[5] Hydroxyethylmethacrylate is completely miscible with water and ethanol, but its polymer is practically insoluble in common solvents.

[6] In 1960, O. Wichterle and D. Lím[7] described its use in synthesis of hydrophilic crosslinked networks, and these results had great importance for manufacture of soft contact lenses.

[8] Hydroxyethylmethacrylate lends itself well to applications in 3D printing as it cures quickly at room temperature when exposed to UV light in the presence of photoinitiators.

[9] When combined with a suitable blowing agent such as BOC anhydride it forms a foaming resin which expands when heated.

[4][3] When treated with polyisocyanates, polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate makes a crosslinked polymer, an acrylic resin, that is a useful component in some paints.