Butyl methacrylate

Butyl methacrylate (CAS 97-88-1), commonly abbreviated as BMA, is a reactive monomer used to build acrylic and methacrylic polymer systems across coatings, adhesives, and plastics manufacturing. It contributes flexibility, adhesion, and durability characteristics to finished polymer chains, making it a core building block in industrial formulation for various high-performance applications.

In architectural and industrial coatings, BMA is copolymerized with other acrylates to tune film flexibility and weather resistance in exterior paints and protective lacquers used in construction. Pressure-sensitive adhesives and sealant formulations incorporate BMA to balance tack and cohesive strength across a range of substrates, ensuring long-lasting bonds in diverse environmental conditions.

Polymer manufacturers use it to produce acrylic resins for injection-molded plastics and extrusion compounds where controlled softness is required for the final structural components. In personal care, BMA-based polymers appear in film-forming systems such as nail coatings and hair fixatives, providing the necessary flexibility and hold for consumer cosmetic products.

Butyl methacrylate is supplied as a clear, inhibited liquid in bulk quantities including IBC totes and ISO tank containers, as well as drum packaging for smaller industrial volumes. It is available in technical and monomer grades, typically stabilized with MEHQ to prevent premature polymerization. Purity specifications of 99%+ are standard for polymer-grade material.