Progress does not stand still and concerns all spheres of human life. So it is in the field of construction. To replace the old technologies, completely new ones come, and the well-known and familiar building materials undergo modernization or give way to more modern and practical ones. This is what happened with glass. Few people will be surprised by the wide range of plastic glass and the almost complete absence of traditional glass on the market.
Differences between organic glass and inorganic glass
From time immemorial, mankind has learned to produce glass - a transparent, solid, and most importantly, heat-resistant material. The only drawback of traditional glass, made from specially prepared sand, was brittleness. 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 inherently a plastic, which is an organic substance, the product is commonly called organic glass. Having retained all the advantages of its predecessor, PMMA got rid of its main drawback -fragility.
Production technology
Get polymethyl methacrylate as a result of the polymerization of methacrylic acid. The process itself is the repeated addition of the simplest compounds to the most complex. This is where the main feature of the PMAA structure comes from - enlarged, in comparison 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. Examples are polystyrene, polycarbonate, etc.
Organic glass is produced according to GOST 17622-72. The document carefully spells out the manufacturing technology, according to which the finished product is subsequently certified.
Advantages of PMMA
Outwardly, polymeric and inorganic fabrics are almost the same. The difference is felt at the level of tactile sensations. First, PMMA feels denser to the touch. 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 ten times higher, excellent impact resistance is beyond doubt. Another important plus of PMMA glass is the good transmission of ultraviolet rays. That is why the panelsPolymethyl methacrylates are very popular in horticulture, as they are the best material for glazing greenhouses. A more thorough study of the polymer web reveals one more of its advantages.
It has been established that when the temperature rises to 120 °C, the structure of polymer glass begins to melt, becoming a viscous and viscous substance. This property significantly expands the scope of polymethyl methacrylate, because such plastic can be used not only for the manufacture of Plexiglas 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 Plexiglas 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 plexiglass additional mechanical and physical properties. TOSP is produced in the form of monolithic blocks, which makes the transportation, installation and operation of the material more convenient.
Use area of plexiglass TOSP
This kind of organic glass is widely used as a material for assembling a variety of building structures. TOSP also found its use in light industry as a material for the manufacture of aquariums and all sorts of souvenirs. Blocks are available in various color variations, which makes them a very popular material for decoration.shop windows, floor construction in shopping malls, etc.
The material is very popular with marketers. Often on the streets of the city you can see an advertisement designed in the TOSP block, or a banner in a shopping center, protected by a transparent or multi-colored panel. Furniture manufacturers also did not deprive the innovation of attention. Most modern coffee tables are made using technology using similar glass panels. Organic glass cabinets have proven themselves well in medical institutions, and designers are increasingly using this material in interior design of various rooms.
