What's the difference between PMMA and glass?

PMMA(polymethyl methacrylate) and glass are two common transparent materials that differ significantly in several ways. Here is a detailed analysis of the main differences between PMMA and glass:

First, basic attributes and components

PMMA:

Chemical name: polymethyl methacrylate.

Properties: A kind of plexiglass, belonging to high polymer.

Composition: Extracted from petroleum, the main component is methyl methacrylate.

Glass:

Properties: Inorganic glass.

Composition: Mainly made of silicate firing, the main component is silica.

Second, physical properties

Transparency and gloss:

PMMA: Up to 97% transparency, good gloss.

Glass: Transparency and gloss are comparable to PMMA, but it depends on the type of glass and manufacturing process.

Density and weight:

PMMA: Low density, only about half the weight of glass.

Glass: High density, relatively heavy.

Hardness and scratch resistance:

PMMA: low hardness, poor scratch resistance, easy to produce scratches on the surface.

Glass: high hardness, good scratch resistance, not easy to be scratched.

Impact resistance:

PMMA: Strong impact resistance, 17 times that of glass, not easily broken.

Glass: poor impact resistance, easy to shatter.

Heat resistance:

PMMA: The heat resistance is relatively low, and prolonged exposure to sunlight may cause the color to turn yellow.

Glass: Good heat resistance, can withstand higher temperature changes.

Third, chemical stability

PMMA:

The chemical stability is good, but certain chemicals (such as organic solvents) may cause damage to it.

It is easy to process and can be processed by injection molding, extrusion and other ways.

Glass:

It is resistant to most chemicals and is not easy to be eroded by chemicals.

Processing and forming methods are limited, mainly through firing and cutting processes.

Fourth, application field

PMMA:

Because of its lightweight, impact resistance, easy processing and other characteristics, it is widely used in furniture decoration, outdoor advertising, noise barrier, lighting cover and other fields.

In high-end fields, such as liquid crystal display screens, optical lenses, car lampshades are also used.

Glass:

Because of its high hardness, good aesthetics, special properties and other characteristics, it is widely used in construction, transportation, electronic equipment, decoration and other fields.

Special glass such as tempered glass, heat-resistant glass, etc., are widely used in application scenarios with higher requirements in terms of safety and heat resistance.

Fifth, cost and environmental protection

PMMA:

The production cost is relatively low, suitable for large-scale applications.

Recyclable, good environmental protection.

Glass:

The manufacturing process is complex and usually costly.

Recycling is relatively difficult and environmental protection is poor.

In summary, PMMA and glass have significant differences in basic properties, physical properties, chemical stability, application fields, cost and environmental protection. In practical applications, appropriate materials need to be selected according to specific needs and scenarios.