Progress does not stand still and applies to all spheres of human life. So in the field of construction. Absolutely new technologies come to replace the old ones, and the well-known and familiar building materials are undergoing modernization or giving way to more modern and practical ones. So it happened with glass. Few people are now surprised at the wide range of plastic glass and the almost complete absence of traditional glass in the market.
Differences between organic glass and inorganic
Since time immemorial, mankind has learned to produce glass - a transparent, solid, and most importantly, high temperature resistant material. The only drawback of traditional glass made from specially prepared sand was fragility. In the 20th century, science gave mankind a material identical to inorganic glass and capable of performing the same functions in construction - polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). Being essentially plastic, which is an organic substance, the product is called organic glass in the broad masses. Having retained all the advantages of its predecessor, PMMA also got rid of its main drawback - fragility.
Manufacturing technology
Polymethyl methacrylate is obtained by polymerization of methacrylic acid. The process itself is the repeated addition of the simplest compounds to the most complex. From here comes the main feature of the PMAA structure - enlarged, compared with most inorganic compounds, molecules. Thanks to this structure, sheet organic glass is an order of magnitude stronger than its inorganic counterpart.
The described image is not the only possible one. Plexiglas is made using the same technology using other polymers. An example is polystyrene, polycarbonate, etc.
Organic glass is made in accordance with GOST 17622-72. The document carefully spelled out the manufacturing technology, according to which certification of the finished product is further conducted.
Polymethyl Methacrylate Benefits
Externally, the polymer and inorganic paintings are practically no different. The difference is felt at the level of tactile sensations. First, PMMA feels denser when touched. Secondly, organic glass is much more elastic. A cursory examination of other differences is impossible to find.
The advantage of plexiglass over simple silicate is clear. The strength of the first is tens of times higher, excellent impact resistance is beyond doubt. Another important plus of PMMA glass is its good throughput of ultraviolet rays. That is why polymethyl methacrylate panels are very popular in gardening, as they are the best material for glazing greenhouses. A closer examination of the polymer web reveals yet another advantage.
It was found that when the temperature rises to 120 ° C, the structure of the polymer glass begins to melt, becoming a viscous and viscous substance. This property significantly expands the scope of application of polymethyl methacrylate, because such plastic can be used not only for the manufacture of plexiglass panels, but also for other products. The thermal threshold for PMMA is about 300 ° C, since it is under the influence of this temperature that the glass begins to decompose.
Organic glass TOSP
One of the most popular types of plexiglass is TOSP. This is one of the forms of polymethyl methacrylate, the main feature of which is the presence of additional plasticizers in the molecular lattice. This feature gives Plexiglas additional properties of a mechanical and physical nature. TOSP is produced in the form of monolithic blocks, which makes transportation, installation and operation of the material more convenient.
Area of use of TOSP plexiglass
This kind of organic glass is used universally as a material for the assembly of a variety of building structures. TOSP found its application in light industry as a material for the manufacture of aquariums and all kinds of souvenirs. Blocks are available in various color variations, which makes them a very popular material for window dressing, the construction of ceilings in shopping centers, etc.
The material is very popular with marketers. Often on the streets of the city you can see an advertisement in the TOSP block or a banner in a shopping center protected by a transparent or multi-colored panel. Furniture manufacturers also did not neglect the innovation. Most modern coffee tables are made using technology using similar glass panels. In medical institutions, cabinets made of organic glass have worked well, and designers are increasingly using this material in the interior design of various rooms.