MEAM.Design - Materials - Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA, Acrylic, Plexiglass)
Instron Testing Video and Data
Tension Testing (mov) - Excel Data
Material Properties
| Density | 1.16 | g/cc |
| UTS | 7 (11.5 compression) | kpsi |
| Hardness | - | - |
| Glass transition | 105 | C |
| Melting | 135 | C |
| Boiling | 200 | C |
| Ignite | 460 | C |
| Price point (clear cast) | $3.35 | 3/4" x 12" cast round, smallparts ZCAR-08-12 |
| Price point (fluorescent) | $12.49 | 3/4" x 12" cast round, mcmaster 84925K216 |
| Recycle | NO |
History/Interest
PMMA was first marketed in 1933
It takes 2 kg of petroleum to produce 1kg of PMMA
Properties
92-98% light transmission (rivals glass at 1/2 the weight)
Outstanding weatherability
Poor reactivity
Shatter/impact resistant, but brittle
Uses
Can be used for light redirection (cast has better light properties than molded/extruded)
In MEAM, we use acrylic for just about everything!
Manufacturing
Injection, compression, extrusion molding
Join using cyanoacrylate (superglue), heating, or trichloromethane (dissolves plastic at joint)
Scratches removable by heating
Laser cuts beautifully
Post-maching can polish to high clarity