Key Properties
Methacrylic Acid (MAA) is an unsaturated carboxylic acid with the molecular formula C₄H₆O₂ and CAS No. 79-41-4. It appears as a colorless liquid with a sharp, acrid odor. It is miscible with water and many organic solvents, and contains both carboxyl and vinyl functional groups, making it highly reactive for polymerization and esterification.
Key Features
MAA provides excellent reactivity for producing acrylic polymers, methacrylate esters, coatings, adhesives, and resin modifiers. It improves adhesion, hardness, chemical resistance, and weatherability in polymer systems. Because it can polymerize easily, it is usually stabilized with inhibitors during storage and transportation.
Main Applications
Methacrylic Acid is widely used in the production of methacrylate esters such as MMA, acrylic resins, coatings, adhesives, textile auxiliaries, ion exchange resins, and plastic modifiers. It is also used in water treatment chemicals, leather finishing agents, and specialty polymer applications.
Production Process
Methacrylic Acid is commonly produced through oxidation or hydrolysis routes based on isobutylene, tert-butanol, or methacrylonitrile. The crude product is then purified and stabilized to obtain industrial-grade or high-purity methacrylic acid.
