| HS Code | 880634 |
| Product Name | Methoxyethyl Cyanoacrylate |
| Chemical Name | 2-Methoxyethyl 2-cyanoacrylate |
| Cas Number | 27816-16-6 |
| Molecular Formula | C7H9NO3 |
| Molecular Weight | 155.15 g/mol |
| Appearance | Colorless to pale yellow liquid |
| Odor | Pungent, irritating acrylic odor |
| Physical State At 25 C | Liquid |
| Density | Approximately 1.10 g/cm³ at 25 °C |
| Viscosity | Approximately 2-10 mPa·s at 25 °C |
| Solubility | Reacts with water; soluble in acetone, ethanol, and most organic solvents |
| Reactivity | Rapid anionic polymerization on contact with moisture, bases, or alcohols |
| Boiling Point | Polymerizes before boiling at atmospheric pressure; may distill under reduced pressure |
| Storage | Store refrigerated at 2-8 °C in dry, airtight containers away from light and moisture |
| Toxicity | Irritant to skin, eyes, and respiratory tract; may cause allergic skin reaction |
| Primary Use | Monomer for instant adhesives, coatings, and specialty polymers |
As an accredited Methoxyethyl Cyanoacrylate factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Supplied in 50 g amber glass bottles with child-resistant caps, sealed for safe handling of methoxyethyl cyanoacrylate adhesive. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | Container Loading (20′ FCL): Methoxyethyl Cyanoacrylate in sealed drums on pallets, secured, labeled, documented per IMDG, ensuring safe ocean transport. |
| Shipping | Ship Methoxyethyl Cyanoacrylate as UN 3334, Aviation regulated liquid, n.o.s. (Methoxyethyl cyanoacrylate), Class 9, PG III, for air transport. Use moisture-resistant, tightly sealed packaging; keep cool and dry. Ground/sea shipments may be non-regulated; consult SDS and carrier rules. Follow applicable regulations. |
| Storage | Store Methoxyethyl Cyanoacrylate in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from heat, ignition sources, and direct sunlight. Keep containers tightly sealed, ideally refrigerated at 2–8°C under dry air or nitrogen. Protect from moisture and incompatible substances such as water, alcohols, amines, alkalis, and polymerization initiators. Use appropriate secondary containment and follow manufacturer’s instructions. |
| Shelf Life | Methoxyethyl cyanoacrylate typically has a 12-month shelf life when unopened and stored cool, dry, away from moisture and light. |
In acoustic component assembly lines running 2.5 s to 4.5 s takt times, methoxyethyl cyanoacrylate (MECA)-based adhesives are dispensed through 25G or 27G precision needles at 0.15 MPa to 0.30 MPa from piston-driven benchtop robots. The monomer choice reduces white blooming on nano-coated diaphragm edges because the methoxyethyl ester has a lower vapour pressure than ethyl cyanoacrylate at room-temperature dispensing. A production formula is compounded at 70 wt% to 85 wt% MECA with 10 wt% to 20 wt% poly(methyl methacrylate) thickener and 50 ppm to 150 ppm acid stabiliser; viscosity is held between 80 mPa·s and 300 mPa·s at 25 °C for clean shut-off without stringing. Adhesive is applied to polyurethane surrounds and PET dampeners under controlled 40% to 60% relative humidity. Bond-line thickness is maintained at 0.03 mm to 0.08 mm using a fixture depth stop. Destructive audits are run at 24 h cure on polycarbonate coupons according to ASTM D3163-01, and the release limit is set from line-specific capability data rather than a generic catalogue value. The terminal application is a sealed acoustic module for consumer electronics; compliance records reference RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU for the cured adhesive layer and IEC 62321-7-1:2015 for restricted-substance screening where a customer audit trail requires documentation.
Unlike ethyl cyanoacrylate, MECA forms a less brittle interfacial mass in fine hair-fiber bonding; this is exploited in eyelash extension adhesive sold as a 5 mL HDPE bottle with a 0.2 mm brush cap. A production batch contains 80 wt% to 90 wt% MECA, 5 wt% to 10 wt% fumed silica with dimethyldichlorosilane surface treatment, and 1 wt% to 3 wt% high-molecular-weight PMMA. Cure speed is set at 2 s to 3 s at 50% RH by adjusting acid stabiliser concentration; amine accelerators are excluded because they cause haze and shorten shelf life below the required 12 month storage window at 4 °C. The process uses a single-use brush applicator with a 0.2 mm dip depth and a bond line of 0.05 mm to 0.15 mm. Post-cure wear resistance is screened on a motorised silicone pad rubbing fixture at 0.5 N normal force for 100 cycles; final product performance is controlled by a product-specific safety assessment under EU Cosmetic Regulation 1223/2009, because no positive list entry for MECA exists. Published data for MECA-specific eye irritation from production-use exposure are limited; local exhaust ventilation is retained at bench-level dispensing stations.
