According to plastics manufacturer RPlastics, Dr. Leo Baekeland patented the first moldable plastic in 1909. Plexiglas, frequently spelled Plexiglass, is one of several polymethyl methacrylates developed since 1928. Polymethyl methacrylates are shatter-resistant alternatives to glass.
Since 1936, researchers and engineers have found an increasing variety of uses for Plexiglas and other acrylic glasses, from bullet-resistant windows in warplanes to hard contact lenses to acrylic paint.
Due to its compatibility with human tissue, acrylic glass is an important material in the construction of implants and prosthetics. Medical practitioners continue to find new uses for it in cosmetic surgery, orthopedic surgery and dentistry.