CAEDSInjectionMouldingMaterials

Poly(methylmethacrylate)(PMMA)
TechnicalUniversityofGabrovoMilenaKoleva

General Poly(methacrylates) are polymers of the esters of methacrylic acids. The General
mostcommonlyusedamongthemispoly(methylmethacrylate)(PMMA).

Poly(methylmethacrylate)orpoly(methyl2methylpropenoate)isthepolymerof
methylmethacrylate,withchemicalformulaC5H8O2)n.Itisaclear,colourlesspoly
mer available on the market in both pellet and sheet form under the names
Plexiglas, Acrylite, Perspex, Plazcryl, Acrylplast, Altuglas, Lucite etc. It is
commonlycalledacrylicglassorsimplyacrylic.

Another polymer, poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA) is a rubbery material, similar to

poly(methyl methacrylate), but softer than it, because its long polymer chains are
thinnerandsmootherandcanmoreeasilyslidepasteachother.

Poly(methyl methacrylate) is produced by freeradical polymerization of methyl Structure

methacrylate in mass (when it is in sheet form) or suspension polymerization
accordingtothefollowingchart:

Properties
Physicaland
PMMAisalinearthermoplasticpolymer.PMAhasalackofmethylgroupsonthe mechanical
backbonecarbonchainitslongpolymerchainsarethinnerandsmootherandcan properties
slidepasteachothermoreeasily,sothematerialbecomessofter.

MainphysicalcharacteristicsofPMMAareshownintable1.
PMMAhashighmechanicalstrength,highYoungsmodulusandlowelongationat
break.Itdoesnotshatteronrupture.Itisoneofthehardestthermoplasticsandis
alsohighlyscratchresistant.Itexhibitslowmoistureandwaterabsorbingcapacity,
duetowhichproductsmadehavegooddimensionalstability.Bothofthesecharac
teristics increase as the temperature rises. Table 2 shows some of mechanical
characteristicsofPMMA.

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Table1.TypicalphysicalpropertiesofPoly(methylmethacrylate)

PhysicalProperties
Density
WaterAbsorption
MoistureAbsorptionatEquilibrium
LinearMouldShrinkage
MeltFlow

Value

1.151.19g/cm3

0.32%

0.30.33%

0.0030.0065cm/cm

0.927g/10min

Itsstrengthpropertiesduringinjectionmouldingdiffersignificantlyinlongitudinal
and transverse direction as a result of the orientation effect. As in the case with
otherthermoplastics,themechanicalpropertiesofPMMAvaryasthetemperature
changes.Thismaterialtendstocreep.Itisnotsuitableforoperationundermultiple
dynamicloads.

PMMAisoneofthepolymersthatismostresistanttodirectsunshineexposure.Its
strength characteristics exhibit fairly small variations under the effect of UV
radiation,aswellasinthepresenceofozone.ThesepropertiesofPMMAmakeit
suitableforproductsintendedforlongopenairoperation.

Table2.MechanicalcharacteristicsofPolymethylmethacrylate
MechanicalProperties

Value

Hardness,RockwellM
TensileStrength,Ultimate
ElongationatBreak

6397
4779MPa
130%

TensileModulus

2.23.8GPa

FlexuralModulus

33.5GPa

IzodImpact,Notched
IzodImpact,Unnotched

1.220kJ/m2
11kJ/m2

TensileCreepModulus,1h

18002700MPa

TensileCreepModulus,1000h

12001800MPa

The low water absorption capacity of PMMA makes it very suitable for electrical
engineering purposes. Its dielectric properties are very good, but polystyrene and
LDPE are superior to it. Its resistivity depends on the ambient temperature and
relative humidity. The dielectric constant, as well as the loss tangent, depends on
thetemperature,therelativehumidityofairandthefrequency.

Electrical
characteristics

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Table3.ElectricalpropertiesofPoly(methylmethacrylate)

ElectricalProperties

Value

ElectricalResistivity

10141015.cm

SurfaceResistance

10 10
14

Lossfactor,20C,1000Hz,60%humidity

16

0.04

DielectricConstant

2.84

DielectricConstant,LowFrequency

34

DielectricStrength

17.760kV/mm

DissipationFactor

0.030.55

ArcResistance

100180s

The thermal stability of standard PMMA is only 65oC. Heatstabilised types can
withstandtemperaturesofupto100oC.PMMAcanwithstandtemperaturesaslow
as70oC.Itsresistancetotemperaturechangesisverygood.
PMMAisacombustiblematerial,whichcontinuesburningevenaftertheflameis
removed the products separated in the process of thermal destruction have an
intoxicatingeffect.
Table4.ThermalpropertiesofPoly(methylmethacrylate)

ThermalProperties

Value

CTE,linear20C

60130m/m.C

CTE,linear20CTransversetoFlow

7090m/m.C

SpecificHeatCapacity

1.461.47J/g.C

ThermalConductivity

0.190.24W/m.K

MaximumServiceTemperature,Air
MeltingPoint

41103C
130C

VicatSofteningPoint

47117C

GlassTemperature

100105C

PMMAexhibitsverygoodopticalpropertiesittransmitsmorelight(upto93%of
visible light) than glass. Combined with its good degree of compatibility with
humantissue,itcanbeusedforreplacementintraocularlensesorforcontactlenses.
Unlikeglass,PMMAdoesnotfilterultravioletlight.IttransmitsUVlightdownto
300nmandallowsinfraredlightofupto2800nmtopass.