MECA-containing topical skin adhesive is prepared as a sterile liquid in single-use crushable glass ampoules or aluminium tubes fitted with a 2 cm polyethylene cannula. Monomer content is above 85 wt%, with the balance consisting of a stabiliser system and, where required, a small amount of plasticiser. The device is applied as a 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm film over approximated wound edges; polymerisation begins within 20 s to 60 s at 35 °C skin temperature and ambient humidity above 30%. Cure-depth uniformity is limited by water concentration at the skin surface, not by oxygen inhibition common in free-radical systems; dry skin retards cure whereas exudative skin may form a rapid surface skin that entraps uncured monomer beneath. The finished product is evaluated under ISO 10993-1:2018 with ISO 10993-5:2009 for cytotoxicity and ISO 10993-10:2021 for irritation and sensitisation, along with ISO 14971:2019 for risk management. Batch release includes sterility, viscosity at 25 °C, and set time on gelatin substrates; published data for MECA-specific topical formulations remain limited, so the design dossier must link each critical parameter to a validated method rather than to a monograph value.
| Requirement | Standard / method | Applicable downstream category |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic lap-shear adhesion | ASTM D3163-01 | optical housing, acoustic module |
| Metal lap shear | ASTM D1002-10 | metal collar-to-polycarbonate assembly |
| Cured film tensile properties | ASTM D638-14 | flexible cord stock, eyelash extension adhesive |
| Standard conditioning atmosphere | ASTM D618-21 | all structural joints |
| Cytotoxicity | ISO 10993-5:2009 | topical skin adhesive, microfluidic chip |
| Irritation and sensitisation | ISO 10993-10:2021 | topical skin adhesive |
| Leachables extraction | ISO 10993-12:2021 | microfluidic chip, medical device |
| Restricted substance screening | IEC 62321-7-1:2015 | electronics and electrical subassemblies |
For optical sensor housings where the bond line is visible through a clear polycarbonate window, MECA is dispensed by 30-gauge stainless-steel needles in a 0.2 mm dot pattern. The grade contains 95 wt% MECA and 5 wt% acrylic-rubber toughener; no fumed silica is used because surface haze must remain below the inspection threshold set by the optical OEM. The conveyor line runs at 18 cycles/min, and fixture dwell is 20 s to 30 s at 45% to 55% RH. Housings are then transferred to a humidity chamber at 60% RH for 24 h before optical testing. Rapid surface cure at high humidity must be avoided because a closed skin prevents volatiles from venting and creates a gas-entrapped band that is visible as a white line along the bond. Joint strength is measured by ASTM D1002-10 on stainless-steel laps and by ASTM D3163-01 on polycarbonate laps; the polycarbonate test is the release control because it detects substrate stress cracking. The terminal subassembly is a clear polycarbonate optical sensor housing with a bonded metal collar, supplied as an OEM subsystem for industrial scanner assembly.
Lab-on-chip lamination lines use MECA applied by pin transfer from a flat printing head to a 0.5 mm wide bonding ring on a PMMA or cyclic-olefin copolymer base plate. Monomer content is kept above 90 wt% to reduce extractable additives; the remaining fraction contains only stabiliser and a volatile-free viscosity modifier. Pin transfer is used instead of spraying to avoid aerosolised monomer accumulation on the optical detection channel. The chip is mated to a cover plate at 25 °C and 50% RH with a bond gap of 5 µm to 10 µm. Cure occurs in 2 min at 50% RH, followed by a dry-air purge for 12 h at 25 °C to reduce uncured monomer odour. Leachables in the final bonded chip are assessed according to ISO 10993-12:2021 extraction methodology before biocompatibility endpoints are considered. Published data for MECA-specific leachable profiles are limited; each chip producer must generate an extractables library because monomer-feedstock impurities are batch-dependent. The end product is a sealed polymer microfluidic chip used in in vitro diagnostic workflows where low autofluorescence and bond-line clarity are mandatory.
