The visionary who studied “PMMA” and patented the Plexiglas

Like all the illustrious pioneers in the world of plastics, Otto Rohm is a figure that cannot be confined to the figure of a brilliant inventor of a product that made epoch.

His chemical preparation and determination to know characterized his life, prompting him to study and understand firsthand the mysteries that then hovered in industrial chemistry.

Otto Rohm was born on March 14, 1876 in Ohringen, present-day Germany, and then at the age of 15 was employed as an aide at a pharmacy.

This hard work training tempes him both in the rigour of work and in the curiosity and knowledge of basic chemistry. After a few years he qualified as a pharmacist who allowed him to enroll at the University of Tubingen, at the faculty of chemistry, reaching his degree in 1901, presenting the thesis “On the curing products of acrylic acids”.

Despite his interest in polymers his first work and research experiences were done in the tantry world with the study of enzymes,developing an innovative process for the bite of leather.

He produced a product called Oropon that allowed for a more hygienic process and better results. It was a high-level commercial achievement that involved Otto Rohm in establishing a commercial company in 1907 with his partner Otto Haas.

Enzyme studies continue and result in innovative solutions applied to the world of detergents, beverages, cosmetics and pharmaceutical preparations.

At the same time his research laboratories are working on acrylates and towards the end of the 20s also on metacrilates. Laboratory director Walter Bauer begins studies and trials on the use of metacrilates as layered glass.

It is precisely through these studies that PMMA is born with the qualities, long sought, of transparency and hardness as opposed to acrylate, thus creating the famous Plexiglas.

Photo Evonik Industries AG

Automatic translation. We apologize for any inaccuracies. Original article in Italian.