(Hydroxyethyl)methacrylate


Hydroxyethylmethacrylate or HEMA is the organic compound with the formula H2C=CCO2CH2CH2OH. It is a colorless viscous liquid that readily polymerizes. HEMA is a monomer that is used to make various polymers.

Applications

is hydrophobic; however, when the polymer is subjected to water it will swell due to the molecule's hydrophilic pendant group. Depending on the physical and chemical structure of the polymer, it is capable of absorbing from 10 to 600% water relative to the dry weight. Because of this property, it was one of the first materials to be successfully used in the manufacture of soft contact lenses
When treated with polyisocyanates, poly makes a crosslinked polymer, an acrylic resin, that is a useful component in some paints.

Use in 3D printing

HEMA lends itself well to applications in 3D printing as it cures quickly at room temperature when exposed to UV light in the presence of photoinitiators. It may be used as a monomeric matrix in which 40nm silica particles are suspended for 3D glass printing. When combined with a suitable blowing agent such as BOC Anhydride it forms a foaming resin which expands when heated.