What is it?
2-Hydroxyethyl acrylate is an acrylic monomer.

What is a monomer? A monomer is a starting material or single unit from which a polymer is built. It refers to the repeat units that make up the polymer chains. Example: Ethylene is the monomer for polyethylene and styrene for polystyrene.

How do I avoid it?
You should avoid any contact with this substance. Avoidance of the monomer (unreacted chemical) is necessary to prevent recurrent allergic contact dermatitis. From a practical viewpoint, this means that you should avoid plastics and glues that are being made, such as in a factory or in industry – as a guideline avoid the plastics and glues when they are in liquid form. Once they are solid (such as touching the finished, solid plastic in every day life, such as a plastic cup or chair) they no longer cause allergy. The full
polymerized (reacted) monomer is no longer a sensitizer. Check the product contents list. 4-H gloves can offer protection but not vinyl or latex gloves.

It is optimal to completely avoid exposure to the ingredients to which you are allergic. If you must be exposed to this acrylate (for example, because of your job), you may try to wear nitrile gloves and change them every 10 minutes. Acrylates pass through nitrile gloves if they are worn for longer periods of time. Other gloves such as rubber latex gloves are less desirable since acrylates pass through them quickly.

Uses:
• Adhesives
• Artificial nails
• Coatings in the automotive, appliance, and metal industries
• Dental embedding medium
• Lacquers
• UV-inks
• Photo-prepolymer printing plate procedure
• Printing ink
• Concrete and cement production

Other names for 2-Hydroxyethyl acrylate:
• 2-HEA
• Beta-Hydroxyethy acrylate
• 2-Hydroxyethyl 2-propenoate
• Ethylene glycol monoacrylate
• HEA
• Acrylic acid 2-hydroxyethyl ester
• Hydroxyethyl acrylate

How safe is it?

Hang tight. We're thinking.