On cable-assembly workstations, MECA is applied to thermoplastic elastomer cord stock prior to insertion into an ABS connector boot. The adhesive is formulated with 75 wt% to 85 wt% MECA and 15 wt% to 25 wt% of an aliphatic polyester urethane thickener to give a cured layer with elongation at break above 100% when tested per ASTM D638-14. Surfaces are wiped with isopropanol and dried for 10 s; no organometallic primer is used for TPE with durometer below 85A. Bond-line thickness is held at 0.10 mm to 0.20 mm by inserting the cord through a close-tolerance bore in the connector boot. Full handling strength is reached in 60 s to 120 s at 60% RH, but final load-bearing strength is not measured until after 24 h moisture conditioning per ASTM D618-21. The process boundary is set by substrate plasticiser content: if the TPE contains more than 20 wt% plasticiser, migration to the bond line becomes visible within 48 h and adhesion falls below the predefined release limit. The terminal product is a wire harness with retained bend relief; the cured adhesive is screened for restricted plasticisers under REACH Article 33 when the harness enters the EU market.
Competitive Methoxyethyl Cyanoacrylate prices that fit your budget—flexible terms and customized quotes for every order.
For samples, pricing, or more information, please contact us at +8615380400285 or mail to sales2@ascent-chem.com.
We will respond to you as soon as possible.
Tel: +8615380400285
Email: sales2@ascent-chem.com
Flexible payment, competitive price, premium service - Inquire now!
Methoxyethyl cyanoacrylate (MECA; CAS 27816-23-5, molecular formula C7H9NO3, molecular weight 155.15 g/mol) is a 2-cyanoacrylic acid ester in which the ester substituent is a 2-methoxyethyl group. The monomer is supplied as a water-white to pale-yellow liquid stabilized with an acidic inhibitor system, typically including sulfur dioxide, methanesulfonic acid, or a proprietary stabilizer combination. The methoxyethyl side chain lowers equilibrium vapor pressure relative to methyl and ethyl cyanoacrylates, reducing evaporative monomer loss, operator exposure, and white bloom deposition on surrounding surfaces. Unfilled monomer viscosity at 25 °C is generally 5–20 mPa·s; formulated grades containing thickeners or elastomeric modifiers range from approximately 100 mPa·s to thixotropic gels with low-shear viscosity of 20,000–50,000 mPa·s. Cure proceeds by anionic polymerization initiated through surface moisture and weak base sites, with fixture speed dependent on substrate basicity, ambient relative humidity, and the acid stabilizer content of the monomer. The alkoxy side chain disrupts ordered packing in the cured polymer and provides moderate flexibility compared with lower alkyl cyanoacrylates.
Relative to methyl cyanoacrylate and ethyl cyanoacrylate, the methoxyethyl homologue has a higher molecular volume and a second oxygen atom in the ester side chain. This changes volatility, odor, wetting behavior on polar plastics, and the mechanical response of cured film. The lower vapor pressure of MECA at ambient temperature reduces the airborne monomer concentration responsible for haze formation on black or transparent parts. The added ether oxygen increases affinity for polycarbonate, poly(vinyl chloride), and thermoplastic polyurethane surfaces, but reduces lap shear strength on metals when compared with ethyl cyanoacrylate. Table 1 summarizes comparative data for the three monomers using typical unfilled adhesive formulations tested under identical conditions.
| Attribute | Methyl cyanoacrylate | Ethyl cyanoacrylate | Methoxyethyl cyanoacrylate |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAS registry number | 137-05-3 | 7085-85-0 | 27816-23-5 |
| Molecular weight | 111.10 g/mol | 125.13 g/mol | 155.15 g/mol |
| Bloom tendency on open bench at 40 % RH | high | moderate | low |
| Odor intensity during manual assembly | sharp | moderate | low |
| Tensile shear on grit-blasted mild steel per ASTM D1002-10 | 18–24 MPa | 15–22 MPa | 8–14 MPa |
| Elongation at break per ASTM D638-14 V | 1–3 % | 2–5 % | 4–10 % |
The comparative mechanical values in Table 1 are typical supplier datasheet ranges for unfilled cyanoacrylate films cured for 24 h at 23 °C and 50 % RH; formulation modifiers, substrate cleaning procedures, and joint geometry shift these ranges. Published data for this specific configuration is limited, and the ranges should be verified for a particular commercial model.
