Methyl Methacrylate Vs Poly(Methyl Methacrylate)
Methyl methacrylate (MMA) is an unsaturated ester monomer widely employed in polymer production. Its main application lies in the synthesis of Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) homopolymers. PMMA is a clear and hard synthetic plastic. In addition, MMA is the basis for many acrylate polymers and is an essential copolymer monomer in the formulation of paints, coatings and adhesive resins. Applications include safety glass, exterior paints, vinyl impact modifiers, adhesives, lighting displays, etc. MMA is also utilized in copolymerization with styrene and butadiene to produce additives for polyvinyl chloride (PVC), enhancing its properties. Additionally, MMA undergoes ester-exchange reactions to create specialty methacrylate monomers. PMMA finds industrial application in the manufacture of cast and extruded acrylic sheets. These cast PMMA sheets exhibit excellent optical clarity, high transparency, and UV stability. Moreover, PMMA is biocompatible, ma...