How can a liquid which has just 5 carbon atoms, 2 oxygen atoms and eight hydrogen atoms provide for heavy duty purposes where thermal resistance, electrical resistance and mechanical strength is of prime importance? A better solution is in a word – “Polymerisation”.
Through this infographic, we trace your journey of MMA (Methyl Methacrylate), a liquid monomer that’s polymerised to cause PMMA polymer (Polymethyl Methacrylate), and its various grades.

MMA might be polymerised to PMMA through solution polymerisation, emulsion polymerisation and bulk polymerisation techniques. These reactions take place in a good a catalyst. The resulting pmma polymer might be modified to several shapes, sizes and forms with regards to the additives.
The different grades of SUMIPEX®, the Polymethyl methacrylate resin made by Sumitomo Chemical, which are obtained on adding additives are:
• ‘High Impact Grade of SUMIPEX® PMMA’ – Properties like high flow and good heat resistance get this to suitable for manufacturing extruded sheets/ pipes/ rods, construction materials, automotive parts and industrial applications
• ‘Extrusion Grade of SUMIPEX® PMMA’ – Good extrusion molding characteristics, high surface hardness, superb weatherability and ideal chemical resistance include the properties of the grade that favour its utilization in extruded sheets/ pipes/ rods.
• ‘Heat Resistant Grades of SUMIPEX® PMMA’ – Excellent heat resistance, excellent surface hardness and mechanical strength enables use of this grade in automotive parts such as tail lamp, instrument cluster, optical Lens, general lamps, etc.
• ‘Optical Grades of SUMIPEX® PMMA’ – With excellent heat resistance and flow properties, the optical grades with extremely low quantities of foreign contaminants are used for light Guide panels and optical lenses.
• ‘High Flow Grade of SUMIPEX® PMMA’- With characteristics like high-flow during injection molding and good moldability, this grade is recommended for intricate parts and thin-wall parts molding such as watch and clock cover, lighting cover, name plate, house ware, etc.
• ‘General Purpose Grades of SUMIPEX® PMMA’ – General Purpose Grades determine distinction between normal and optical grades/special grades. General Purpose Grades like MH, LG, LG2, etc. come under “Extrusion Grade”, “Heat Resistance Grade” and “High Flow Grade”. With balanced properties such as heat resistance and mechanical strength, this grade is suitable in making number of products such as house ware, stationery, telephone buttons, piano keys, electrical accessories, ornaments, etc.
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