How Does Plexiglas Remain Strong?

The Creation of Plexiglas

Plexiglas is an exceedingly strong material that is often used as a substitute for actual glass because of its resistance to shattering or breaking. The material is actually a type of plastic, created from a chemical known as methyl methacrylate. The methyl methacrylate undergoes a process known as polymerization in which its chemical structure is altered by the addition of other chemicals that it reacts with. Though the polymerization process can be done in several different ways depending on the desired strength of the final product, the end result is a chemical known as polymethyl methacrylate or PMMA. The PMMA is molded using standard plastic molding methods, creating plexiglas pieces in whichever shape is needed.

Plexiglas Properties

The polymerization process creates strong chemical bonds among the molecules within plexiglas, making it a chemically strong material that can withstand pressure well. The density of plexiglas is approximately half that of actual glass and is about the same as most other plastics, though it is much less likely to break or shatter than actual glass because of the bonded state of its molecules.

Why Plexiglas Remains a Strong Material

The molecules within plexiglas are bonded chemically to each other, allowing impacts to spread out across its molecules instead of being absorbed exclusively by a small amount of them. Plexiglas is also often given one or more coatings of other materials in order to increase its scratch resistance, UV protection, and to make it even more durable. Coated plexiglas can withstand even greater stresses than standard plexiglas can, allowing it to be used in a number of applications, such as safety glass where untreated plexiglas would be easily scratched or otherwise damaged.