Well-known plexiglass is a typical example. Polymer transparent materials have many outstanding advantages: high transparency, exceeding inorganic glass; Low density, less than half of inorganic glass; Strong toughness, not as fragile as inorganic glass; Easy to process and shape, without high temperature. In terms of transparency, the transmittance of plexiglass is 92%, while that of ordinary inorganic glass is only 78%.
The ultraviolet transmittance of plexiglass is 73%, while that of inorganic glass is less than 70%. In terms of impact strength, plexiglass is more than one order of magnitude higher than inorganic glass. Directionally stretched plexiglass will not produce cracks when it is penetrated by nails, nor will it produce fragments when it is penetrated by bullets, so it can be used as bulletproof glass. Transparent polymer materials have been widely used. The canopy, windshield and porthole of aircraft are all made of plexiglass or similar polymer transparent materials.
Polymer transparent materials are also widely used in windshields and lampshades of automobiles and motorcycles, skylights of large buildings or houses, protective covers of various instruments and meters, housings of telecommunications equipment, tool handles, billboards and signs.
Optical lenses made of polymer transparent materials have been widely used in glasses, cameras, telescopes and so on. Polymer transparent materials also have wonderful uses in biomedicine. Transparent artificial cornea has made countless people see the light again, and the packaging as a specimen is not only simple but also exquisite. There are many daily necessities made of polymer transparent materials in life, such as buttons, crystal clear floppy disk boxes, safe and durable baby bottles, toys and so on.
plexiglas