Overview

Polymethylmethacrylate (POL-ee-meth-uhl-meth-AK-rill-ate) is a clear thermoplastic resin used to make windshields, visors, coatings for baths, advertising signs, and contact lenses. It is also widely used in dentistry and medicine. A thermoplastic resin is one that becomes soft when heated and hard when cooled. It can be converted back and forth any number of times between the solid and liquid states by further heating and cooling.

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is more transparent than glass and six to seventeen times more resistant to breakage than glass. Another advantage it has over glass is that, if it does break, it falls apart into dull-edged pieces. PMMA is resistant to water, inorganic acids and bases, but is vulnerable to many organic solvents.

Key Facts

Other Names:

Acrylic, PMMA

Formula:

-[-CH₂C(CH₃)(COOH)CH₂-]-_n

Elements:

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen

Compound Type:

Organic polymer

State:

Solid

Molecular Weight: