Acrylic Resins are derived from methacrylic acid, acrylic acid or other related compounds, these substances are related to thermosetting plastic or thermoplastic. For textile, lacquer finishes and adhesives Polymethyl Acrylate is used. Polymethyl Acrylate is an acrylic resin but in an emulsed form. If mixed with clay Polymethyl Acrylate can be used to gloss paper. Polymethyl Methacrylate is another Acrylic Resin which has a different use, it is used to make hard plastics, these hard plastics however have light transmitting properties.



Polymethyl Methacrylate

Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) is a transparent plastic and a thermoplastic, in chemical terms PMMA is the synthetic polymer of methyl methacrylate, when sold it goes by many different trade names, theses are:

Limacryl, Per-Clax, Plexiglas, R-Cast, Vitroflex, Altuglas, Perspex, Arcylex, Plazcryl, Acrylite, Polycast, Acryplast, Optix, Oroglass and Lucite and is commonly known as Perspex or Plexiglas (Acrylic Glass)

Polymethyl Acrylate

Polymethyl Acrylate (PMA) is the polymer of methyl acrylate; it is very similar to PMMA except PMA lacks the methyl groups that are on the backbone of the carbon chain. Because PMA's polymer chains are smoother and thinner than that of PMMA's, PMA becomes a soft rubbery white material. Die to the length and smoothness of the chains they are able to slide easily past eachother.

So What Actually is Acrylic Resin?

Acrylic Resin is the general term that is used to describe a monomer that has had heat and polymerization applied to it, this chemical reaction creates many different types of plastics (resins) and Acrylic Resin is the general term given to these plastics.

PMMA (Polymethyl Methacrylate) is the chemical term given to the resin produced from MMA (Methyl Methacrylate Monomer). MMA is a colourless and transparent fluid substance, high transparency is one the main characteristic features of PMMA. PMMA has a very high weather resistance sunlight does not easily turn it yellow or make it crumble. Polymethyl Methacrylate are used for windows in aquariums that rely on transparency, but this is not their only use, they can be used for various other items like Taillights of a vehicle, backlight optical waveguides that are used for LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), Signboards that are used in shops like a convenience store, Mobile Phone display screens and many more.

Acrylic Resin is a thermoplastic with glassy properties, it can be moulded and cast or used in adhesives and coatings.

Synthetic Resin – This resin has a polymeric structure, it is used mainly in plastics and is a resin in its pure state.

Acrilan, Polypropenonitrile – This resin has the trade name of Acrilan, it is an Acrylic Resin used to make strong but soft crease-resistant fabrics.

Polymethyl Methacrylate – This is the Acrylic Resin that has been stated above, the transparent plastic that can be used suitably as glass.

In summery Acrylic Resin can be any of numerous thermosetting or thermoplastic copolymers or polymers of methacrylic acid, acrylonitrile, acrylic acid or esters of these acids. It has many uses like to produce paints, lightweight plastics, synthetic rubbers and adhesives.