In order to meet the needs of the market, many companies and research institutions will develop materials of various colors, strength, and flexibility.
The diversity of materials makes users have more choices, which is certainly a good thing, but many people are confused and cannot distinguish the difference between the two, whether they are the same material or not.
Many people question the commonly used acrylic, which looks like glass from a distance and plastic from a close distance, and its name is also called acrylic. Is it glass or plastic?
What is acrylic
Acrylic is our most common name for this material, which is also called polymethyl methacrylate. Its English name is Polymethyl methacrylate, which is called PMMA after English translation. Its full name is polymethyl methacrylate, and its raw material belongs to acrylic chemicals.
In general, in addition to using acrylic board, we also have acrylic cotton, acrylic yarn, acrylic nylon, and so on. Acrylic board is made by mixing acrylic acid and other acrylic fibers, and the two are not the same.
In many cases, acrylic is considered a new material. In fact, the birth of acrylic has been more than a hundred years. This chemical polymer was introduced in 1872, and acrylic plates were synthesized in the laboratory in 1920. In 1927, acrylic plates were also completed in factories. Initially, acrylic was only used for airplanes, but with the continuous improvement of technology, acrylic was gradually applied to various fields.
At present, acrylic products have become the main raw materials in many industries, such as instruments, car lights, optical lenses, transparent pipes, handicrafts, etc.
Characteristics of acrylic
The light transmittance of acrylic is high, up to 92%, and that of ordinary glass is only 85%, which can reach the light transmittance of optical glass, and even after dyeing, it can maintain good light transmittance, thus improving the display and beauty of acrylic.
Due to the unique nature of the material, the hardness of acrylic is more than ten times higher than that of ordinary glass, which can be said to be hard. Acrylic makes things very sturdy, while transparent things are most afraid of being scratched. Acrylic has a high hardness and is also the most wear-resistant type.
Acrylic will soften at 113 degrees Celsius, reaching 160 degrees Celsius. This temperature gives it high plasticity and can easily be made into various shapes.
Acrylic is the most ideal outdoor material for temperature, humidity, acid, and alkali resistance.
What you think of as glass is plastic
Acrylic belongs to a type of polymer material that has been polymerized, which is also a thermoplastic. Yes, you are not mistaken, it is a type of plastic.
Acrylic is made by polymerization of monomeric methacrylic resin. What is the difference between acrylic and other plastics? Why is it called "glass"?
This is still because acrylic and glass have many similar characteristics, some better than glass, some better, and can perfectly compensate for glass defects.
In many industries, transparent materials are the most common, but due to traditional glass being too heavy or fragile, designers and manufacturers often choose this transparent polymer material.
And acrylic happens to have these characteristics of glass or transparent materials, but it is indeed not glass, so it is called organic glass.