How do a liquid which has just 5 carbon atoms, 2 oxygen atoms and eight hydrogen atoms be utilized for robust purposes where thermal resistance, electrical resistance and mechanical strength is of prime importance? The solution is based on a word – “Polymerisation”.
Through this infographic, we trace the journey of MMA (Methyl Methacrylate), a liquid monomer which is polymerised to lead to PMMA polymer (Polymethyl Methacrylate), and its various grades.

MMA could be polymerised to PMMA through solution polymerisation, emulsion polymerisation and bulk polymerisation techniques. Each one of these reactions occur in a good a catalyst. The resulting pmma polymer could be modified to several shapes, sizes and forms with regards to the additives.
The varied grades of SUMIPEX®, the Polymethyl methacrylate resin produced by Sumitomo Chemical, that are obtained on adding additives are:
• ‘High Impact Grade of SUMIPEX® PMMA’ – Properties like high flow and good heat resistance make this 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 this grade that favour its used in extruded sheets/ pipes/ rods.
• ‘Heat Resistant Grades of SUMIPEX® PMMA’ – Excellent heat resistance, excellent surface hardness and mechanical strength enables using this grade in automotive parts such as tail lamp, instrument cluster, optical Lens, general lighting fixtures, etc.
• ‘Optical Grades of SUMIPEX® PMMA’ – With excellent heat resistance and flow properties, the optical grades with extremely low quantities of foreign contaminants can be used 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 contrast between normal and optical grades/special grades. General Purpose Grades like MH, LG, LG2, etc. will comw with under “Extrusion Grade”, “Heat Resistance Grade” and “High Flow Grade”. With balanced properties such as heat resistance and mechanical strength, this grade works to make number of products such as house ware, stationery, telephone buttons, piano keys, electrical accessories, ornaments, etc.
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