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| Synonyms:TEGDMA TEDMA、TGM 3 Triethylene Glycol Bis(methacrylate) 1,2-Bis[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethoxy]ethane 2,2'-Ethylenedioxydiethyl dimethacrylate Methacrylic acid, diester with triethylene glycol NK Ester 3G Molecular Formula: C14H22O6 Molecular Weight: 286.32 HS Code: 2916140090 Grade: Industrial grade99% Hazard Class:General Cargo | |||||||||
109-16-0
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109-16-0
Triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA; CAS 109-16-0) is a low-viscosity, hydrophilic, difunctional methacrylic monomer — a short triethylene glycol chain capped at both ends with polymerizable methacrylate groups. As a liquid at room temperature (melting point −52 °C) with outstanding compatibility with viscous dimethacrylate resins, it is the benchmark diluent co-monomer in dental restorative composites and dentin bonding agents, and a crosslinking monomer for adhesives, responsive hydrogels, copolymers and UV-curable systems. Its two reactive double bonds make it a true crosslinker that builds three-dimensional networks during radical or photo-initiated polymerization.
Core value propositions:
● Low-Viscosity Diluent: cuts the viscosity of viscous dimethacrylate resins for easy handling;
● Dual-Reactive Crosslinker: two methacrylate C=C ends for dense network formation;
● Benchmark in Dental Resins: established co-monomer in composites and bonding agents;
● Hydrophilic & Compatible: water uptake and resin compatibility for balanced formulation.
Item | Specification |
Chemical Name | 2-Methyl-2-propenoic acid, 1,2-ethanediylbis(oxy-2,1-ethanediyl) ester (triethylene glycol dimethacrylate) |
Synonyms | TEGDMA; TEDMA; triethylene glycol dimethacrylate; TGM-3; NK Ester 3G |
CAS No. | 109-16-0 |
EC No. | 203-652-6 |
Molecular Formula | C₁₄H₂₂O₆ |
Molecular Weight | 286.32 g/mol |
Appearance | Colorless to pale-yellow oily liquid; melting point −52 °C; density ≈ 1.092 g/mL at 25 °C |
Solubility | Soluble in chloroform and methanol; water solubility ≈ 3.6 g/L at 20 °C (LogP ≈ 2.3); low volatility |
Assay | Per COA (typical ≥ 99% by GC;) |
Triethylene glycol dimethacrylate consists of a triethylene glycol backbone — three ethylene-oxy units (−OCH₂CH₂−) — terminated at both ends by methacrylate ester groups, giving the structure CH₂=C(CH₃)COO−(CH₂CH₂O)₃−COC(CH₃)=CH₂. Both ends carry a polymerizable methacrylate double bond (C=C), so the molecule behaves as a divinylic crosslinker: during radical or photo-initiated polymerization each double bond adds into growing chains, bridging them into a three-dimensional network. The short, flexible, hydrophilic triethylene glycol segment confers three practical traits: a low viscosity that lets it dilute viscous dimethacrylate systems such as Bis-GMA resins; a moderate hydrophilicity that promotes wetting and water uptake in cured networks; and an ester linkage geometry that is susceptible to slow hydrolysis in aqueous media — a recognized factor in the aging of dental resin restorations. The monomer is a colorless to pale-yellow oil with a melting point of −52 °C, refractive index about 1.46, low volatility, and light-sensitive storage requirements; commercial material carries a small amount of polymerization inhibitor to ensure stability.
● Low viscosity: fluid at room temperature, ideal diluent for viscous dimethacrylate resins.
● Dual methacrylate functionality: two reactive C=C ends for dense crosslinked networks.
● Benchmark dental monomer: established co-monomer in composites and dentin bonding agents.
● Hydrophilic character: water uptake improves wetting and hydrolytic integration in formulations.
● UV/radical curable: compatible with photoinitiator and redox cure systems.
● Low volatility: cleaner handling and processing than volatile acrylate monomers.
