Acrylic (PMMA)
Acrylic Used in Plastic Injection Molding
Poly(methyl methacrylate), also known as acrylic, is a clear thermoplastic homopolymer often used as a more resistant alternative to glass. Acrylic is the most common type of clear, moldable plastic available to the general public, and it can be used from anything to windows and picture frames to fake nails and paint.
Some of the benefits of using acrylic plastic include:
- Transparent properties
- Weather resistance
- Chemical resistance
- Surface Hardness
- Dimensional Stability
- Non-toxic composition
The chemical properties of acrylic allow it to be completely transparent while remaining hard and highly resistant to scratches and impact. Acrylic can be easily molded into different shapes and sizes, meaning it’s a more economic substitute for other types of hard plastic. The professional molding experts at Retlaw Industries can use acrylic material for your specific molded plastic part.
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Acrylic Plastic Specifications (At Room Temperature)
| Chemical Formula | (C5O2H8)n |
| Melting Point (°C) | ~130°C |
| Tensile Strength | ~9400 psi |
| Impact Strength | ~0.7 ft-lb/in notched izod |
| Hardness Level (Rockwell) | R31 – R105 |
| Flexural Modulus | ~13000 psi |
Challenges of Working with PMMA Acrylic Plastic
As with any plastic material, there are some common issues that could potentially arise in the PMMA thermoplastic molding process. Some of the problems that could occur include:
- Materials produced with PMMA Acrylic have a lower resistance to impact compared to metal injection molded parts.
- Acrylic products tend to have low heat resistance (About 175°F).
- Acrylic products have lower mechanical strengths which could limit their loading capacities.
- Some acrylic products have poor chemical resistance, which makes them prone to react badly.
Acrylic in Everyday Life
Many plastic products we use everyday are manufactured with acrylic resin. Some of these products include:
- Plexiglas windows
- Beauty products
- Paint
- Fashion accessories
- Eyeglass lenses
- And much more
Acrylic is one of the most affordable plastics available to the general public, and its impact-resistant structure make it one of the most useful plastics for a wide variety of applications which need clear, impact-resistant material. If you want your specific molded plastic part to be manufactured with acrylic resin, the experts at Retlaw Industries are sure to help you out.
Acrylic Products Manufactured by the Professionals at Retlaw
When you need professionally-manufactured plastic idler pulleys, sprockets, rebar chairs or custom-made parts made for your business, the experts at Retlaw Industries are here to help. Our certified plastic part manufacturers build all your OEM parts to your exact specifications, and whether you want acrylic or any other type of composite plastic for your custom part, Retlaw is able to do it for you.