| Chemical Properties | colourless liquid with an unpleasant odour |
| Chemical Properties | Ethyl methacrylate is a clear, colorless, and highly flammable
liquid that polymerizes but at a slower rate than that of
the parent acrylate. |
| Uses | Ethyl methacrylate can be manufactured via a reaction of
methacrylic acid or methyl acrylate with ethanol. It is used primarily for manufacturing polymers and as a component of
acrylic polymers for surface coatings and as a structural
monomer for some artificial fingernail formulations. |
| Uses | Ethyl methacrylate is used in dental protheses or in
photobonded sculptured nails. |
| Uses | Polymers, chemical intermediates. |
| Production Methods | Ethyl methacrylate can be manufactured via a reaction of
methacrylic acid or methyl acrylate with ethanol. |
| General Description | A colorless moderately toxic liquid with an acrid odor. Flash point of 70°F. Boiling point 278°F. Vapors irritate the eyes and respiratory system. Less dense than water. Not soluble in water. Used to make polymers and other chemicals. |
| Air & Water Reactions | Highly flammable. A very dangerous fire and explosion hazard. Not soluble in water. |
| Reactivity Profile | May polymerize if heated for prolonged periods or accidentally contaminated. If polymerization takes place inside a container, the container may violently rupture. Can react with oxidizing materials. When heated to decomposition Ethyl methacrylate emits irritating fumes and acrid smoke [Sax, 9th ed., 1996, p. 1576]. |
| Hazard | Flammable, dangerous fire and explosion
hazard. An irritant. |
| Health Hazard | Inhalation may cause irritation of the mucous membrane. Ingestion causes irritation of mouth and stomach. Contact with liquid irritates eyes and skin. |
| Fire Hazard | Behavior in Fire: Sealed containers may rupture explosively if hot. Heat can cause a violent polymerization reaction with rapid release of energy. Vapors are heavier than air and can travel to a source of ignition and flash back. |
| Flammability and Explosibility | Nonflammable |
| Chemical Reactivity | Reactivity with Water No reaction; Reactivity with Common Materials: No reaction; Stability During Transport: Stable; Neutralizing Agents for Acids and Caustics: Not pertinent; Polymerization: If proper concentration of inhibitor is not present or when material is hot, a violent polymerization reaction may occur; Inhibitor of Polymerization: Oxygen in the air inhibits polymerization. |
| Safety Profile | Moderately toxic by
ingestion and intraperitoneal routes. Mildly
toxic by inhalation. Experimental
teratogenic and reproductive effects. A skin
irritant. A very dangerous fire and explosion
hazard when exposed to heat, sparks, or
flame; can react with oxidzing materials. To
fight fire, use CO2, dry chemical. When
heated to decomposition it emits acrid
smoke and irritating fumes. |
| Carcinogenicity | Not listed by ACGIH, California
Proposition 65, IARC, NTP, or OSHA. |
| Purification Methods | Wash the ester successively with 5% aqueous NaNO2, 5% NaHSO3, 5% NaOH, then water. Dry it over MgSO4, add 0.2% (w/w) of phenyl-.-naphthylamine, and distil it through a short Vigreux column (p 11) [Schultz J Am Chem Soc 80 1854 1958]. [Beilstein 2 IV 1523.] |
