methacrylat

Methacrylat, or methacrylate, refers to esters of methacrylic acid (CH2=C(CH3)COOH). The term covers a family of vinyl monomers and the polymers derived from them. The general structure of a methacrylate monomer is CH2=C(CH3)COO-R', where R' is the alkyl group of the corresponding alcohol.

The most important monomer is methyl methacrylate (MMA, CH2=C(CH3)COO-CH3). Other common methacrylates include ethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, and glycidyl methacrylate. When polymerized, methacrylates form polymethacrylates; the best known is polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), also called acrylic glass. PMMA is valued for clarity, hardness, and weather resistance, and it is used in optical lenses, medical devices, and glazing.

Applications extend beyond PMMA to dental resins and composites, bone cements, coatings, adhesives, and various photopolymers used in 3D printing and coatings. Methacrylate monomers are favored in industrial chemistry for their rapid, radical polymerization and tunable properties through choice of the R' group.

Production methods typically involve esterification of methacrylic acid with alcohols to yield the corresponding methacrylate esters, with MMA being the most widely produced. Methacrylic acid itself is obtained via established industrial routes from various starting materials. Processing often includes inhibitors or stabilizers to prevent premature polymerization during storage and handling.

Safety considerations include irritation and sensitization risks from unpolymerized monomers, exposure hazards from vapors, and the exothermic nature of polymerization. Proper ventilation, handling protocols, and stabilizer use are standard in industrial settings.