Acrylic is a useful, clear plastic that resembles glass, but has properties that make it superior to glass in many ways. Common brands of high-grade acrylic include Polycast, Lucite, Perpex and Plexiglass. Over the years, Acrylic and these four words have become synonyms.
There are two basic types of acrylic: extruded and cell cast. Extruded or "continuous cast" acrylic is made by a less expensive process, is softer, can scratch easier and may contain impurities. Cell cast acrylic is a higher quality acrylic and is a good choice for applications that require the best.
Acrylic is used to make various products, such as displays, furniture, household articles, and aquariums. It is chosen over glass for many reasons.
First of all, it is many times stronger than glass, making it much more impact resistant and therefore safer. Knocking off an acrylic donation box will not likely break it. Baseballs that crash through glass windows will, in most cases, bounce off acrylic windows.
Second, it is only half as heavy as glass. This makes working with acrylic much easier. It can also be sawed, whereas glass must be scored.
Third, it has a transparency rate of 93%, which makes acrylic the clearest material known. Very thick glass will have a green tint, while acrylic remains clear.
Fourth, it is easy to fabricate. Acrylic sheets can be cut, beveled, polished, and even formed in ovens to make from beautiful Acrylic aquariums to stunning Acrylic furniture. There are also no seams in acrylic structures, as chemical welding at the molecular level actually "melts" seams into one piece of solid material. Seams that are welded and polished are invisible.
Fifth, acrylic also insulates better than glass, potentially saving on heating bills, if it is use to make show doors or bath enclosures.
Best of all, product made of pure acrylic is 100% recyclable. It can be sent to be recycled when reaches the end of its useful life rather than ending up in a landfill.
There are some misconceptions about acrylic, namely that it yellows, turns brittle and cracks over time. Though this might be true of very cheap forms of plastic, it is not so with acrylic. For example, the fighter planes of WWII have acrylic bubble-tops. Airplane windows are also acrylic. If taken care of, acrylic remains new looking regardless of age or exposure to sun. Some people worry that acrylic scratches too easily, but unlike glass, scratches can be easily buffed out of acrylic.
For all of its advantages, there are two disadvantages of acrylic: it is more expensive than glass, and if exposed to a direct flame it will melt and eventually burn.
Today acrylic is used more than ever. It is used in millions of unique products, including brochure displays, racks, counter displays, donation / suggestion boxes and point of purchase (p.o.p) displays stationary, furniture, aquariums and many more. There is one thing you can say: The beauty, simplicity and low cost of acrylic continue to make it one of the greatest manufacturing materials in the world.
EXTRUDED ACRYLIC
Extruded Acrylic is made by extruding acrylic polymer and as a result is made in longer and more economical production runs. It is available in a range of clears, opals and tints and in a range of thicknesses as well as a number of specialist products. Extruded Acrylic has a lower molecular weight than its cast equivalent, which allows greater definition during fabrication. Extruded Acrylic Sheet offers excellent thickness tolerance and is extremely easy to vacuum form, making it ideal for applications where complex shapes are required.
Cast Acrylic Sheet is the leading material for signs, POP, interior displays and general fabrication. It has a high molecular weight and is exceptionally hard wearing. It is resistant to weathering, fading, and extremes of temperature and is easy to handle, machine and fabricate. Cast Acrylic Sheet has excellent aesthetic and technical properties, which make it ideal for applications where quality and performance are paramount. Its excellent acoustic properties also make it ideal for highway sound screens, engineering machine enclosures and telephone hoods. Cast Acrylic Sheet is available in a wide range of clears, opals, tints and solid colors ranging from soft delicate pastels to strong vibrant shades and in a wide range of thickness and surface textures to suit most applications.
CARE AND CLEANING OF ACRYLIC PRODUCTS
Do Not Use window cleaning sprays, scouring compounds, acetone, gasoline, benzene, carbon tetrachloride or lacquer thinner.
WHAT YOU CAN DO IF THE ACRYLIC PRODUCT SCRATCHES