Acrylic plastic is plastic that belongs to a group of synthetic man-made plastic materials that contain a few derivative materials of acrylic acid. Most common types of acrylic is called polymethyl methacrylate and is sold as brand name Plexiglas, Perspex and Lucite and even crystallite. PMMA, or polymethyl methacrylate is tough and transparent and has excellent resisting ability to ultraviolet radiations and weathering. This material used in acrylic awards can be molded, formed, drilled and cut and even colored. These types of properties makes it perfect for all kinds of applications like windshields on airplanes and car taillights and skylights and signs that are kept outdoors and so must withstand many different types of weather. One building's ceiling is the Houston Astrodome and has hundreds of insulating paneling sheets of PMMA acrylic plastic, the same material that is used in acrylic awards which are given to employees and athletes to recognize achievements or accomplishments.
All plastics including acrylic are polymers. The word comes from a Greek word poly, which means many and meros which means a part. A polymer is thereby a substance made of very many parts or molecules which are linked together. Very important is that a polymer might have as many as hundreds or possibly thousands of linked sets of molecules. Very important to understand, is that this material that is used in acrylic awards has characteristics that are totally different than its parts. The process of building a polymer called polymerization is often compared to scooping scrap copper or even glass or other types of material's into a container or box and shaking it then returning to find that it's a working TV. The components are there, but have been put together in such a way as that they resemble something that functions totally differently.
The first kind of plastic polymer which is called celluloid is a combination of something called cellulose nitrate and something called camphor and the plastic was made in 1869. It was founded on a natural polymer plant material called cellulose. Celluloid is responsible for the manufacturing of lots of different items such as photographing film and men’s collars and even hair combs.
Leo Baekeland made the first successful plastic polymer in 1909, he patented something called phenol which is a formaldehyde type of resin and he named it Bakelite. Bakelite was a huge success and is used today to make acrylic awards. It was so successful because it could be molded and made into different shapes with straight lines using machines. It was a very good insulating material for electrical items and protected wiring from heat and weather and even acids. This material could also be dyed to be used in decorating supplies. Bakelite was used in electrical items such as radios, counter tops, knife handles and telephones. It was also used in electrical equipment as an insulator and acrylic awards.
During World War II glass made of acrylic made up materials for periscope parts for subs and windshields and gun turrets for planes.
