Basic introduction of methyl methacrylate MMA

Methyl methacrylate (MMA) is an organic compound with the molecular formula CH2=C (CH3) COOCH3. It is a colorless liquid formed by esterification of methyl methacrylate (MAA) with methanol. MMA is a monomer used in the production of transparent plastic polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).
Methyl methacrylate

IUPAC name 2-methylprop-2-enoic acid methyl ester

Identification

CAS number

80-62-6

ChemSpider 6406

SMILES

ChEBI

34840

RTECS

OZ5075000

KEGG

C14527

Properties

Chemical formula

C5H8O2

Molar mass 100.12 g · mol ⁻¹
Appearance

Colorless liquid

Density

0.94 g/cm ³

Melting point

-48 ° C (225 K)

Boiling point

101 ° C (374 K)

Solubility (water) 1.5 g/100 ml (25 ° C)

Viscosity

0.6 cP, 20 ° C

Structure

Dipole moment

1.6-1.97 D

Hazard

Main hazard Flammability

Flash point

2 ° C (435 ° C spontaneous combustion)

Unless otherwise specified, all data are from general conditions (25 ° C, 100 kPa).

In 1993, the annual production of methyl methacrylate in the United States was 600000 tons, and the estimated annual production in the world in 2005 was 3.2 million tons.
Most manufacturers adopt the production route of Acetone Cyanohydride (ACH), which involves the reaction of acetone and hydrogen cyanide to obtain the intermediate Acetone Cyanohydride. Acetone Cyanohydride is then reacted with concentrated sulfuric acid to obtain methacrylamide, which is then reacted with water to obtain ammonium hydrogen sulfate and methyl methacrylate. It is then reacted with methanol under acidic conditions to produce methyl methacrylate. Some Asian manufacturers also use tert butanol, which is similar to isobutene, as a raw material to oxidize it to methacrylaldehyde, which is then oxidized to methacrylic acid, and then esterified with methanol to produce methyl methacrylate.
Acrylic can also undergo carbonylation under the action of acid to produce isobutyric acid, which can then be dehydrogenated to obtain methacrylic acid.
On September 18, 2007, a new platinum catalyzed method for producing methyl methacrylate was introduced. This method uses a homogeneous platinum phosphorus catalyst. The process uses ethylene, carbon monoxide, and methanol as reactants to produce methyl propionate, which then reacts with formaldehyde to produce methyl methacrylate and water.
Application: Methyl methacrylate is mainly used in the production of polymethyl methacrylate plastics. Methyl methacrylate is also used to produce copolymers of methyl methacrylate butadiene styrene resin (MBS), which is a modifier for PVC plastics.
Polymethyl methacrylate and its copolymers are mainly used in the manufacture of water-based coatings, such as latex paints for houses and adhesives.

The modern application of methyl methacrylate is to make it into a disc shape so that light can pass horizontally through computer LCD screens or television screens.
Methyl methacrylate is also used as a coating to prevent corrosion of anatomical organs, such as for the preservation of coronary arteries in the heart.