Poly(methyl methacrylate)

This article is about the transparent plastic sometimes called acrylic glass. For the glass/plastic laminate often called "safety glass", see Laminated glass. For other uses, see Acrylic (disambiguation).

Poly(methyl methacrylate)

Names
IUPAC name Poly(methyl 2-methylpropenoate)
Other names Poly(methyl methacrylate) PMMA Methyl methacrylate resin Perspex
Identifiers
CAS Number	9011-14-7 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	None
ECHA InfoCard	100.112.313
KEGG	C19504 N
UNII	Z47NNT4J11 Y
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID1042152
SMILES CCC(C)(C(=O)OC)CC(C)(C(=O)OC)CC(C)(C(=O)OC)CC(C)(C(=O)OC)CC(C)(C(=O)OC)C
Properties
Chemical formula	(C5H8O2)n
Molar mass	Varies
Density	1.18 g/cm3
Magnetic susceptibility (χ)	−9.06×10−6 (SI, 22 °C)
Refractive index (nD)	1.4905 at 589.3 nm
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). N verify (what is YN ?) Infobox references

Lichtenberg figure: high-voltage dielectric breakdown in an acrylic polymer block

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is a synthetic polymer derived from methyl methacrylate. It is a transparent thermoplastic used as an engineering plastic. PMMA is also known as acrylic and acrylic glass and by the trade names and brands Crylux, Walcast, Wanjiale, Hesalite, Plexiglas, Acrylite, Lucite, PerClax, and Perspex, among several others (see below). This plastic is often used in sheet form as a lightweight or shatter-resistant alternative to glass. It can also be used as a casting resin, in inks and coatings, and for many other purposes.

It is technically classified as a type of glass in the sense that it is a non-crystalline vitreous substance, hence the common name of acrylic glass.