The First Fifty Years of ‘Perspex’

Abstract

The article traces the history of the development of poly(methyl methacrylate) in the UK from the early beginnings in 1933. The importance of the urgent work done during the early war years is highlighted as acrylic sheet became essential for aircraft glazing and the article traces the postwar development of commercial applications when the cessation of hostilities left the industry a new polymer with a rapidly declining market. The development of acrylic sheet is placed in relation to other equally important work on new polymers during the pre-war years and the article concludes with a description of the latest new applications. Although over 50 years old, acrylic sheet can be seen to have become one of the most important polymer products in the world today with a future as bright as the day it was first discovered.