In the early 20th Century, chemists around the world competed to produce a new material that offered strength, versatility of design and economically efficient production. The discovery of acrylic acid in 1843, then followed by the development of Methacrylic acid in 1865, passed with little fanfare, but in 1901 the renowned German chemist Otto Röhm published his doctoral research on the polymers of the two acids, and it sparked an arms race between chemical engineers in England, America and Germany as the commercial value of these new products became apparent. A series of breakthrough developments shaped the future of the new product and catapulted it to the for front of material science research.
Today, bespoke acrylics are a key research area for scientists wishing to push forward the frontier of eco-friendly engineering, recyclable materials and improved manufacturing processes. As with most new inventions though, it was the crucible of war and not the test tube that demonstrated the invaluable qualities of bespoke acrylics and polymers. The hard, clear sheets of acrylics developed in the 1930’s were quickly adopted for military use in aircraft windows, turrets and submarine periscopes. They performed admirably, and quickly demonstrated the relative superiority of polymers over glass in high pressure settings. Having proved fit for the battlefield, post war companies scrambled to find commercial applications and soon material challenges were being solved with bespoke acrylic, Roxburghshire to Rotterdam, in fields as diverse as medicine, space travel and domestic appliances.
Acrylics are known as ‘thermoplastics’ because of the way they respond to heat. They are endlessly malleable and do not degrade under high temperature. Once cooled, they retain the strength and rigidity from before. This makes acrylics perfect for processes like injection moulding or laser cutting, and it is just as versatile a material for mass production or bespoke acrylics. Roxburghshire based Promo Plastics demonstrate this well by offering bespoke acrylics production on bulk orders or single item commissions.
Because of their strength and versatility, bespoke acrylics can be used in a huge range of settings. From police riot shields and military vehicle windscreens, through dental implants and cosmetic surgery, through to protective barriers on ice hockey rinks, bespoke acrylic solutions have expanded the opportunities of people in a plethora or diverse spheres. Bespoke acrylics have even taken men to the deepest points of the ocean by providing a tough, clear polymer for the windows and camera lenses capable of withstanding the highest water pressures on earth. Bespoke acrylics can be treated to be shatterproof, hygienic and splinter free, making them an ideal solution in the home.
Promo Plastic’s bespoke acrylics, Roxburghshire, use the same malleable yet strong qualities of acrylics to deliver high quality bespoke acrylics for use in the home, retail and business or more specialised settings. With 25 years of experience, they bring expertise, passion and creativity to provide bespoke acrylics solutions to any brief. Their dedicated bespoke acrylics Roxburghshire workshop is equipped with specialist machinery to produce high quality finishes in a range of colours and moulds for any setting.
