Perspex (original) (raw)

Perspex, which is sold in the USA as Plexiglas, is the name given to the polymer of methyl methacrylate; the material is thermoplastic, and transparent. It also is sold by the names "Acrylite" and "Lucite" and is commonly called Acrylic Glass.

It is often used in place of glass, though its softness leads to its being easily scratched. The material has a good degree of compatibilty with human tissue, and can be used for replacement lenses in the eye when the original lens has been removed in the treatment of cataracts. Hard contact lenses are frequently made of this material; soft contact lenses are often made of a related polymer, in which the acrylate monomers are used that contain one or more hydroxy groups to make them hydrophilic.

Perspex can be joined using cyanoacrylate cement (so-called "Superglue"), or by using liquid Acetone to dissolve the plastic at the join which then fuses and sets, forming an almost invisible weld. Perspex can also be easily polished, by which method cut edges (which turn opaque) can be returned to transparency.