Methacrylate

Methacrylate refers to derivatives of methacrylic acid. These derivatives include the parent acid (CH₂C(CH₃)CO₂H), salts (e.g., CH₂C(CH₃)CO₂⁻Na⁺), esters (e.g. CH₂C(CH₃)CO₂CH₃, or methyl methacrylate) and the polymers of these species.

Methacrylates are common monomers in polymer plastics, forming the acrylate polymers. Methacrylates easily form polymers because the double bonds are very reactive. They are used as the monomer resin in some windscreen repair kits, and as bone cement for fixing prosthetic devices in orthopaedic surgery.

The term (meth)acrylate is frequently used as a generic for acrylate and methacrylate.