● Consistent quality: assay, viscosity, inhibitor content and appearance controlled per batch.
5.1 Dental Restorative Materials (Core Application)
TEGDMA is the standard diluent co-monomer in modern dental resin systems:
● Composite resins: low-viscosity co-monomer in dimethacrylate-based dental composites.
● Dentin bonding agents: key monomer in adhesion systems for restorative dentistry.
● Aesthetic restoration: resins for teeth impaired by caries, erosion or fracture.
● Cure performance: balanced reactivity for photo-cured clinical materials.
5.2 Adhesives & Crosslinking Resins
As a difunctional methacrylic monomer, TEGDMA serves as a crosslinker in adhesives:
● Crosslinking agent: bridges polymer chains in adhesive and sealant formulations.
● UV-curable adhesives: reactive diluent and crosslinker in light-curing systems.
● High-strength bonding: network density improves cohesion and durability.
5.3 Hydrogels & Smart Materials
The hydrophilic, difunctional structure makes TEGDMA a crosslinker for responsive gels:
● Stimuli-responsive hydrogels: crosslinker in poly(methacrylic acid-g-ethylene glycol) gels.
● Responsive swelling: networks that swell reversibly with pH, temperature and solvent changes.
● Biomedical materials research: model crosslinker for functional hydrogel development.
5.4 Copolymer & Specialty Polymer Systems
TEGDMA participates in established copolymer chemistries:
● Divinylic co-monomer: copolymerization with divinylbenzene (DVB), glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA).
● Branching agent: branching in atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene.
5.5 Coatings, Printing & Packaging
Acrylate/methacrylate chemistry is a backbone of the coatings and printing industry:
● Coatings and inks: reactive monomer in UV/EB-curable coating and printing systems.
● Food packaging materials: methacrylate ester chemistry in packaging-related coatings and adhesives.
● Radiation curing: fast-curing formulations for industrial finishing.
Packaging (customizable):
● Standard: 25 kg and 200 kg HDPE drums
Storage:
● Store refrigerated (2–8 °C) in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area — the monomer is light-sensitive;
● Keep containers tightly closed, away from light, heat, sparks and open flames;
● Keep away from strong oxidizers, peroxides and polymerization initiators;
● Monomer contains inhibitor (MEHQ-type); avoid prolonged storage without inhibitor check;
● Recommended shelf life under proper storage: check COA (typically 12–24 months from production).
● Factory-direct supply: own sourcing and distribution capability, transparent pricing, no middleman markup.
● Stable quality: every batch tested (assay, viscosity, inhibitor content, appearance), COA with every shipment.
● Fast response: quotations and technical support; small trial orders accepted.
Q1: What is triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) used for?
TEGDMA is a low viscosity difunctional methacrylic monomer, used mainly as a diluent co-monomer and crosslinker. It is the benchmark co-monomer in dental composites and dentin bonding agents, a cross-linking monomer in adhesives and UV-curable systems, a crosslinker for responsive hydrogels and a co-monomer in speciality copolymers and coatings.
Q2: Why is TEGDMA used in dental composites?
Dental base resins such as Bis-GMA are highly viscous. TEGDMA's short, flexible triethylene glycol chain keeps it fluid at room temperature, so it dilutes the base resin to a workable, curable paste while its two methacrylate double bonds co-polymerize into the same network — raising crosslink density without sacrificing handling.
Q3: How is TEGDMA different from PEGDMA?
TEGDMA is a discrete molecule with a fixed short backbone — exactly three ethylene-oxy units (CAS 109-16-0). PEGDMA (poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate, CAS 25852-47-5) is a polymer-grade monomer whose backbone length varies with the PEG segment (PEG 200 to PEG 20,000), so its viscosity, hydrophilicity and cured-network properties are tunable. TEGDMA's fixed short chain gives reproducible low viscosity and is the dental-industry standard; PEGDMA is chosen when longer-chain flexibility and hydrogel behavior are needed.
