Blog

The development of modern industry has been driven by innovations in construction materials and manufacturing. PMMA plastic is no exception. Let's EuroPlas explore how this type of plastic has revolutionized various industries, from automotive to product design and many other fields.

1. What is PMMA used for? What does PMMA stand for?

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is a synthetic resin created through the polymerization of methyl methacrylate. PMMA, also known as Acrylic, is produced from key compounds like methacrylic acid or acrylic acid.

With its transparency and hardness, PMMA is often used as an alternative to glass in various applications. Common applications of PMMA include shatter-resistant windows, skylights, illuminated signs, and aircraft canopies.

In the modern era, acrylic plastic finds applications in a wide range of fields, with manufacturers taking advantage of its natural transparency and impact resistance in certain variations. Common applications include lenses, acrylic nails, paints, security barriers, medical equipment, LCD screens, and furniture. Its transparency also makes it a popular choice for windows, aquariums, and partitions in display items.

Recently, PMMA has been used to create a magnifying glass by machining a solid square piece of acrylic into a lens and 3D-printing the handle.

Acrylic is often produced in various colors, and its raw material allows light to pass through almost as effectively as glass, making it an excellent substitute. This is similar to Polycarbonate. Some key differences include the fact that acrylic does not contain the potentially harmful bisphenol-A (BPA), while Polycarbonate tends to have higher impact resistance.

Acrylic is readily available and cost-effective. It serves as a good alternative to Polycarbonate when material durability is not the deciding factor. Acrylic is sometimes laminated onto Polycarbonate (PC) to achieve the scratch resistance of acrylic and the impact resistance of PC. Some types of bulletproof glass are manufactured in this manner, with the PC providing bullet resistance and the outer layer of acrylic preventing scratches during everyday use.

 What is PMMA used for? What does PMMA stand for?

Read more: What is compounding in polymer? Common types of polymer compounding

2. 10 Uses of Acrylic

Acrylic plastic is one of the most commonly used plastic materials and is distributed by most plastic manufacturers. Common applications of this type of engineering plastic include skylights, non-glass display cabinets, and bulletproof windows. Acrylic is also commonly referred to as Plexiglass.

2.1. Home improvement

Acrylic is widely used in interior decoration, especially in making furniture such as chairs, tables, kitchen cabinets, shelves, room dividers, and more. Acrylic's high gloss provides an elegant and modern look to living spaces.

• Chairs: Acrylic is used for living room, dining room, bedroom, etc., chairs due to its high gloss, adding a touch of elegance and modernity to living spaces.
• Kitchen Cabinets: Acrylic is employed for kitchen cabinets, wardrobes, etc., thanks to its high durability, good impact resistance, and ease of cleaning.
• Shelves, Room Dividers: Acrylic is used for bookshelves, decorative shelves, room dividers, etc., due to its high transparency, making spaces appear more open and airy.
• Decorative Materials: Acrylic is used for paintings, sculptures, lamps, etc., offering a variety of colors and patterns, enhancing aesthetic beauty in living spaces.

Uses of acrylic - home improvement

2.2. Sports equipment

Acrylic is used in various sports equipment, such as:

• Table Tennis Tops: Acrylic is used for table tennis tops, allowing the ball to move quickly and smoothly.
• Basketball Backboards: Acrylic is used for basketball backboards, allowing the ball to bounce high and stay stable.
• Gym Benches: Acrylic is used for gym benches, providing comfortable seating for users.

Acrylic has high durability, good impact resistance, ensuring safety for users. Its durable yet lightweight nature makes it useful for sports equipment, including sports shoes, tennis racket handles, and even bicycle helmets. Along with carbon fiber, acrylic plastic is one of the most widely used plastic applications in sports equipment.

Uses of acrylic - sports equipment

2.3. Transparent applications

Acrylic is as transparent as glass but lighter and easier to work with. Acrylic is used as transparent material for applications like:

• Signboards: Acrylic is used for signboards, attracting the attention of passersby.
• Room Dividers: Acrylic is used as office partitions, in restaurants, etc., making spaces appear more spacious and airy.
• Windows: Acrylic is used for windows, making spaces brighter and more modern.
• Acrylic is also commonly used for skylights, bulletproof glass, and non-glass display cabinets.