Thermal
properties

Opticalproperties

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Table5.OpticalpropertiesofPoly(methylmethacrylate)
OpticalProperties

Value

Haze

196%

Transmission,Visible

8093%

RefractiveIndex

1.491.498

Acrylics are unaffected by aqueous solutions of most laboratory chemicals, by

detergents, cleaners, dilute inorganic acids, alkalis, and aliphatic hydrocarbons
however, acrylics are not recommended for use with chlorinated or aromatic hy
drocarbons, esters, or ketones. It dissolves completely in chloroform, di and tri
chlorethane, which is used for production of glues. The chemical resistance will
varywithstresslevel,temperature,reagentsanddurationofexposure.

Chemical
resistance

PMMAarephysiologicallyharmless.Duetotheirlowmoistureabsorptioncapacity

theyarenotattackedbymouldsandenzymes.
PMMA is suitable for injection moulding, extrusion, extrusion blow moulding Processing
(impactmodifiedacrylicsonly),thermoforming,casting.Themeltflowindexofthe methods

materialvariesaccordingtothemethodoftreatment:

lowmeltflowindex(0.82.5)materialsintendedforextrusion;

mediummeltflowindex(2.510)generalpurposePMMA;

highmeltflowindex(>10)PMMAforinjectionmouldingofproducts
havingacomplexshape.

For injection moulding the mould temperature should be between 40 and 80oC,
dependingonthetype,thematerialtemperatureshouldbebetween200and250oC.
Usuallyhighinjectionpressuresareneededbecauseofpoorflowproperties.Thisis
particularly important for optical mouldings where visible weld lines will form if
the correct parameters are not used. During injection moulding internal stresses
often build up, which can be eliminated by heating at a temperature about 80C
(tempering).
Moulds nozzle is an important factor when manufacturing PMMAproduct. The
sizeofthenozzlegatevariesdependingontheshapeandthesizeoftheproduct.
Products manufactured from PMMA are mainly clear and transparent and it is
important that they do not have any scratches. So that it is recommend to use at
leastdraftangleof1(rather2).BecausePMMAhashighviscosity,thegasremov
ingchannelscanbequitedeep,from0.04to0.08mm.

Misoperation due to higher temperature causes destruction of PMMA, accompa

niedbyreleaseofmethylmethacrylateorotherlowmoleculevolatileproducts.The
processalsoleadstoalossofmass,whichmakesitundesirable,andagoodknowl
edgeofthethermophysicalpropertiesofthepolymerisnecessaryinordertoavoid

it,especiallyinthetemperaturerangeprocessing(220250C).

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Applications

PMMA is an economical, versatile generalpurpose material. It is available in ex

trudedand/orcastmaterialinsheet,rodandtubeforms,aswellascustomprofiles.
Various types of acrylics are used in a wide variety of fields and applications,
including:

Optics:Dustcoversforhifiequipment,sunglasses,watchglasses,lenses,

magnifyingglasses;

Vehicles:Rearlights,indicators,tachometercovers,warningtriangles;

Electricalengineering:Lampcovers,switchparts,dials,controlbuttons;

Officeequipment:Writinganddrawinginstruments,pens;

Medicine:Packagingfortablets,pills,capsules,suppositories,urine

containers,sterilisableequipment;

Others:Leafletdispensers,shatterresistantglazing,showercubicles,

transparentpipelines,illuminatedsigns,toys.

Brands

LuciteL(LuciteInternational,Inc,USA)
Plexiglas(AltuglasInternational)

AcryliteGP(PiedmontPlastics,CYROIndustries,USA)

Acrylics are easily sawed, drilled, milled, engraved, and finished with sharp car
bidetippedtools.Cutsurfacesmaybereadilysandedandpolished.Theyarealso
readilybentorthermoformedatlowtemperatureandsolventbondingofproperly
fitting parts produces a strong, invisible joint. PMMA can be welded by all the
plasticsweldingprocessessuchashotblade,hotgas,ultrasonicorspinwelding.

* The ranges given in the tables indicate the minimum and the maximum value of the respective
property,foundexperimentallyandpublishedforthedifferentbrandsandtypesofthepolymer.

References:

1.Harper,CharlesA.,HandbookofPlasticProcesses,JohnWiley&Sons,2005

2. Harper, Charles A., Edward M. Petrie. Plastics Materials and Processes John
Wiley&Sons,2003

3. Stevens, Malcolm P. Polymer Chemistry: An Introduction. Oxford University

Press,USA,1998

4.VanKrevelen,D.W.Propertiesofpolymers,ELSEVIER,2003

5.Crawford,R.J.Plasticsengineering.ButterworthHeinemann,1998

6.JrvelP.etal.,Ruiskuvalu,Plastdata,2000.

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