Methacrylate
Pronunciation: meth-AK-rə-layt
The ester class of organic compounds derived from methacrylic acid, forming the chemical backbone of most contemporary dental resin systems including bonding agents, cements, and composite matrices.
Full Definition
Methacrylates are esters formed from methacrylic acid and various alcohols, yielding monomers such as methyl methacrylate (MMA), hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), and bisphenol A-glycidyl methacrylate (Bis-GMA). Their polymerisable carbon–carbon double bond (the methacrylate group) undergoes free-radical addition polymerisation upon light or chemical activation. The term is both a class name and, informally, a shorthand for methacrylate-based materials in dental literature. Editors must ensure it is not used interchangeably with 'acrylate', which denotes a chemically distinct though structurally related class. In material names, the suffix '-methacrylate' should remain intact and unhyphenated unless part of a compound modifier.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish 'methacrylate' from 'acrylate'. As a class name, it should appear lowercase unless beginning a sentence. In named compounds (e.g., methyl methacrylate), write out the full IUPAC-aligned name on first use.
In Context
- "Most dental adhesive systems rely on methacrylate monomers that co-polymerise with the resin matrix of the overlying composite." — Adhesive dentistry review article
- "The authors incorrectly used 'acrylate' throughout; since the initiator system and crosslinker were both methacrylate-based, the term should be corrected globally." — Copyediting annotation