Ethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate stands out in the world of chemical raw materials thanks to its double methacrylate groups linked by ethylene glycol. Found as C10H14O4, it shapes the backbone of cross-linked polymers found in coatings, adhesives, resins, and dental products that fill everyday needs at work and at home. EGDMA, with HS Code 29161400, comes from a blend of methacrylic acid and ethylene glycol, giving it unique bridging sections essential for polymerization.
EGDMA usually looks like a colorless liquid with a faint sweet odor. On the shelf, this chemical weighs in with a density close to 1.08 g/cm3 at 20°C, sporting a molecular weight of 198.22 g/mol. Some prefer EGDMA as a raw liquid to blend directly in manufacturing, but it occasionally turns up as a highly viscous, clear syrup. Pure solid, flakes, powder, pearl, and crystalline forms remain extremely rare, since EGDMA stays liquid at room temperature—melting does not enter most discussions about how people use it.
Its structure runs simple but effective: two methacrylate groups connect through an ethylene glycol bridge. This molecular setup helps it cross-link with acrylates and methacrylates, producing 3D polymer networks dense with strength, flexibility, and chemical resistance. EGDMA’s double bonds act as anchors in radical initiated polymerizations. Each bond grabs hold, creating a final structure inside polymeric dental fillings, artificial fingernails, automotive coatings, and more.
Inside factories, EGDMA stays in liquid drums, stable below 25°C and away from UV or peroxide contamination. Its boiling point sits high around 230°C, leaving plenty of working room for material processing. Most suppliers guarantee a purity above 98.5%, with limited moisture content below 0.1%. Typical applications soak up anywhere from 0.5–10 weight percent EGDMA, tuning final product hardness, glass transition temperature, and solvent tolerance. Any direct use as powder, flake, pearl, crystal, or solid gets rare—almost every formula pours liquid EGDMA into batch reactors.
Raw EGDMA demands care on loading docks and production lines. Liquid splashes irritate eyes and skin, with possible allergic reactions after frequent or prolonged handling. It spills volatile fumes, requiring real ventilation and PPE such as gloves and goggles. Inhalation irritates airways, while ingestion leads to nausea and more severe chemical symptoms. OSHA recommends keeping exposure low, and workplace spills land in chemical-resistant containers for proper disposal. EGDMA’s classification as a hazardous chemical by GHS codes reflects experiences with contact dermatitis cases and hospital visits due to accidental ingestion. Any plant or lab using EGDMA needs tightly written safety data sheets and visible hazard labeling—there’s no skipping these steps, no matter how seasoned the operator.
Strong adoption in plastics, medical devices, and automotive coatings means EGDMA touches millions of lives. Nobody sees the molecule after polymerization, but its effects fill day-to-day spaces from painted metal to resin countertops. Experiences across the US and Europe point to lowering EGDMA use in places close to children, food contact, or medical fields. That shift stems from research linking methacrylates to increased allergic sensitivity, and regulators keep pushing for greener, less harmful cross-linkers. Engineers and chemists keep refining encapsulation methods, switching to monomers with lower toxicity, and designing robust protocols that handle spills and waste efficiently. If the industry makes safer materials and controls workplace exposure, fewer people end up hurt, and finished products stay on shelves without recall worries.
Material science flourishes on the back of chemicals like EGDMA. Tougher polymers, water-resistant adhesives, and easy-to-cure dental composites all draw on this one chemical’s twin vinyl groups and bridging backbone. The trouble shows up when workers get careless or when batches skip quality control. Anyone handling EGDMA must understand it brings strong benefits to polymer chemistry but carries a real risk of skin and respiratory irritation, which stays with operators unless they suit up with the right gloves, fume hoods, and disposal protocols. Industry experience shows more automation, better closed-system storage, and continuous health monitoring all lower incident rates and chemical releases, turning hazardous production into a controlled process with minimal impact on workers and communities. Swapping in bio-based dimethacrylates or less allergenic monomers where possible cuts down human risk and nudges the market toward sustainability.
EGDMA, clear and reactive, helped transform resin chemistries for coatings, adhesives, and dental materials. Its handling highlights the tension between modern convenience and real-world safety—whether bought in liter drums by volume, dabbed into resin-filler solutions, or measured by molecular weight for custom synthesis. Progress depends on respecting its power and danger, tightening safety standards, and transitioning to safer raw material options when possible to support both modern industry and worker health in every region producing or using this versatile chemical.
