Paraloid B-72 is a copolymer of ethyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate that was originally produced by Rohm & Haas in 1950. It has a glass transition temperature of 40°C and is used as a consolidant for paintings, wood, plaster, and other materials in conservation, as well as for adhering fossils, ceramics and glass. It also has industrial uses as a medium for inks and coatings.

1. Paraloid B-72
David Minatra

2. Name Variations
Acryloid B-72
Until 1997
Paraloid B-72

3. Chemical Components
Copolymer
•Ethyl Methacrylate
•Methyl Methacrylate

4. Polymerization

6. Basic Info
• Originally
produced by the
Rohm & Haas
company in
1950.
• Rohm & Haas
was bought out
by DOW in
September of
2009.

7. Chemical Info
Ethyl Methacrylate
• Molecular Formula
 C6H10O2
• Molecular Weight
 114.14
• Boiling Point
 117 C
• Melting Point
 -75 C
• Density
 0.9135
Methyl Methacrylate
• Molecular Formula
 C5H8O2
 CH2:C(CH3)COOCH3
• Molecular Weight
 100.12
• Boiling Point
 100C (212F)
• Melting Point
 -48C (-54F)
• Density
 0.944

8. Paraloid B-72
• Weight Average Molecular Weight
 65,128 Mw
 the most relevant average molecular weight is the total weight of
polymer divided by the number of polymer molecules
• Number Average Molecular Weight
 11,397 Mn
 replace the appearance of the number of polymers of molecular
weight i or Ni in the number average molecular weight formula with
the weight of polymer having molecular weight i or NiMi
 MN is the average Mi weighted according to number
 fractions and that MW is the average Mi weighted according to
weight fractions
• Glass Transition Temperature (Tg)
 40°C (104°F)
• Density
 .66g/cm^3
• Ignition Temperature
 393C
• Not Really Applicable
 Boiling Point
 Melting Point

9. Industrial Uses
• Medium for flexible ink and
aerosol sprays
• General purpose clear and
pigmented coatings for masonry
and cloth
• Finishing metal furniture and
cabinets
• Phosphorescent and luminescent
pigments.

10. Conservational Uses
• Consolidant for paint both locally
and for overall impregnation of oil
paintings and wall paintings
• Inpainting medium
• Consolidant for wood, plaster,
stone, and ethnographic objects
• Adhesive for ceramics and glass
• Fixative for pencil, charcoal, and
chalk drawings and pastels

11. Fossil Preservation

13. References
• Davidson, Amy; Alderson, Samantha; An Introduction to
Solution and Reaction Adhesives for Fossil Preparation;
Methods In Fossil Preparation: Proceedings of the First
Annual Fossil Preparation and Collections Symposium; pp 53-
62; United States; 2009.
• Davidson, Amy; Alderson, Samantha; Assembling an Archival
Marketing Kit for Paleontological Specimens; Journal of
Vertebrate Paleontology; September 2006, 54A.
• Davidson, Amy; Removing Fossil Ribs: The Thread Technique;
Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology; September 2008; 69A.
• Edenbaum, Jesse; Plastics Additives and Modifiers
Handbook; Van Nostrand Reinhold: New York; 1992.
• Horie, Velson; Adhesives for Natural Science Specimens;
Natural Science Collections Association News; 2009; issue
16.
• Koob, Stephen P.; The Use of Paraloid B-72 as an Adhesive:
Its Application for Archaeological Ceramics and Other
Materials; Studies in Conservation, Vol. 31, No. 1. (Feb.,
1986), pp. 7-14.