Methacrylate, a revolution

Technological progress is mainstream. The frenzied technological and internet revolution of the last thirty years has introduced substantial changes in all areas of our daily lives. Do you remember the first time you went online? Your first Smartphone? The first time you read a book in digital format? Sure you do, and it sure was amazing!

It is clear that the technological revolution has had a significant impact on our society and on our economic model. But there is more than meets the eye. The technological advances and the development of new materials have also influenced the field of photography over the years. Digital photography, ultra-quality smartphone cameras … what’s next? Harry Potter-like motion photographs? Well, never say never!

Regarding the above-mentioned technological and materials revolution, in this post we want to expose the changes introduced by the development of polymethacrylate in the field of photography. As you probably already know, methacrylate has become the king material of 21st century photographic printing. But do you know its history? And what about its advantages?

Don’t you want to know why we say that methacrylate has broken up with the glass?

The (poly) methacrylate was developed in the 20th century simultaneously by the German Otto Röhm, who began to distribute it in 1933 by Röhm & Haas, and by the British Rowland Hill and John Crawford, of Imperial Chemical Industries. Now, what is methacrylate?

Technically:

Methacrylate (PMMA) is a plastic resulting from the polymerization of the monomer methyl methacrylate.

Perhaps the definition is a bit complex if we do not know what polymers, monomers and polymerization are. Very briefly, polymerization is a chemical reaction in which one monomer – a molecule of small mass – activates another monomer and provokes a chain reaction that forms larger molecules called polymers.

The result of this process is a very resistant, hard, transparent material with very good optical properties. That is why it is perfect for photography.

In other words:

Methacrylate, the best plastic material for printing photography.

Highly transparent, resistant, flexible and strong against climatic factors such as ultraviolet light, methacrylate is perfect for color photography with extraordinary visual effects and incredible black and white finishes.

For home decoration, photography exhibitions, company posters … its uses are endless!

At SUMAGRAF we wholesale this product in the best quality and in a wide variety of formats. Do you want to know more?

Check our catalogue or buy it in our online store