Acrylic (PMMA)
Density of acrylic (PMMA)
1,180 kg/m³
1.18 g/cm³ · 73.7 lb/ft³
Clearer than glass — it transmits about 92% of visible light against glass's 90% — and it holds that clarity outdoors for decades, which is why signs are acrylic rather than polycarbonate. It is also brittle: it cracks around drilled holes and chips at edges, so holes are drilled oversize with a bit reground to zero rake. It laser-cuts to a flame-polished edge, which polycarbonate does not, and that alone decides most hobby projects.
Properties
- Density
- 1,180 kg/m³ — 1.18 g/cm³
- Tensile strength
- 50–75 MPa
- Young's modulus
- 3 GPa
- Thermal conductivity
- 0.19 W/(m·K)
- Thermal expansion
- 70 µm/(m·K)
- Floats in water
- No
- Magnetic
- No
What it is used for
- Illuminated signs and display cases
- Aquarium panels
- Light diffusers and lenses
- Laser-cut craft and model parts
How it compares
Water is 1,000 kg/m³. Anything with a shorter bar than water floats in it.
air 1.2 kg/m³
expanded polystyrene foam 20 kg/m³
rigid polyurethane foam 40 kg/m³
Water — the float line 1,000 kg/m³
acrylic (PMMA) 1,180 kg/m³
tungsten 19,250 kg/m³
gold 19,300 kg/m³
platinum 21,450 kg/m³
| Material | Density | Relative to water |
|---|---|---|
| rigid polyurethane foam | 40 kg/m³ | 0.04× |
| expanded polystyrene foam | 20 kg/m³ | 0.02× |
| air | 1.2 kg/m³ | 0.00× |
| acrylic (PMMA) ← | 1,180 kg/m³ | 1.18× |
| platinum | 21,450 kg/m³ | 21.45× |
| gold | 19,300 kg/m³ | 19.30× |
| tungsten | 19,250 kg/m³ | 19.25× |
Does it rust?
Acrylic (PMMA) contains no iron, so it cannot rust. Whether it degrades depends on the material, not on oxidation.
Is it magnetic?
Acrylic (PMMA) is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.
Common questions
- What is the density of acrylic (PMMA)?
- 1,180 kg/m³, or 1.18 g/cm³.
- Does acrylic (PMMA) float?
- No. At 1,180 kg/m³ it is denser than water.
- Is acrylic (PMMA) magnetic?
- Acrylic (PMMA) is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.
Related pages
- Does acrylic (PMMA) float? No
- PLA 1,240 kg/m³
- ABS 1,050 kg/m³
- Polycarbonate 1,200 kg/m³
- Polypropylene 905 kg/m³
- PTFE 2,170 kg/m³
- Rigid PVC 1,400 kg/m³
- HDPE 955 kg/m³
- Epoxy resin 1,150 kg/m³
Sources
- Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place