Methacrylates

(now aligned with High Performance Polymers: Performance Polymers)

In the field of methacrylate chemicals, the Methacrylates Business Unit occupies a leading global position with its standard and special products. In 2006 the Business Unit generated sales of € 966 million.

The special properties of methacrylates mean that they can be deployed in a diversity of areas.

The Bulk und Performance Monomers Business Lines offer a wide range of methacrylates products. Methyl methacrylate (MMA), methacrylic acid (GMAA) and butyl methacrylate (BMA) are mainly used for manufacturing plastics and coatings. Performance monomers include some 60 specialty methacrylic monomers for adhesives, coatings and soft contact lenses. The large number of products offered in reliable quality, with global availability and technical expertise, provide a clear competitive edge in the global markets.

Monomers Business Lines offer a wide range of methacrylates products. Methyl methacrylate (MMA), methacrylic acid (GMAA) and butyl methacrylate (BMA) are mainly used for manufacturing plastics and coatings. Performance monomers include some 60 specialty methacrylic monomers for adhesives, coatings and soft contact lenses.

PMMA molding compounds, which are marketed under the names PLEXIGLAS^®, PLEXALLOY^® and CYROLITE^®, are indispensable partners in, for example, auto production, transport, optics, communications, medical technology and the construction and lighting industry due to their high level of transparency and their weather and scratch resistance. PLEXIGLAS^® and PLEXALLOY^® molding compounds, for example, are deployed successfully for non-transparent external bodywork parts and doe a convincing job with its outstanding properties such as high color fastness and weather resistance. In addition, its efficient processing into colored add-on bodywork parts makes spraying or coating superfluous.

PLEXIGLAS^® semifinished products stand out by virtue of their extremely high weather resistance, great robustness, high transparency and outstanding brilliance. This and its availability in different colours, its simple moldability and low weight are advantages that other plastic or mineral glass cannot offer in this combination. PLEXIGLAS^® is used for construction and greenhouse glazing, in trade fair and shop construction, in neon advertising, for displays and protective glazing, in sanitary applications, as well as for working and furniture surfaces in kitchens and laboratories. PLEXIGLAS^® semifinished products are worldwide available through our Distribution Partners.

The main focus of research in the Methacrylates Business Unit is the development of highly efficient technologies, new specialty monomers and thermoplastic methacrylate polymers as well as the further development of PLEXIGLAS^® and kindred materials. This research is concentrated on

• methacrylate monomers and solutions that meet the customer-specific requirements in coatings, adhesives or plastics,
• the development of tailor-made methacrylate-based molding compounds for applications in surface protection and decoration, light management, medical and optoelectronic devices and many other areas of everyday life,
• PLEXIGLAS^® Sheet products especially designed for functional surfaces, lighting engineering applications, as well as others with improved resistance and service properties or decorative effects.

Further information can be obtained here.

Degussa's Methacrylates is a worldwide supplier of PMMA Molding Compounds and Semifinished Products under the PLEXIGLAS^® trademark (sold in the Americas under the ACRYLITE^® trademark of Cyro Industries, USA).