Editing Poly(methyl methacrylate) (section)

== Names ==

Common orthographic stylings include ''polymethyl methacrylate''<ref name="Dorlands">{{citation |title=polymethyl methacrylate |work=Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary |publisher=[[Elsevier]] |url=https://www.dorlandsonline.com/dorland/definition?id=100085009&searchterm=polymethyl%20methacrylate |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name="MW_Collegiate">{{cite Merriam-Webster |polymethyl methacrylate}}</ref> and ''polymethylmethacrylate''. The full IUPAC chemical name is poly(methyl 2-methylprop{{strong|en}}oate), although it is a common mistake to use "an" instead of "en".

Although PMMA is often called simply "acrylic", ''[[acrylate polymer|acrylic]]'' can also refer to other polymers or copolymers containing [[polyacrylonitrile]]. Notable trade names and brands include Walcast, Acrylite, Altuglas,<ref name="Platt2003">{{cite book |author=David K. Platt |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ajVlFikzvA8C&pg=PA170 |title=Engineering and High Performance Plastics Market Report: A Rapra Market Report |date=1 January 2003 |publisher=Smithers Rapra |isbn=978-1-85957-380-8 |page=170 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421171832/https://books.google.com/books?id=ajVlFikzvA8C&pg=PA170 |archive-date=21 April 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> Astariglas, Cho Chen, Crystallite, Cyrolite,<ref name="HarperPetrie2003">{{cite book |author1=Charles A. Harper |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oe5YJmRmxQMC&pg=PA9 |title=Plastics Materials and Processes: A Concise Encyclopedia |author2=Edward M. Petrie |date=10 October 2003 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-0-471-45920-0 |page=9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420235832/https://books.google.com/books?id=oe5YJmRmxQMC&pg=PA9 |archive-date=20 April 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> Hesalite (when used in [[Omega SA|Omega watches]]), Lucite,<ref name="tess_lucite">{{cite web |title=Trademark Electronic Search System |page=Search for Registration Number 0350093 |url=http://tmsearch.uspto.gov |website=TESS |publisher=US Patent and Trademark Office |access-date=29 June 2014}}</ref> Optix,<ref name="HarperPetrie2003" /> Oroglas,<ref name="Information1974">{{cite journal |date=13 June 1974 |title=Misused materials stoked Sumerland fire |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9fCPtxShxY8C&pg=PA684 |url-status=live |journal=New Scientist |publisher=IPC Magazines |volume=62 |issue=902 |page=684 |issn=0262-4079 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421165319/https://books.google.com/books?id=9fCPtxShxY8C&pg=PA684 |archive-date=21 April 2016}}</ref> PerClax, Perspex,<ref name="HarperPetrie2003" /> Plexiglas,<ref name="HarperPetrie2003" /><ref>{{cite web |title=WIPO Global Brand Database |url=http://www.wipo.int/branddb/en/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121162152/http://wipo.int/branddb/en/ |archive-date=2013-01-21 |access-date=2013-01-25}}</ref> R-Cast, and Sumipex.

PMMA is an economical alternative to [[polycarbonate]] (PC) when [[tensile strength]], [[flexural strength]], [[transparency and translucency|transparency]], polishability, and UV tolerance are more important than [[impact strength]], chemical resistance, and heat resistance. Additionally, PMMA does not contain the potentially harmful [[bisphenol-A]] subunits found in polycarbonate and is a far better choice for laser cutting.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cpl.org/wp-content/uploads/NEVER-CUT-THESE-MATERIALS.pdf|title=Never cut these materials}}</ref> It is often preferred because of its moderate properties, easy handling and processing, and low cost. Non-modified PMMA behaves in a brittle manner when under load, especially under an [[impact (mechanics)|impact force]], and is more prone to scratching than conventional inorganic glass, but modified PMMA is sometimes able to achieve high scratch and impact resistance.