PMMA (acrylic) resin supplier: clear and impact-modified grades
Clear PMMA (acrylic) pellets for injection molding and extrusion: general-purpose, impact-modified, UV-transmitting, UV-blocking and light-diffusing grades, from one gaylord. Acrylic is the clearest common plastic and holds up to sunlight better than other clear resins, which makes it the usual pick for lenses, light guides and signs.
One gaylord to a truckload · A polymer chemist reviews every quote · Every prime lot from our suppliers ships with a COA
Updated October 2026
Request a Quote- Heat (HDT @ 1.8 MPa)
- ~85–100°C
- Clarity
- Excellent (92% transmission)
- Chemical resistance
- Moderate
At a glance
- Form
- Pellets
- Order size
- One gaylord to a truckload; bulk by arrangement
- Grades
- General-purpose molding grades · Impact-modified PMMA · Extrusion / sheet grades
- Paperwork
- Supplier COA on every prime lot
- Ships to
- U.S. and Canada
- Sourcing
- Matched to your spec
The short answer
Acrylic is the usual choice for clear parts where optics, scratch resistance and outdoor life matter more than impact: light guides, lenses behind a cover, signs and displays. Pick it over polycarbonate when the part will not be hit hard and must stay clear in sunlight. The thing that most often goes wrong is cracking, from molded-in stress meeting alcohol, solvents or cleaners.
Grades we source
Tap a grade to add it to your quote request.
About Acrylic (PMMA)
PMMA transmits more light than ordinary window glass, has very good resistance to sun and weather, and machines and polishes well. Impact-modified grades are several times tougher than standard acrylic and stay clear (about 90–92% transmission), but they remain far below polycarbonate in impact strength and give up some hardness and heat resistance as toughness rises.
Common applications
- Lenses, light pipes and diffusers
- Automotive tail-light lenses
- Signs and glazing
- Displays and shelving
- Medical device windows (non-implant)
Typical properties
| Impact strength | Low (impact-modified: improved, still well below PC) |
|---|---|
| Heat (HDT @ 1.8 MPa) | ~85–100°C |
| Clarity | Excellent (92% transmission) |
| Chemical resistance | Moderate |
| Relative cost | Moderate |
Property ranges are general guidance and vary by grade and supplier; a polymer chemist confirms the exact spec against the data sheet and certificate of analysis for your application.
Full data sheet values: Acrylic (PMMA) properties
Which grade to ask for
Pick by flow, heat and how much toughness you need, knowing that toughness costs some clarity and hardness.
| Grade type | Use it for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| High-flow injection | Thin lenses, light guides, long flow paths | Lower heat resistance and slightly lower toughness than lower-flow grades |
| Medium-flow, higher-heat | Automotive lamp lenses, parts near light sources | Needs higher melt temperature; check Vicat or heat deflection on the sheet |
| Impact-modified | Displays, housings and covers that get bumped | Still far below polycarbonate in impact; some haze and lower hardness |
| Extrusion and sheet | Signs, glazing, display sheet | Low flow; not suited to thin injection parts |
| Light-diffusing | LED lighting covers and diffusers | Ask for both transmission and diffusion values |
| UV-transmitting or UV-blocking | Tanning and curing equipment, or protecting what is behind the part | Choose deliberately; the two behave opposite in UV |
Typical starting points. Grades vary, so confirm on the data sheet for the exact grade.
Processing notes
- Drying. About 70–98°C / 158–208°F for 2–4 hours. Aim for under 0.02% for optical parts; 0.05–0.1% is enough for non-critical parts. A common rule is to dry 10–15°C below the grade's Vicat softening point. See the drying chart for other resins.
- Melt temperature. About 171–271°C / 340–520°F. Higher-heat grades sit toward the top of the range.
- Mold temperature. About 38–96°C / 100–205°F. Warmer molds lower molded-in stress, which reduces later crazing.
- Shrinkage. About 0.4% typical, 0.2–0.7% at the extremes. Acrylic then grows about 0.1–0.3% as it takes up humidity in service, so plan for both on tight parts.
- Regrind. Many molders run 15–25% on non-optical parts. Optical parts often run little or none, because specks and yellowness show.
- Most common defect. Splay and bubbles from wet resin, and crazing or cracking after cleaning. See splay and stress cracking.
What to put on the purchase order
- Melt flow with the test temperature and load from the data sheet.
- Heat value you need, as Vicat or heat deflection, for parts near lamps or engines.
- Grade type: standard, impact-modified, diffusing, UV-transmitting or UV-blocking.
- Optical values such as light transmission and haze, and whether the part must be water clear or color-matched.
- Food or medical use: ask for the producer’s FDA letter for the exact grade, and any biocompatibility documents the device maker needs.
- Packaging: sealed bags or lined gaylords, kept clean. Dust and fibers show in clear parts.
- COA values to check: melt flow, and optical or color values where the producer reports them.
When to consider something else
- If the clear part will be hit or dropped, look at PC vs. acrylic.
- If it needs heat above acrylic’s range, look at clear polycarbonate or polysulfone.
- If the part is indoors and cost matters most, look at polystyrene or SAN on the ASA / SAN page.
- To compare every clear option, see best plastic for clear parts.
Common questions
Does acrylic need to be dried?
Yes, for clear parts. Dry at about 70–98°C / 158–208°F for 2–4 hours, and aim for under 0.02% moisture on optical parts. A common rule is to dry about 10–15°C below the grade’s Vicat softening point so pellets do not stick together.
Why does acrylic crack?
Acrylic is stiff and notch-sensitive, so stress concentrates at sharp corners, holes and screw bosses. Alcohols, solvents and some cleaners then craze or crack the stressed areas. Warmer molds, generous radii, lower assembly stress and checking cleaners before use all help.
Is acrylic food safe?
Some acrylic grades meet FDA food-contact requirements for specific uses, but it is grade-specific. Ask for the producer’s FDA letter for the exact grade, and check the use conditions it allows, since acrylic has limited heat and chemical resistance.
How long does acrylic last outdoors?
Acrylic is the best of the common clear plastics outdoors. It resists yellowing in sunlight without a coating, which is why it is used for signs, lighting lenses and glazing. Life still depends on the grade, color and exposure, so ask for weathering data if the part has a warranty.
Tell us the Acrylic (PMMA) grade you run now
A polymer chemist reviews every request, then matches your grade or finds a qualified equivalent and prices it.
What to send for an accurate quote
- The grade name, from any supplier, or a data sheet
- Color (natural, black or a custom match)
- Fill type and percentage, if any
- Melt flow, if you know it
- Quantity for this order and what you use in a year
- Ship-to city and state or province
Quotes on clear and impact-modified acrylic
Send the PMMA grade, process and volume, and a polymer chemist returns a matching grade and a quote to compare.
Request a QuoteNot sure which grade to ask for?
Send the grade you run now, or describe the part. A polymer chemist reviews every request.