D&D Plastics deals with acrylic plastic sheets on a regular basis, and we have a wide variety of clients who rely on acrylic plastic for their applications. If you&#;re trying to figure out the best kind of plastic to use for your project, it&#;s important for you to understand the properties of the various plastic options available, including acrylic.
Here&#;s a quick overview of some of the most common acrylic sheet FAQs we hear from our Utah customers.
How strong is acrylic, and how does it compare to glass?
Acrylic is often used as a substitute for glass because it provides the same level of clarity, but quite a bit more strength. Consider this: a .125&#; thickness of acrylic plastic sheeting will offer two to three times the impact resistance of double-strength window glass, as well as four to five times more impact resistance than wire glass or other types of glass. A .25&#; thickness provides nine or 10 times more impact resistance than those other types of glasses.
Why choose acrylic over glass?
We already mentioned acrylic is both stronger and more impact resistant than glass. It&#;s also shatterproof, much lighter in weight, easier to fabricate and easier to form into specific types of shapes. These are far and away the most common reasons why people choose acrylic over glass.
How does acrylic compare to other plastics in terms of strength?
While acrylic is significantly stronger than glass, it&#;s not the strongest kind of plastic you&#;ll find&#;that honor would go to polycarbonate. The second-strongest would be PETG or PET, followed by impact-modified acrylic sheets, followed by standard acrylic. Of course, standard acrylic is less expensive than those other options, which is why it&#;s more broadly used.
Do I need to be concerned about yellowing or scratching when using acrylic sheets?
Acrylic sheets make great glass substitutes in part because they are made with an ultraviolet stabilizer that protects the material from UV exposure. This means you shouldn&#;t need to worry about yellowing, at least for the first decade of use. You&#;ll still want to make sure you wash it with the proper cleaning solutions on a regular basis and avoid using commercial glass cleaning sprays, as this could result in hazing or fine scratching, which will make yellowing more likely. Acrylic is generally resistant to scratching, but you can find options that offer even better abrasion resistance.
What do I do if my plastic does get scratched?
While acrylic is highly scratch resistant, scratches can and do occur. The good news is that you can fix the problem relatively quickly and easily. If you&#;re unable to feel the scratch with your fingernail, there are simple fillers you can use that will get the job done without a problem. Otherwise, you may need to sand and buff the area to restore the shine, and then use the filler solution.
To learn more about acrylic plastic sheets in Utah or get answers to more acrylic sheet FAQs, we encourage you to contact the team of experts at D&D Plastics today.
Categorised in: Acrylic Plastic Sheets
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Meta description: Acrylic plastic, also named plexiglass sheet, has become a household name for residential, commercial, and also industrial purposes. Find out today why people love them so much and use them everywhere! Here are the advantages of Acrylic you need to know.
Acrylic plastic is one of the world&#;s oldest synthetic materials available. Acrylic is a tough transparent plastic alternative to glass which became a common name in almost all industries and for household uses instantly.
This material is becoming more common in the building industry. It&#;s tough, as well as shatter-resistant. For which it was used during World War II for making periscopes and gun turrets.
Let&#;s see some of the benefits of Acrylic Plastic and why they are so commonly used worldwide:
When it comes to manufacturing material, acrylic shows excellent performance because of its ability to be molded into any shape. Acrylic, when heated up to 100 degrees, can be easily molded into a variety of shapes such as:
As it cools with time, it holds its formed shape. This makes it easier for manufacturers to make large sheets into bow-front aquariums and skylights. Being a thermoplastic, it softens when the temperature is raised and thus it is formed into different shapes.
The toughness of this material makes it appropriate for indoor and outdoor applications like- windows, car lenses, or headlights. They can resist tough weather, including hailstorms, as they are stronger than glass.
You will get efficient and thoughtful service from KDSX.
Acrylic letters as outdoor signs hold up indefinitely, resist adverse weather and hold the color. Sculptors and glass artists prefer acrylic for outdoor designs because of the material&#;s weather resistance and light refracting capabilities.
Besides weathering, acrylic plays a vital role in protecting colors. Light does not affect the color of acrylic. That&#;s why they tend to retain the color for a long period.
For instance, when used as hanging wall signs, they glow easily. The reason is that acrylic is easily lit with clarity.
