What is Acrylic (Plexiglass)?

Acrylic is a transparent plastic known for its high strength, stiffness, and optical clarity. Commonly known by its trade name Plexiglass, it is often used as an impact-resistant alternative to glass. Acrylic sheet is a popular choice because it is easy to thermoform, and it bonds well with adhesives and solvents. Additionally, it displays resistance to weathering unmatched by other general-purpose plastics. 

Common Brands:

• Plexiglas®
• OPTIX®
• ACRYLITE®

Whether it was formed by casting or extrusion, acrylic polymers are synthetic plastic created by a chemical reaction between a catalyst and a monomer. Both fabrication processes produce a lightweight, transparent, and durable product. However, they do have a few notable differences.

Cast Acrylic 

Cast acrylic is recognized as the higher-quality acrylic. It is made by pouring liquid ingredients into a glass mold, where it hardens into a sheet. This process is more labor-intensive and expensive, however, it produces a harder, sturdier, and more homogenous product. 

Extruded Acrylic

Extruded acrylic is made through the process of extrusion, a continuous manufacturing method where acrylic monomers are heated, then fed through a series of rollers that add texture and form it into a sheet. While this process produces a more dimensionally stable sheet, the final product is limited to a certain thickness. Super thick material is not able to be produced through the extrusion process.

Cast Acrylic vs. Extruded Acrylic

Both cast and extruded acrylic are lightweight, optically clear thermoplastics with good electrical and UV resistivity. When it comes to picking one over the other, it all depends on your personal application and requirements.

Cast acrylic is often preferred for uses involving fragrances, lotions, and other solvents because of its superior chemical resistance. Due to limitations associated with the extrusion process, it is also used for impact-resistant applications, such as bullet-resistant windows. Additionally, its thermal stability and UV resistance make it an easy selection for high-temperature environments. 

Extruded acrylic really stands out when it comes to cost. The fabrication process is faster and easier than casting, lowering the overall cost of the project. It is more dimensionally stable, resulting in a uniform product. Lastly, extruded acrylic has a lower melting point, making it better suited to cementing and thermoforming.

Acrylic vs. Glass

When it comes to clear sheet material, acrylic and glass are some of the first to come to mind. Once again, the selection entirely depends on the application of the material, but there are some strong comparisons that can be made to help in the decision making. 

Glass offers a decorative elegance that acrylic cannot fully reciprocate, but there are many situations in which you would want to take advantage of the properties acrylic has to offer.  

Spread of colored acylic sheets

Applications and Grades of Acrylic

Acrylic is an incredibly versatile plastic that comes in many different grades to enhance its performance for specific applications. Some of these grades include special coatings to create abrasion-resistant, impact-modified, light-diffusing, bullet-resistant, sign-grade, non-glare, antimicrobial, and digital print acrylic sheets. 

Applications:

• Indoor and outdoor signs
• Frames and display cases
• Architectural glazing and skylights
• Shelves and retail fixtures
• Aquariums
• Transportation applications

Contact Us

For more information or inquiries about acrylic products, please contact us at 888-839-0681 or service@fixsupply.com.