Poly(methyl acrylate)
Poly is a hydrophobic synthetic acrylate polymer.
PMA, though softer than polymethyl methacrylate, is tough, leathery, and flexible.
It has a low glass-transition temperature about 10°C.
High-energy radiation leads to cross linking in PMA. However in polymethyl methacrylate, a compound similar to PMA, degradation occurs instead.
It is soluble in dimethyl sulfoxide.
PMA is water-sensitive and unlike PMMA, is not stable against alkalies.
It is used as macroinitiator to initiate the copolymerisation of HEMA and DMAEMA.
Also used in leather finishing and textiles.
