PMMA-Optical
PMMA-Optical is an optical-purity PMMA controlled for low birefringence, high light transmission and freedom from gels and inclusions, supplied to JIS K6717 optical grade and GB/T 7134 optical grade.
Reference datasheet — PMMA-Optical is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
PMMA-Optical grades and fills
PMMA-Optical is supplied in 7 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 7 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Impact-modified optical grade | Pick when parts must survive handling/drop loads and a small loss of clarity and stiffness is acceptable. | 50 | 30 | 65 HRM | |
Flame-retardant transparent grade | Pick for lighting diffusers and display housings that must meet a UL94 V rating; expect some haze and lower clarity. | 60 | 62 | 3 | 88 Shore D |
Light-guide plate grade | Pick for thin backlight light-guide plates where long optical path length and thin-wall filling dominate. | 66 | 68 | 3.5 | 88 Shore D |
UV-transmitting optical grade | Pick for UV curing windows, tanning/analytical optics and sensors needing transmission down to ~300 nm (no UV absorber added). | 68 | 70 | 4.5 | 89 Shore D |
Optical fibre / light-pipe core grade | Pick for POF cores and long light pipes where attenuation per metre, not mechanics, is the limiting property. | 72 | 74 | 4 | 90 Shore D |
Heat-resistant optical grade | Pick for LED/lamp optics or lenses cured near 110–130 °C where standard PMMA distorts. | 73 | 75 | 3.5 | 90 Shore D |
As cast | Pick for large optical windows, laser-cut/engraved parts and thick blanks needing best surface flatness and machinability. | 74 | 76 | 5 | 92 Shore D |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways PMMA-Optical is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
EXT | Extruded optical sheet / film | Supply form |
MED | Medical / FDA food-contact optical grade | Certification |
OPTDefault | General optical injection grade | Grade option |
UV | UV-absorbing / weather-stabilized optical grade | Grade option |
What is PMMA-Optical?
PMMA-Optical is an optical-purity PMMA controlled for low birefringence, high light transmission and freedom from gels and inclusions, supplied to JIS K6717 optical grade and GB/T 7134 optical grade. Tensile strength is 72 MPa with 4.5 % elongation; forms include LGP sheet, cast and extruded sheet, injection-moulding pellets and UVT, UV, HT, OF, MED and FR variants for light-guide plates, lenses and plastic optical fibre. Limits are low impact strength, sensitivity to residual moulding stress and higher cost than general-purpose PMMA; PMMA-HR is the choice when the part runs hotter. PMMA-Optical has a density of 1.19 g/cm³ (0.043 lb/in³), heavier than 53% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 105°C (221 °F). PMMA-Optical has a yield strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 72 MPa (10.4 ksi) — stronger than 79% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 4.5% and the elastic modulus is 3.2 GPa (0.464 Msi).
What is PMMA-Optical used for?
- Light guide plates (LGP)
- Optical lenses
- Plastic optical fiber
- Camera/display components
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 96/100, better than 99% of polymer grades
- Good UV / weathering resistance — 88/100, better than 90% of polymer grades
- High strength — 70 MPa (10.2 ksi), better than 79% of polymer grades
- Stiff — 3.2 GPa (0.464 Msi), better than 77% of polymer grades
- Easy to machine — 72/100, better than 76% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Low fracture toughness — 1.1 MPa·√m (1 ksi·√in), worse than 82% of polymer grades
- Limited ductility — 4.5%, worse than 75% of polymer grades
PMMA-Optical properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical6
PMMA-Optical has a density of 1.19 g/cm³ (0.043 lb/in³), heavier than 53% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 105°C (221 °F).
Mechanical16
PMMA-Optical has a yield strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 72 MPa (10.4 ksi) — stronger than 79% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 4.5% and the elastic modulus is 3.2 GPa (0.464 Msi).
