Glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) is an ester of methacrylic acid and glycidol. Containing both an epoxide and an acrylate group, the molecule is bifunctional. It is a common monomer used in the production of epoxy resins. While typical home epoxies contain diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA), glycidyl methacrylate is instead used to provide epoxy functionalization to polyolefins and other acrylate polymers. It is used to prepare a range of composites.
Safety
Glycidyl methacrylate is on World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) list of substances that are probably carcinogenic to humans. It is combustible; its toxic effects upon contact include skin burns and eye damage.
On October 20, 2026, a large industrial chemical tank in Toledo, Ohio containing glycidyl methacrylate ruptured due to an "error while the material was being transferred." The city allowed "the chemical to vent instead of trying to stop the leak, saying that would be more dangerous." This situation led to an evacuation of up to one mile from the tank and a shelter-in-place within three miles of the tank.