Acrylic glass, or Perspex® under its commonly used trade name, is a transparent material that has been found to have many advantages over traditional glass. It is a polymer of methyl methacrylate, a simple organic compound, and is called by a number of monikers, including plexiglass, acrylic, and, properly, poly (methyl 2-methylpropenoate). It is a simple polymer, formed from chains of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
Despite its simplicity, Perspex® is a versatile material. Durable, yet easily molded, it found early use as a safe alternative to glass, with particular utility during World War II in Spitfire canopies, and later in visors and shields. At about half the weight of glass, but seventeen times its strength under constant load, Perspex® is also useful in aquariums, skylights, and anywhere else a transparent material under pressure is required. Medical uses include contact lenses, dentures, and bone cement. Furthermore, when suspended in water, it
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