Introduction
Polymers of methyl methacrylate (PMMA) are used in the manufacture of acrylic plastics. The first plastic polymer was developed in 1843. The process makes involves two reactants, methacrylic acid and methyl alcohol to produce an ester called methyl methacrylate. Fittig and Paul were the first chemists to discover the polymerization process of turning methyl methacrylate into polymethyl methacrylate in 1877. Later on, in 1936 the process was used to manufacture acrylic plastics for commercial purposes. PMMA is highly resistant to ultraviolet radiation and weathering and is an ideal material for making airplane windshields, automobile taillights, and skylights (Riegel et ...
