coatings and composites.
2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate
CAS: 2867-42-2
DMAEMA
Main Applications: Adhesives & Paints (as a functional monomer that improves latex paint gloss and adhesion, and enhances bonding in acrylic adhesives), Water Treatment (polycationic flocculants for wastewater and retention aids in papermaking due to its cationic amine functionality) and Sealants & Coatings (used as an adhesion promoter in emulsions and to improve chemical resistance of coatings). It is also a key ingredient in some hair styling polymers when quaternized, linking to personal care use.
bulk, IBC
Alternative to: DETA or TEA in reactive resin systems.
DMAEMA provides better copolymerization, faster curing, and improved adhesion promotion, ideal for ion-exchange resins and flocculants.
2-ethylhexyl methacrylate
CAS: 688-84-6
EHMA
Main Applications: Flexible Coatings (used in industrial and protective coatings for flexibility, gloss retention, and weather resistance), Adhesives (PSAs) (monomer in pressure-sensitive adhesives and sealants, imparting elasticity and tack for tapes and labels) and Impact Modifiers (component in acrylic impact modifiers for PVC and other plastics, improving toughness)
Packaging options available on request
Alternative to: 2-Ethylhexyl acrylate (2-EHA).
EHMA provides similar low-Tg, plasticizing behavior to 2-EHA but with the slightly higher hardness typical of methacrylates, useful where low-temperature flexibility and improved block resistance are needed.
2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate
CAS: 868-77-9
2-HEMA
Main Applications: Hydrogels & Medical (primary monomer for soft contact lenses and hydrogels, providing water absorption and biocompatibility in ophthalmic devices), Light-Cure Coatings (used in UV-curable and high-gloss coatings for its crosslinkable OH groups, yielding durable finishes) and Dental/Adhesives (in dental bonding agents and other adhesives to enhance wetting and bond strength to surfaces). Also used in some nail gel polishes and coatings for its rapid curing and hardness.
bulk, IBC, drums, cans
Alternative to: 2-HEA.
2-HEMA yields stiffer, harder films and provides better chemical resistance compared to HEA, suited for UV coatings and composites
2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate
CAS: 27813-02-1
2-HPMA
Main Applications: Industrial Coatings (ingredient in two-component and UV-curable coatings, adding flexibility and adhesion while retaining hardness), Adhesives (improves cohesion and moisture resistance in acrylic and polyurethane adhesives), and Personal Care Polymers (occasionally in hair sprays or cosmetic coatings for its film-forming properties)
bulk, IBC, drums, cans
Alternative to: 2-Hydroxypropyl acrylate (2-HPA).
2-HPMA offers higher Tg and better chemical resistance than 2-HPA, making it suitable for harder, more solvent-resistant UV and 2K-systems.
allyl methacrylate
CAS: 96-05-9
AMA
Main Applications: Coatings & Paints (acts as a multifunctional crosslinker in durable automotive and industrial coatings, improving chemical resistance), Adhesives & Sealants (enhances flexibility and crosslink density in structural adhesives and sealants) and Plastics & Composites (used to form impact modifiers and crosslinked polymers in high-performance plastics and composites)
drums
Alternative to: Multifunctional diacrylates such as 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA).
Allyl methacrylate acts as a graft-linking and crosslinking monomer and can replace standard diacrylates like HDDA in systems where controlled residual unsaturation and branching are desired.
cyclohexyl methacrylate
CAS: 101-43-9
CHMA
Main Applications: High-Performance Coatings (used in automotive and industrial coatings for rigidity, chemical resistance, and thermal stability), Adhesives & Sealants (improves hardness and substrate adhesion in high-temperature or electronic adhesives and sealants) and Specialty Plastics (component in impact-resistant plastics and optical polymers requiring clarity and heat resistance)
Packaging options available on request
Alternative to: Isobornyl acrylate (IBOA).