Clear acrylic sheets have high optical clarity, which makes them suitable for greenhouses, windows, or skylights. One of the common uses is plane windows. The optical clarity of acrylic does not turn yellow with age.
Transparency of this material is tested when it is used as surveillance mirrors and automobile parts where transparency and durability are valued.
Acrylic is used as food sneeze guards in cafeterias, self-serve salad bars, grocery takeaway displays, and many sweets stores. People often prefer a food sneeze guard with a curved surface on the outside.
It is quite expensive and a lengthy process to manufacture a curved glass for this purpose. Acrylic has made it easier for the manufacturers to be used in the food sneeze guards and curved easily. And this is easier to fit in because it&#;s lightweight.
Acrylic plastic is UV resistant in nature. So, it makes them a perfect choice for roofing for both commercial and residential spaces. Also for carpool and other shades.
Acrylic is 50% less the weight of glass and more durable. Therefore it is easy to handle polymers. This makes it suitable for several industrial applications, which include the roofing system of homes.
Acrylic shoes, dentures and artificial nails, and other commodities are more comfortable due to their lightweight properties. The majority of composite dental filling is made of acrylic.
Polymers are used for cosmetic surgery too. It is easier to install acrylic on the roofs without any risk. Acrylic skylights are easier to install and they increase light transmission. The roofs do not significantly increase the load on a house&#;s foundation or frame.
Acrylic plastics have a tensile strength of lbs. per square inch. You can install acrylic plastic on impact-prone areas like- security barriers, shower doors, bath enclosures, field barriers, or other custom purposes that are impact prone. But it is not stronger than polycarbonate, know the difference between acrylic and polycarbonate.
Because the impact resistance of acrylic is 6-17 times greater than glass, it has a beneficial safety feature. They are also used as hockey rinks and ball field enclosures, sliding glass doors, security applications where clarity is needed, and windows.
If you live in an area with frequent storms or hail storms, acrylic is the right choice. Its high-impact capability can resist any storm without any crack or scratch on the surface.
One of the most significant advantages of using acrylic plastic instead of glass is that- it is 50% less in weight than glass but is more durable and stronger than glass. Because of having excellent durability, acrylic can be used over a broad temperature range.
The material does not shatter or crack under high impact, making it different from glass and other forms of plastic. Unlike glass, acrylic does not shatter and break into million pieces easily. The best thing about this material is that both cast and extruded acrylic are cheaper than glass.
Maybe, you want to know the difference between plexiglass and glass.
When machining a glass material, you need to proceed with caution. Any ignorance or error might lead to damaged pieces or many times the glass breaks. There are only a few methods for machining glass unless it breaks.
On the contrary, acrylic can be machined without any restrictions and it is less time-consuming. The plexiglass offers limitless options for machining. The machining can be carried out in several methods like- saw, mill, drill, engrave, glue, polish bend, and beyond.
Maybe you want to know how to cut acrylic sheets.
Acrylic is ideal for applications where safety is a must. It is challenging to break acrylic than glass as it is 30 times stronger than glass. That is why acrylic sheets are often used for balcony glazing of aquariums.
In addition to that, being UV resistant makes this plastic a safer choice for roofs and skylights.
Apart from all other advantages, acrylic is also an insulating substance meaning it can cut down your energy bills if you use it on a construction project. This property of acrylic plastic also prevents electrocution in construction.
UVACRYLIC is 100% subsidiary of UVPLASTIC, which is a top manufacturer of polycarbonate sheets and acrylic sheets. Meantime, we provide machining polycarbonate services.
Acrylic plastics are suitable for multiple applications, not only for a single property. They are tough and durable and can resist adverse weather and impact. Acrylic plastics can be curved and they can be molded into any shape, unlike glass.
It is easier to handle because of its lightweight design which makes it fit for all applications. Medical, cosmetic, construction, and many such industries have adopted acrylic as it benefits the users. They cannot be broken or shattered no matter how force is applied to them.
So if you are looking for a light, transparent, or semi-transparent, durable, impact-resistant, and light material, it cannot be any better than acrylic. Acrylic does not only serve your purpose but is also easy to handle and install.
Have questions or need help? Use the form to reach out and we will be in touch with you as quickly as possible.
For more information, please visit Custom Acrylic Sheets.