Have we been misunderstanding all these years whether acrylic lenses are made of plastic or glass?

　　Many people have this question about acrylic, a material frequently used in everyday life: from afar, it looks like glass; up close, it resembles plastic. Yet, it’s also called acrylic—so is it actually glass or plastic? 
　　What is acrylic? 
　　Acrylic is the common term we use for this material, also known as organic glass. Its English name is Polymethyl methacrylate. After translation into English, it is referred to as acrylic, with the abbreviation PMMA. The full name of this material is polymethyl methacrylate, and its raw materials belong to the class of acrylic chemicals. 
　　"Acrylic" is a transliterated term, and its English equivalent is ACRYLIC. It is a type of chemical material with the chemical name "PMMA," which belongs to the polyacrylate family. Commonly known as "specially treated organic glass," it is widely used in various applications. 
　　What are acrylic lenses? 
　　Acrylic lenses, also known as acrylic plastic lenses, are a highly popular choice in numerous manufacturing industries. These lenses are widely used across various sectors, particularly in electronic instruments and devices, as well as in a broad range of optical applications. Acrylic lenses are typically made from PMMA material, which is commonly referred to as "pressure-acrylic lenses" or "acrylic lenses." In essence, these terms collectively describe PMMA-based materials that have undergone electroplating processes. By replacing traditional glass lenses with plastic alternatives, acrylic lenses offer significant advantages such as being lightweight, shatter-resistant, easy to mold and shape, and simple to color. As a result, their market demand continues to rise steadily, making them a key technology in modern lens production. The manufacturing process for acrylic plastic lenses begins with the processing of acrylic sheets, which are ideally suited for secondary operations. These operations include mechanical machining, thermoforming, blow molding, vacuum forming, solvent bonding, hot stamping, screen printing, and vacuum electroplating—each step contributing to the final product we know as acrylic lenses. 
　　Characteristics of Acrylic Lenses 
　　① Acrylic lenses do not fade. Experimental evidence demonstrates that the polymer composite panels exhibit superior physicochemical properties compared to traditional materials, ensuring long-lasting color retention and effectively eliminating color variations. Even in challenging environments like kitchens, the mirror panels maintain their vibrant appearance—this feature closely aligns with one of the key advantages of laminated surfaces. 
　　② Acrylic lenses are scratch-resistant, featuring high hardness and exceptional wear resistance, while maintaining their shape without deformation even under normal-temperature curing conditions. 
　　③ Acrylic lenses are acid- and alkali-resistant as well as corrosion-proof. The ultra-clear lens board can withstand washing with various acids, alkalis, and disinfectants, ensuring health is protected all the way to the end. 
　　④ Acrylic lenses exhibit high surface smoothness. The lens panels deliver a distinct high-gloss effect, ensuring that the "orange peel" phenomenon never occurs. Additionally, their exceptionally smooth surfaces make them easier to clean. 
　　⑤ The acrylic lens boasts a rich, lacquer-like finish. Note that this "lacquer" is different from the traditional kind—on the surface of the super-mirror board, a resin-based material has been applied using a technique reminiscent of lacquer craftsmanship. 
　　⑥ Acrylic lenses ensure green and health-friendly quality. Inferior materials may release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), posing significant risks to human health. In contrast, the lens panel itself contains no benzene or other volatile substances. Instead, it undergoes a special light-curing process that forms a dense, solidified film, effectively reducing the emission of harmful gases from the base material. 
　　You didn't read that wrong! Acrylic is a type of plastic. Acrylic belongs to a class of polymerized high-molecular materials, making it a thermoplastic. 
　　Why do many people mistakenly believe acrylic is glass, even though acrylic is clearly a type of plastic? 
　　This is because acrylic shares many similar properties with glass, yet acrylic exhibits superior impact resistance and enhanced stability. 
　　Glass boasts transparency comparable to acrylic, yet it surpasses acrylic in hardness and exhibits superior scratch resistance. However, glass is prone to shattering, and ordinary glass has poor impact resistance—sharp fragments can easily cause injury. For this reason, manufacturers and designers often turn to these transparent polymers as viable alternatives. Acrylic, on the other hand, inherently possesses the desirable qualities of a transparent material. Thus, while acrylic is undeniably not glass, it is aptly referred to as "organic glass."