CHMA, like IBOA, produces hard, hydrophobic polymers with high Tg and good chemical resistance, making it a viable alternative in high-solids and UV-curable coatings requiring hardness and durability.
ethyl methacrylate
CAS: 97-63-2
EMA
Main Applications: Cosmetics & Personal Care (primary monomer in artificial nail liquids and dental resins, chosen for fast curing and hardness in acrylic nails and dental prosthetics), Adhesives & Sealants (forms hard, fast-curing polymers in certain reactive adhesives and sealants), and Coatings & Plastics (used in specialty acrylic coatings and impact-resistant plastics where clarity and durability are required)
Packaging options available on request
Alternative to: Methyl methacrylate (MMA).
EMA provides slightly lower Tg and increased flexibility versus MMA while maintaining good clarity, useful in impact-modified resins and flexible coatings.
glycidyl methacrylate
CAS: 106-91-2
GMA
Main Applications: High-Performance Coatings (incorporated into automotive, aerospace, and industrial coatings for strong adhesion and chemical/thermal resistance, thanks to its epoxy functionality), Adhesives & Sealants (improves bond strength and durability in construction, automotive, and electronic adhesives/sealants), Plastics (as a comonomer in impact-resistant and compatibilized plastics or composites, e.g. GMA copolymers) and Medical Devices (used to form biocompatible, crosslinkable polymers in dental materials and drug delivery systems)
bulk, IBC, drums, cans
Alternative to: Epoxy-functional acrylates.
GMA offers excellent adhesion, crosslinking capability, and chemical resistance, suitable for coatings, adhesives, and high-performance polymers.
iso-butyl methacrylate
CAS: 97-86-9
iBUMA
Main Applications: Acrylic Coatings (imparts UV resistance, hardness, and durability in automotive and architectural coatings), Adhesives & Sealants (improves flexibility and adhesion in pressure-sensitive and structural adhesive formulations) and Polymer Modifiers (used to enhance impact resistance and processability in methacrylate copolymers and optical plastics)
bulk, IBC, drums
Alternative to: n-Butyl methacrylate (nBUMA).
iBUMA has very similar properties to nBUMA, providing flexible, plasticizing methacrylate performance with comparable toxicity profile, useful for modifying hardness and impact strength.
isobornyl methacrylate
CAS: 7534-94-3
IBOMA
Main Applications: High-Tg Coatings and Inks (used in UV-curable coatings, printing inks, and varnishes to impart hardness, abrasion resistance, and low shrinkage), Adhesives (included in structural and optical adhesives for durability and adhesion under stress) and Plastics/Optical Resins (as a monomer in optical-grade polymers and plastic modifiers requiring clarity and weatherability)
IBC, drums, cans
Alternative to: MMA .
IBOMA offers higher Tg and better abrasion resistance than MMA, ideal for high-performance coatings and optical applications.
methacrylic acid
CAS: 79-41-4
GMAA
Main Applications: High-Performance Coatings (incorporated into automotive, aerospace, and industrial coatings for strong adhesion and chemical/thermal resistance, thanks to its epoxy functionality), Adhesives & Sealants (improves bond strength and durability in construction, automotive, and electronic adhesives/sealants), Plastics (as a comonomer in impact-resistant and compatibilized plastics or composites, e.g. GMA copolymers) and Medical Devices (used to form biocompatible, crosslinkable polymers in dental materials and drug delivery systems)
bulk, IBC, drums, cans
methyl methacrylate
CAS: 80-62-6
MMA
Main Applications: Plastics (Acrylic Glass) – the primary monomer for polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) used in clear plastics (plexiglass) for automotive, glazing, and display, Coatings & Road Markings (used in durable, UV-stable coatings such as road paints and industrial finishes), Adhesives & Sealants (formulates structural acrylic adhesives and sealants with strong bonds, used in construction and automotive assembly) and Medical Devices (used in bone cements, dental acrylics, and prosthetic fabrication)
bulk, IBC, drums, cans
n-butyl methacrylate
CAS: 97-88-1
nBUMA
Main Applications: Specialty Coatings & Resins (a monomer for polymers used in paints, coatings, and varnishes that require flexibility and weatherability), Adhesives & Sealants (provides improved adhesion and impact resistance in acrylic adhesives and caulks) and Textile & Paper Finishes (used in finishes for textiles and paper to improve elasticity and durability