Polymethyl
methacrylate
This
material is commonly known as acrylic but is also
known under tradenames such as Perspex,
Lucite, Plexiglass and Diakon. It
was introduced by ICI in the early 1930s as a
cast sheet material, Perspex. It was
initially available only as sheet and cast rod
which were fabricated into a wide variety of
items by machining, thermoforming and engraving.
It is a hard,
water-white material which takes a good gloss.
Its high light transmission and ability to 'pipe'
light make it ideal for illuminated signs for
advertising and display. A full colour range is
possible.The ability to polymerise methyl
methacrylate in simple moulds using a polymer/monomer
slurry made it ideal for producing dentures and
for embedding objects for display. Acrylic baths
were introduced into Australia in 1947 but it was
a further 10 years before they appeared in the UK.
Polymethyl
methacrylate moulding materials were introduced
later, an important early use was in the two-tone
coloured GPO telephone which replaced the black
bakelite version in the early 1960s.
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