For incoming quality control of unfilled MECA monomer, the ranges in Table 2 are typical acceptance criteria used by industrial formulators. The values apply to stabilized monomer conditioned at 23 °C. Commercial model designations are supplier-specific and are usually based on viscosity class, inhibitor level, and industrial or medical testing status rather than on a universal numerical code.
| Parameter | Typical range or limit | Test method or equipment |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Clear, colourless to pale yellow liquid | Visual inspection |
| Viscosity at 25 °C | 5–20 mPa·s for unfilled monomer; 20,000–50,000 mPa·s for gel grade at 20 rpm | Brookfield rotational viscometer, LV spindles |
| Density at 20 °C | 1.10–1.16 g/cm³ | ASTM D792-20 |
| Water content | ≤0.5 wt% | ASTM D6304 Karl Fischer titration |
| Tensile shear on grit-blasted mild steel | 8–14 MPa | ASTM D1002-10, universal testing machine, crosshead speed 10 mm/min |
| Fixture time on polycarbonate at 40–60 % RH | 20–60 s | Internal fixture-time test, fixed 10 N contact load |
| Stabilizer content | acidic stabilizer present | pH and titration according to supplier method |
Medical-device grades of MECA are typically supplied with lot-specific certificates of analysis and may be tested according to ISO 10993-5 for cytotoxicity. Industrial grades that must enter consumer markets may require REACH registration documentation and compliance with RoHS restrictions for lead, cadmium, mercury, and chromium VI. Because MECA is a reactive monomer, the stated numerical ranges are not product guarantees; they represent acceptance windows that must be re-validated after any change in stabilizer package or storage age.
In optical assembly, black cosmetic parts, and medical-device bonding where airborne monomer condensation must be minimized, MECA is specified because the vapor pressure at room temperature is lower than that of ethyl cyanoacrylate. The adhesive is applied through precision pneumatic or volumetric dispensing valves at 0.2–0.5 MPa using luer-lock polyethylene reservoirs. Parts are held under ambient conditions of 40–60 % RH until fixture; on clean polycarbonate or ABS, fixture typically occurs in 20–60 s. Full mechanical strength is usually achieved after 24 h at 23 °C and 50 % RH. For porous, acidic, or low-energy substrates, a surface activator or primer may be required to accelerate cure. When medical-grade tubing or device components are bonded, the selected MECA grade should be qualified after exposure to the terminal sterilization method, because residual monomer can interact with gamma radiation or ethylene oxide and produce hazy residues or altered joint strength.
Production-scale dispensing of MECA requires closed reservoirs and pinch-valve or valve-nozzle systems. Open reservoirs allow low-level monomer evaporation, which contaminates optical sensors and builds white polymer deposits on process guarding. Batch-to-batch viscosity variation in unfilled MECA is typically controlled within ±1 mPa·s at 25 °C for a single supplier lot; gel grades show wider low-shear variation and require vacuum mixing in planetary mixers to prevent moisture entrainment and premature polymerization. On high-speed assembly lines, the viscosity and fixture speed are monitored with disposable viscosity cups and instrumented contact-load fixtures. Surface contamination is a major process variable: silicone oils, mold release residues, and plasticizing additives must be removed with isopropanol or heptane before bonding. Polypropylene and polyethylene require corona or plasma pretreatment to generate surface oxygen species; without such treatment, peel strength is generally too low for structural performance.
Unstabilized MECA polymerizes rapidly in the presence of primary and secondary amines, alkaline substrates, and excess moisture. Solvent wiping with alkaline cleaners must be avoided because residual alkalinity causes color change, viscosity drift, and early gelling in dispensing lines. For critical bond lines at RH above 60 %, pre-drying of parts is required to limit skin formation on the adhesive bead. The product is not recommended for continuous immersion in water above 40 °C or for bond gaps greater than 0.25 mm unless a thixotropic, filled grade is used. Plasticizer migration from flexible PVC and vinyl substrates can reduce bond strength over long-term aging; elevated-temperature exposure at 60 °C accelerates this failure mode. MECA also exhibits lower shear strength on steel and aluminum than ethyl cyanoacrylate, so applications requiring high metal-to-metal shear strength should use an ethyl or methyl grade unless low bloom and low odor are the controlling requirements.
