What Is The Chemical Composition of PMMA.

The chemical composition of PMMA is polymethyl methacrylate, which is a high-molecular compound polymerized from methyl methacrylate. PMMA, also known as organic glass or acrylic, has the advantages of high transparency, low price and easy mechanical processing, and is a commonly used alternative material to glass. The following is a detailed analysis of the chemical composition and characteristics of PMMA:

Chemical composition

Basic composition: PMMA is a high-molecular polymer formed by the polymerization reaction of methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomers.

Chemical formula: It is usually expressed as (C5O2H8)n, where n represents the degree of polymerization, that is, the number of monomer units.

Physical properties

Transparency: PMMA has high transparency, capable of transmitting over 92% of sunlight, and its ultraviolet transmittance also reaches 73.5%.

Density: Its density range is between 1.15 and 1.19 g/cm³.

Melting point and boiling point: The melting point is approximately 150℃, while the boiling point is relatively lower, at 121.5℃ (Note that the boiling point here may refer to that of the monomer MMA, as high-molecular polymers usually do not have a fixed boiling point).

Chemical properties

Solubility: PMMA is soluble in organic solvents such as carbon tetrachloride, benzene, toluene, dichloroethane, chloroform and acetone.

Stability: It is relatively stable chemically, but under aerobic conditions, PMMA begins to burn at 458°C, and after combustion, it generates carbon dioxide, water, carbon monoxide and some low-molecular compounds including formaldehyde.

Application field

Due to its excellent physical and chemical properties, PMMA has wide applications in multiple fields, including but not limited to:

Construction industry: Used as transparent structural components, such as Windows, skylights, etc.

Automotive industry: Used in components such as car lamps and instrument panels.

Optical field: Manufacturing optical lenses, lenses, etc.

Daily necessities: such as decorative gifts, billboards, etc.

To sum up, the chemical composition of PMMA is polymethyl methacrylate. This high-molecular compound plays a significant role in multiple industries due to its unique properties.