Poly(methyl methacrylate)
Transparent thermoplastic, commonly called acrylic / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is the synthetic polymer derived from methyl methacrylate. Being an engineering plastic, it is a transparent thermoplastic. PMMA is also known as acrylic, acrylic glass, as well as by the trade names and brands Crylux, Alfaplas, Plexiglas, Acrylite, Astariglas, Lucite, Perclax, and Perspex, among several others (see below). This plastic is often used in sheet form as a lightweight or shatter-resistant alternative to glass. It can also be used as a casting resin, in inks and coatings, and for many other purposes.
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| Names | |
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| IUPAC name
Poly(methyl 2-methylpropenoate) | |
Other names
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| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) |
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| ChemSpider |
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| ECHA InfoCard | 100.112.313 |
| KEGG | |
| UNII | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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| Properties | |
| (C5O2H8)n | |
| Molar mass | Varies |
| Density | 1.18 g/cm3[1] |
| Melting point | 160 °C (320 °F; 433 K)[2] |
| −9.06×10−6 (SI, 22 °C)[3] | |
Refractive index (nD) |
1.4905 at 589.3 nm[4] |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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It is often technically classified as a type of glass, in that it is a non-crystalline vitreous substance—hence its occasional historic designation as acrylic glass.