Acryliques

Acryliques are polymers and resins based on acrylic ester monomers, used widely in coatings, plastics, and specialty materials. The term encompasses polyacrylates and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), as well as acrylate-containing formulations used as binders. Commercial acrylique polymers are prepared by free-radical polymerization of acrylic esters such as methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, or methacrylic esters such as methyl methacrylate, often in aqueous emulsion, solution, or bulk processes. PMMA is among the most well-known examples and is valued for clarity, strength, and resistance to weathering.

Acryliques typically form clear, tough, lightweight films and can be engineered to be flexible or rigid. They can be formulated as waterborne or solventborne systems and may incorporate crosslinkers or pigments to tailor properties. In art and design, acrylic paints use an acrylic polymer binder dispersed in water, drying to a durable plastic film. In industry, acrylates are used in coatings, adhesives, sealants, lenses and glazing (as acrylic glass), dental resins, and textile finishes.

Safety and handling notes: some acrylate monomers are irritants and reactive; polymerized acrylates are generally stable, but processing requires appropriate ventilation and precautions to avoid exposure to residual monomers.

History: The development of acrylic resins began in the early 20th century, with PMMA becoming commercially important in the 1930s under trade names such as Plexiglas.