Thermal11
PMMA-Optical is rated for continuous service to 75°C (167 °F). It conducts heat at 0.19 W/m·K (0.11 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 68% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 70 µm/m·K (38.9 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
PMMA-Optical is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 25 kV/mm (635 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹³ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (72/100), worse than 70% of polymer grades. UV resistance is excellent.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of PMMA-Optical takes about 105 MJ of energy and emits 6.2 kg of CO₂ — more than 54% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability8
PMMA-Optical's machinability is very good (72/100, better than 76% of polymer grades); weldability good (60/100); formability very good (70/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the polymer family
Yield strength against density for every polymer grade FabDigit runs. PMMA-Optical is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with PMMA-Optical
Is PMMA-Optical easy to machine?
Machines and diamond-turns to optical finish with sharp positive-rake tools, high speed and low feed; use coolant/air blast and avoid dwell to prevent crazing, and anneal (~80 °C) before and after cutting to relieve stress.
Can PMMA-Optical be welded?
No fusion welding — join by solvent (dichloromethane/MMA cement), UV-cure acrylic adhesive, ultrasonic or laser welding; avoid solvent vapour on stressed parts to prevent crazing.
Can PMMA-Optical be formed, bent or molded?
Dry 4–6 h at 80–90 °C to <0.05 % moisture, inject at 225–265 °C melt with 60–95 °C mould, slow fill and high holding pressure for low birefringence; thermoform sheet at 150–180 °C.
PMMA-Optical chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| methyl acrylate / ethyl acrylate comonomadded for thermal stability and flow in injection grades | 0 – 6 | 3 |
| chain transfer agent / residual monomer mercaptan CTA, mould release, antioxidant; UV absorber only in UV-cut grades | 0 – 1 | 0.3 |
| methyl methacrylate (MMA)polymerized MMA backbone; optical grades use high-purity, low-metal monomer | ≥ 92 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on PMMA-Optical?
Flame or diamond polishing gives near-optical edges; hard-coat (siloxane/UV-cure) for scratch and chemical resistance, vacuum AR/metallic coatings adhere well after plasma treatment.
How much does PMMA-Optical cost?
PMMA-Optical is a standard-cost polymer ($$), cheaper than about 71% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
PMMA-Optical — frequently asked
What is PMMA-Optical used for?
PMMA-Optical is typically used for light guide plates (LGP), optical lenses, plastic optical fiber and camera/display components. In short: lowest-birefringence PMMA; diamond-turnable optical grade; costliest acrylic grade.
What is the yield strength of PMMA-Optical?
PMMA-Optical has a typical yield strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 72 MPa (10.4 ksi) — stronger than 79% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is PMMA-Optical easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (72/100, better than 76% of polymer grades). Machines and diamond-turns to optical finish with sharp positive-rake tools, high speed and low feed; use coolant/air blast and avoid dwell to prevent crazing, and anneal (~80 °C) before and after cutting to relieve stress.
Can PMMA-Optical be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (60/100). No fusion welding — join by solvent (dichloromethane/MMA cement), UV-cure acrylic adhesive, ultrasonic or laser welding; avoid solvent vapour on stressed parts to prevent crazing.
What surface finishes work on PMMA-Optical?
Flame or diamond polishing gives near-optical edges; hard-coat (siloxane/UV-cure) for scratch and chemical resistance, vacuum AR/metallic coatings adhere well after plasma treatment.
Can PMMA-Optical be formed, bent or molded?
Dry 4–6 h at 80–90 °C to <0.05 % moisture, inject at 225–265 °C melt with 60–95 °C mould, slow fill and high holding pressure for low birefringence; thermoform sheet at 150–180 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of PMMA-Optical?
PMMA-Optical is rated for continuous use to about 75°C (167 °F), and briefly to 95°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does PMMA-Optical cost?
PMMA-Optical is a standard-cost polymer ($$), cheaper than about 71% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ISO 8257-1/-2 Plastics — Poly(methyl methacrylate) moulding and extrusion materials — ISO (2021)
- JIS K 6717 Poly(methyl methacrylate) moulding materials — JSA (2019)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol.2: Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
- Acrypet optical / light-guide grade data sheets — Mitsubishi Chemical (2023)
- Plexiglas / Altuglas acrylic resin and sheet data — Röhm / Trinseo (2023)
- CAMPUS plastics database — PMMA property profiles — CWFG (2024)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.