| Plastic acrylics are used in so many applications, in so | | | | Acrylic resins started being used in 1931 for industrial |
| many areas of life; it's hard to imagine a world | | | | coatings and laminated glass binders. The better |
| without them. Where would we be had the science | | | | known derivative of methacrylic acid, polymethyl |
| behind this revolutionary material never been | | | | methacrylate, was not introduced until 1936 as a |
| explored? If acrylic had never been developed, would | | | | transparent sheet and in 1937 as a molding powder. |
| we be stuck with heavy, expensive objects instead | | | | This marked the start of the acrylic era and the |
| of the relatively light and inexpensive materials we | | | | Plexiglas revolution. |
| are familiar with today? What would brochure | | | | In World War II, acrylic sheet played an important |
| holders, brochure displays, racks, counter displays, | | | | role as a bullet resistant glazing in warplanes because |
| donation / suggestion boxes and point of purchase | | | | it was light, strong and could be easily formed to fit |
| (p.o.p) displays be made from? We all take it for | | | | into the structural designs of aircraft. It was at this |
| granted, but the history of plastics and acrylics is | | | | time that Plexiglas started being used in homes and |
| worthy of understanding. | | | | factories for safety glazing, electrical and chemical |
| "Plastic" means to form or model something. This | | | | applications, skylights, windscreens and many other |
| helps to understand the overall concept. It all really | | | | uses. |
| started in 1773 with the discovery and isolation of | | | | Some key dates: |
| the compound "urea", which is found in the urine of | | | | - 1911: Research commenced in the field of acrylics. |
| mammals and other higher forms of animal life. In | | | | - 1928: Methyl methacrylate was synthesized in the |
| 1828, when urea was synthetically produced, the | | | | laboratory. |
| foundation for phenol-formaldehyde plastics was | | | | - 1933: A method was found to cast methyl |
| formed. That brings us to 1843 when an acrylic acid | | | | methacrylate between two plates of glass and to |
| preparation was reported. Following that, Dr. Otto | | | | polymerize it inside this cell. This was a crystal-clear, |
| Rohm published the results of his research with | | | | hard and break-resistant plastic. |
| acrylic resinoids in 1901. His thesis, "On the | | | | - 1934: Initial applications were for cover glasses, |
| Polymerization Products of Acrylic Acid" explained | | | | watch glasses and lenses for protective goggles. |
| how the polymers obtained in his research had | | | | - 1950: New fields of application included shop window |
| simultaneous properties of a tough, flexible glass and | | | | displays, protective screens around machine tools, |
| a rigid plastic. | | | | jointless tubes for conveyors etc. The procurement |
| Next came Dr. Leo Baekeland. In 1909, he secured | | | | of raw material returned to normal after World War |
| the first patent for phenol- formaldehyde, which he | | | | II. |
| combined to form a resinous substance, a phenolic | | | | Today, acrylics are used in millions of unique products, |
| plastic. He called it "Bakelite". This material could be | | | | including brochure displays, racks, counter displays, |
| softened with heat and then molded into shape. It | | | | donation / suggestion boxes and point of purchase |
| could then be set into final form by continued heating | | | | (p.o.p) displays. There is one thing you can say: The |
| under pressure while in the mold; a true plastic. This | | | | beauty, simplicity and low cost of acrylic continues to |
| was revolutionary. As a result, Baekeland's discovery | | | | make it one of the greatest manufacturing materials |
| triggered the imagination and research of organic | | | | in the world. |
| chemists worldwide. | | | | |