Technical Plastics
PA – Polyamides
Condensation polymers obtained either from amino acids respectively from their lactams (e. g. caproic lactam) or diamine and dicarboxylic acid ( e. g. adipic acid and hexamethylene-diamine). In general, polyamides are defined according to the number of carbon atoms of their monomers, e. g. PA 6 = polycarbonic lactam or PA 12 = polylauric lactam. PA 6 is the most commonly used polyamide. All polyamides are characterised by high strength and scuff resistance. The application range varies from simple turned parts such as screws or nuts to plain bearings or toothed wheels.
PMMA – Polymethylmethacrylate
An acrylic resin based on methyl methacrylate. It has become generally known under the trade name Plexiglas®. On the one hand, PMMA is approx. 60 times more elastic than window glass but on the other hand it is approx. 10 times more permeable than silicate glass. Of course, the hardness of its surface does not correspond to that of glass but compared with other materials it can be easily polished to high brilliance. As to weight, Polymethylmethacrylate is much more lightweight than normal window glass.
