Acrylic sheet (chemical name is polymethyl methacrylate, PMMA) is an important thermoplastic polymer material. Due to its excellent transparency, weather resistance and processing performance, it is widely used in many industries such as construction, advertising, medical treatment, transportation, and home furnishing. The following is a summary of industry knowledge about acrylic sheet:
1. Characteristics of acrylic sheet
1. High transparency: light transmittance is as high as 92% or more, close to glass, but the density is only half of glass.
2. Strong weather resistance: UV resistance, high temperature resistance (-40℃~80℃), no yellowing or cracking after 5-8 years of outdoor use.
3. Excellent mechanical properties: high hardness (close to aluminum), impact resistance, no sharp fragments after breaking, high safety.
4. Easy to process: can be cut, engraved, hot bent, and bonded, suitable for a variety of molding processes (casting, extrusion, injection molding).
5. Environmentally friendly and recyclable: waste can be recycled, in line with the trend of green materials.
2. Acrylic sheet production process
1. Casting:
- Using MMA monomer polymerization, the product has strong rigidity and good optical properties, suitable for high-end customized products (such as light guide plates, handicrafts).
2. Extrusion molding:
- High production efficiency, suitable for mass production, but slightly weaker mechanical properties (such as low heat resistance).
3. Injection molding:
- Suitable for complex-shaped products (such as car lampshades, medical devices), which require post-processing to eliminate internal stress.
IV. Industry Development Trends
1. Green and Environmentally Friendly: Recyclable acrylic replaces traditional glass and ceramics to reduce carbon emissions.
2. High-end Application: Demand for optical-grade PMMA for light guide plates (LCD screens, smart watches) is growing.
3. Intelligent Manufacturing: Laser engraving and 3D printing technologies improve processing accuracy.
4. Intensified Competition: Small and medium-sized enterprises face price wars, and leading companies (such as Mitsubishi Chemical and Arkema) dominate the high-end market.
