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