Hydroxyethylmethacrylate or HEMA is the monomer that is used to make the polymer polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate. The polymer is hydrophobic; however, when the polymer is subjected to water it will swell due to the molecule's hydrophilic pendant group.
H 1626 (OTTO) 2-Hydroxy ethyl methacrylate, Cas no 868-77-9 - used as a macromonomer for the synthesis of 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate-poly(ε-caprolactone) (HEMA-PCL) by coordinated anionic ring opening polymerization (ROP).