© 2026 Sinochem Nanjing Corporation,
All Right Reserved
Chemical Name: Hydroxypropyl Methacrylate
Chemical Formula: C7H12O3
Common Usage: Used in resins, coatings, adhesives, medical devices, and personal care products due to its reactivity and polymerization properties. The material appears as a clear, colorless liquid with a distinctive odor, usually handled in industrial settings with strict safety controls.
Physical Hazards: Flammable in liquid and vapor forms, with risk of fire near heat or open flame. Sensitization through repeated exposure can lead to allergic skin responses, with symptoms like redness or itchy rashes commonly reported among workers handling raw HPMA monomer.
Health Hazards: Contact can cause eye and skin irritation, redness, and pain. Inhalation exposure may bring on headaches, dizziness, or throat discomfort. Repeated or prolonged exposure may trigger allergic reactions or respiratory problems.
Environmental Hazards: If not contained, HPMA may harm aquatic organisms because of its reactivity. Small spills could persist in waterways and impact localized habitats, especially where effluents reach bodies of water without thorough treatment.
Main Ingredient: 2-Hydroxypropyl methacrylate (CAS Number: 27813-02-1). Purity often measures above 97%, but trace impurities and polymerization inhibitors might appear within manufacturer-specific tolerances.
Inhalation: Remove the affected person to fresh air and seek medical attention if breathing difficulty continues. Headaches or throat irritation can linger; avoid further exposure before consulting a health professional.
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing and rinse with soap and plenty of water. For severe redness, prompt medical review becomes prudent.
Eye Contact: Rinse eyes for several minutes under running water and seek evaluation if discomfort persists.
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting. Rinse mouth and get medical help if large quantities are suspected. Providing emergency responders with product identification can speed up diagnosis.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use foam, dry chemical, or carbon dioxide. Water fog can assist, but direct high-pressure water may spread spills.
Specific Hazards: Flammable vapors may form combustible mixtures with air. During fire, toxic fumes like carbon oxides may develop.
Firefighter Protection: Firefighters should wear self-contained breathing apparatus and chemical-resistant gear, especially in confined spaces where vapors accumulate.
Personal Precautions: Ventilate the area to avoid inhalation of vapors. People cleaning up should use gloves, goggles, and suitable masks to prevent contact and inhalation.
Environmental Precautions: Stop further leakage if safe to do so. Prevent entry into drains or waterways because HPMA poses risks to aquatic life.
Methods for Clean-up: Small spills can be absorbed with inert materials like sand or vermiculite then placed in a chemical waste container. Disposing by local hazardous waste regulations reduces risk to others and the environment.
Handling: Only trained personnel should handle HPMA, using closed systems or adequate ventilation to minimize vapor build-up. Static electricity can ignite vapors, so equipment must be grounded.
Storage: Keep containers tightly sealed in cool, dry, well-ventilated places. Exposure to direct sunlight or heat hastens degradation and polymerization, so temperature-controlled storage matters.
Special Notes: Storage areas require labeled shelves and segregation from oxidizing materials or strong acids to avoid dangerous reactions. Companies may require secondary containment for bulk storage.
Occupational Exposure Limits: Regulatory bodies may set time-weighted average limits for airborne HPMA, given its skin and respiratory hazards. Monitoring airborne levels with personal dosimeters can protect workers.
Engineering Controls: Local exhaust ventilation at points of generation keeps airborne levels low. Closed transfer systems reduce exposure during fills or transfers.
Personal Protective Equipment: Workers wear safety goggles, nitrile gloves, long sleeves, and sometimes respirators if airborne concentrations rise. Prompt handwashing reduces accidental ingestion or transfer to eyes.
Appearance: Clear, colorless liquid
Odor: Sharp, acrylate-like smell
Boiling Point: Approximately 60°C at reduced pressure
Melting Point: Usually below room temperature
Density: About 1.08 g/cm³ at 20°C
Vapor Pressure: Moderate at room temperature, meaning adequate ventilation is important.
Solubility: Miscible with many organic solvents and slightly soluble in water.
Chemical Stability: Unstable with prolonged exposure to heat, peroxides, and light, HPMA may polymerize, especially in bulk or without inhibitors present.
Incompatible Materials: Strong acids, bases, and oxidizers can trigger dangerous reactions and produce hazardous byproducts.
Hazardous Decomposition: Burning or degradation may release carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and acrid smoke.
Acute Effects: Exposure causes irritation to eyes, skin, and respiratory passages. Ingestion or long-term inhalation may damage internal organs.
Chronic Effects: Skin contact over time may result in sensitization or dermatitis. Occasional reports link methacrylate exposure to allergic asthma. Animal studies suggest moderate toxicity if large amounts are consumed or absorbed.
Potential Symptoms: Redness, swelling, headaches, lightheadedness, sore throat, and difficulty breathing.
Aquatic Toxicity: HPMA can be harmful to aquatic life if large quantities enter streams or ponds. The chemical persists longer in cold water and where dilution is poor.
Mobility in Soil: Most will remain near the spill zone, but over time, water run-off may carry residues further. Soil microbes may break it down, but not fast enough to avoid harm where large spills occur.
Bioaccumulation: No significant buildup in aquatic life has been identified, though disruption at the microorganism level remains a risk.
Waste Disposal: Incineration at licensed facilities provides the safest disposal. Small waste volumes require chemical-resistant containers clearly labeled as hazardous.
Sewer Disposal: Effluent should never enter sewers without treatment, as HPMA disrupts municipal wastewater processes and damages aquatic ecosystems downstream.
Container Disposal: Rinsed containers must go to authorized facilities; never reuse for food or drink storage.
Shipping Considerations: Transport in clearly labeled, leak-proof containers only. Keep away from heat, ignition sources, and incompatible materials.
Risk Factors: HPMA falls under flammable liquid classifications for road, rail, and sea transit. Spills during loading or unloading can present fire and health hazards.
Guidance: Only trained personnel should handle transport; containers should remain upright and well-separated from food or reactive chemicals.
Classification: Many national and international frameworks list HPMA under Hazardous Substances legislation, requiring labeling for flammability, skin/respiratory sensitization, and aquatic toxicity.
Workplace Controls: Employers follow occupational safety standards to ensure worker protection. Mandatory reporting applies if spills reach certain volumes.
Labeling: Labels require hazard pictograms, signal words, and precautionary statements so even new staff can recognize critical risks before starting work.