Plastic suppliers have successfully demonstrated that acrylic possesses properties similar to glass and is not prone to breakage. Custom-made sneeze guards or high-quality acrylic protection panels are made to order, offering a durable alternative to glass.

Uses of acrylic - transparent applications

2.4. Fish tanks

Materials similar to rigid glass are used as windows to view sharks in fish tanks, often made from acrylic plastic or custom-cut perspex. There are several material choices available to replace glass for this application; however, acrylic plastic has proven to excel in meeting the technical specifications at a price point nearly half that of similar materials.

Uses of acrylic - fish tanks

2.5. Military use

Acrylic offers high transparency, allowing users to observe marine life clearly. Additionally, acrylic is lighter than glass, making it easy to install and transport.

Whether breaking sound barriers or diving deep into the ocean, acrylic panels are often used by the military – from submarine windows to parts of aircraft cockpits. Due to its adaptability, high-pressure resistance, and transparency, acrylic is frequently used in military and other applications.

Uses of acrylic - military use

2.6. Keratoplasty

Keratoplasty, also known as corneal transplant surgery, is performed in cases where the cornea deteriorates to restore proper vision.

Essentially, a deteriorated cornea is replaced with an artificial cornea made from acrylic plastic. Acrylic provides clear vision and the necessary protection for the inner eye, while maintaining a comfortable fit for years.

Furthermore, PMMA is also applied in other medical fields such as:

• Fluorescent Light Lens: Acrylic is used to create fluorescent light lenses. Acrylic lenses help focus the light from fluorescent lights, improving lighting efficiency.
• Dental Materials: Acrylic is used to create dental tools such as dentures and bridges. Acrylic is highly durable, withstands forces well, and is easy to clean.
• Other Medical Materials: Acrylic is used to produce various medical instruments such as syringes and tubing. Acrylic is highly safe and does not cause skin irritation.

Uses of acrylic - keratoplasty

2.7. Waterproof paint

Plastic is an excellent product in terms of weather resistance because it does not absorb water. You will notice that when water is poured onto a plastic surface, it beads up. This is the idea behind acrylic paint.

Adding a small amount of acrylic plastic to paint creates a similar effect to a plastic surface - water does not soak into the paint, helping it resist damage from water. The most common type of acrylic paint is automotive paint.

In addition to waterproof paint, acrylic is also used to create decorative materials such as paintings, sculptures, lamps, etc. Acrylic comes in various colors and patterns, enhancing the aesthetic beauty of living spaces.

Uses of acrylic - waterproof paint

2.8. Optical fiber

In the early days of optical fiber cable systems, the cable ends were covered with glass. This was done to protect the actual optical cable while still allowing light to pass through the cable and transmit data from point A to point B.

Today, the use of acrylic plastic has begun to dominate in the field of fiber optics. Acrylic offers similar benefits to glass. However, this approach also brings an additional crucial advantage as acrylic remains intact when bent or stretched directly at the point where the glass would break.

Uses of acrylic - optical fiber

2.9. Artistic sculpture

Glass sculpture and stained glass windows are magnificent works of art that showcase technical skill and creative talent. However, similar works can also be crafted using acrylic plastic instead of glass.

Acrylic plastic lasts longer in natural conditions and is less prone to damage from accidents, mishaps, or time. Moreover, acrylic plastic has the advantage over glass in terms of ease of molding and is sure to create many beautiful artistic masterpieces.

Uses of acrylic - artistic sculpture

2.10. Fluorescent light lenses

Fluorescent lighting has been carefully studied in recent years due to the large amount of blue light it emits. Because fluorescent light is associated with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and insomnia.

For this reason, in recent years, acrylic plastic has been manufactured into lenses that can fit any fluorescent lamp to soften the light and eliminate blue light. This will contribute significantly to protecting the health of users as well as the superior applicability of acrylic in daily life.

Uses of acrylic - fluorescent light lenses

Acrylic is a versatile material with numerous advantages and diverse applications. With its outstanding benefits, acrylic is increasingly being used in various fields of everyday life.