6011. Methyl Acrylate

Nomenclature

CAS number: 96-33-3
2-Propenoic acid methyl ester; acrylic acid methyl ester; methyl propenoate.
C4H6O2; mol wt 86.09.
C 55.81%, H 7.02%, O 37.17%.

Description and references

Convenient prepn from ethylene chlorohydrin: DE 571123 (1928 to Rohm & Haas). For direct syntheses from acetylene and carbon monoxide see W. Reppe, Chemie & Technik der Acetylen-Druck-Reaktionen (Weinheim, 2nd ed., 1952). Toxicity study: H. F. Smyth, C. P. Carpenter, J. Ind. Hyg. Toxicol. 30, 63 (1948).

Chemical structure

Properties

Liquid. Acrid odor. Lacrimator. d420 0.9561; d2020 0.9574; d40 0.9702; d45 0.9868; d410 0.9929. Weighs 8.0 lbs/gal. mp 76.5°. bp608 70°; bp428 60°; bp298 50°; bp200 40°; bp88 20°; bp54 10°; bp41.5 5°; bp32 0°; bp24.5 5°; bp18.5 10°. nD20 1.401. Sp heat at 60° = 0.444 cal/g/°C; heat of vaporization 8.25 kcal/mol; heat of combustion 502.88 kcal/mol. Soly in water at 20° = 6 g/100 ml, at 40° = 5 g/100 ml. Soly of water in methyl acrylate at 20° = 1.8 ml/100 g. Sol in alc, ether. Azeotropes: 9.5% water = bp 73°; 49.0% methanol = bp 61°. Easily polymerizes on standing. The polymerization process can be speeded up by heat, light, and peroxides. If pure, the monomer can be stored below +10° without incurring polymerization. LD50 orally in rats: 0.3 g/kg (Smyth, Carpenter).

Derivative

Polymer.

Properties

Transparent, elastic substance. Practically no odor. Little adhesive power. Resists the usual solvents.

Caution

Potential symptoms of overexposure to the monomer are irritation of eyes, upper respiratory system and skin. See NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (DHHS/NIOSH 97-140, 1997) p 198. See also Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products, R. E. Gosselin et al., Eds. (Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 5th ed., 1984) Section II, p 409.

Use

The monomer in manuf leather finish resins, textile and paper coatings, and plastic films. Produces the hardest resin of the acrylate ester series.