Polycarbonates cannot be polished if they lose their clarity due to any reason. Most acrylic sheets range from $10 to $2,000 in price. If you’re interested in learning more about commercial glass services, contact Missouri Glass. Image clarity: Unlike glass, acrylic … ‘Polycarbonate’ is another form of plastic. Acrylic sheets are easy to glue and are good for milling, bending and hot forming and is therefore a material suitable for many different applications. However, they tend to use the term Plexiglass instead so people don’t associate it with acrylic. So in other words, plexiglass means acrylic but acrylic does not mean plexiglass. Our AGM goes […], We would like to introduce you to our new website! Firstly, acrylic is a kind of plastic. Glass shower doors are elegant and modern, but they might leave you searching for (or wondering) what the best way to clean glass shower doors is. While acrylic glass sheet is resistant to most chemical compounds such as detergents, inorganic chemicals, diluted acids, hydrocarbons, its chemical resistance is not that good as that of polycarbonate. While drilling can be an essential point to make joints between two pieces of acrylic or polycarbonate sheet, if not done with due care drilling can cause damage to the acrylic sheet for more than one reason. ‘Acrylic’ or ‘acrylic plastic’ or ‘acrylic glass’ is a type of plastic which to much extent resembles the traditional glass in more than one way. Other than being used for eye protection, polycarbonate is also used to make projectile resistant viewing and lighting applications that require much higher impact resistance and therefore makes it more preferable than using glass. To avoid any scratch on their surface, one should never make a contact with its surface with any kind of abrasive material. x 36 in. For example, eyeglass lenses are commonly made from acrylic because acrylic can be more scratch and shatter resistant in addition to being less reflective than glass, which can reduce the amount of glare. Most commonly, acrylic transparent sheets are known by the name of one of their most famous brand names called ‘Plexiglass’ with which it is traded. Web Design by, Upgrading Security with Bullet-Resistant Glass. Lucite is an acrylic plastic resin used primarily in windows and fashionable interior and furniture design due to its strength, crystal transparency, and flexibility along with its resistance to UV rays, wind, and water. Polycarbonate is also used in making eyewear. The acrylic is sometimes interchangeably called Plexiglass (the brand name). Although it scratches easily, acrylic typically lasts longer than glass. But there are a few notable differences. For a better and smoother surface, acrylic glass sheets can be polished while polycarbonate sheets cannot be. Plexiglass is often also referred to as acrylic. Acrylic is a transparent thermoplastic known as polyacrylate and is derived from natural-gas. Not all acrylic is created equal. You’re paying for the more substantial manufacturing process and, usually, a product that is more customized to your needs. From the very beginning of its inception to this very day, plastic has served both its domestic and commercial consumers in numerous ways. Typically, the only difference is in the way in which the two products are manufactured. The primary mechanical difference between extruded acrylic and Plexiglass is its surface hardness. Acrylic is a transparent plastic material with outstanding strength, stiffness, and optical clarity. Extensive data collected on the use of acrylic and polycarbonate both have shown no signs of any hazards and are therefore considered safe for use in making any type of product which comes in direct contact with human food. That’s because our high-performance plastic … Polycarbonate (Lexan) vs Acrylic (Lucite) May 3rd, 2018 Sheet grade polycarbonate (aka Lexan or Makrolon) and acrylic sheet (aka Lucite) are two of the most frequently used see-through plastics. Q: What is acrylic made of? Polycarbonate is used in making molds for casting urethane and silicone, It is used for making industrial machinery guards, In the automobile industry, car makers use it extensively to make different kinds of vehicle parts such as windshields and headlights, Polycarbonate is also used in making telephone and computer cases and covers. Now that you know the differences between plexiglass vs acrylic, this should help you plan your use of either product in the future. Under conditions of high pressure, polycarbonates sheets remain intact while acrylic sheets have more chances of being easily cracked. Other trade names for acrylic include Acrylite, Perspex, Lucite, and Crylux. Recompare is modern all in one price comparison and review theme with best solutions for affiliate marketing. When it comes to fire and heat resistance, polycarbonate sheets can resist fires and heats level at a higher rate than acrylic sheets. While many people are simply familiar with the general word ‘Plastic’, very few know about its types and its extended qualities. Both acrylic and polycarbonate sheets can be used for glazing as well. Plexiglas. When it comes to durability, both acrylic and polycarbonate sheets tend to resist weather and any other wear and tear factors to much extent. Acrylic vs Plexiglass, A Comparison Guide! Acrylic sheet is easy to fabricate, bonds well with adhesives and solvents, and is easy to thermoform. Unlike traditional glass sheets, both acrylic and polycarbonate sheets can be easily used. Learn more about how to choose between polycarbonate vs. acrylic. While planning to buy the right characteristic sheet, you might want to search a bit more about each of these. Our safety program seems simple in terms of how it is implemented. x .220 in. Acrylic is often clearer than glass (which can have a green tint), and due to its lighter weight, acrylic is also more cost effective to ship. When it comes to adjusting to the temperatures of the space where these plastic types are to be used, acrylic glass sheets can be used between a temperature range of -30⁰ F to 190⁰ F. Contrary to this, polycarbonate sheets can resist temperatures as high as 240⁰ F. Both acrylic and polycarbonate sheets may expand or contract slightly due to changes in temperature levels of their surroundings. Polycarbonate is also used to make bullet proof glass sheets, Polycarbonate is also used to make luggage bags. But definitely both these plastic types have a few critical differences as well which gives them an edge over each other but also provides a reason of why they should be preferred over using traditional glass when it comes selecting between the right type for any particular kind of job. All content cited is derived from their respective sources. When considering the differences between plexiglass vs acrylic, the reality is, they’re very similar. Polycarbonate and acrylic are suitable for use in a variety of applications, some similar, and some very different. So, if you’re paying more for a Plexiglas product, you’re not just paying for the brand name. As a result, acrylic is used in a lot of applications in which you might otherwise expect glass to be used. Much like acrylic plastic, polycarbonate plastic also has the quality of being light weight while being able to deliver heavy performance by combining a balance mix of factors like optical clarity, dimensional stability, excellent electrical insulation and high heat resistance. Enable registration in settings - general. You can even purchase … In other words, it’s a kind of plastic—specifically, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). Do not use any other liquid or hard piece of cloth to clean the acrylic surface as it will only damage it. How do we get across to you […], The Clear Choice for Glass in the St. Louis Metro Region, © 2021 Missouri Glass Co | After the reaction has completed and the acrylic has cured, the glass is separated from the acrylic and the acrylic sheet is inspected. How much do acrylic sheets cost? Although polycarbonate sheets can also be bent, they do not require heat for this purpose and can be easily bent or shaped under normal temperatures without breaking or cracking. Let’s break down what plexiglass, acrylic and a mysterious third contender, Plexiglas, are and the differences between them. As a matter of fact, the impact resistance strength of an acrylic glass sheet is 10 times to that of a traditional glass. Plexiglass is a kind of clear acrylic sheet, and it is specifically used as a generic term to refer to a few different products that are manufactured under different names, including Plexiglas, the original trademarked name. This demo site is only for demonstration purposes. www.missouriglass.com/blog/plexiglass-vs-acrylic-whats-the-difference Today, a number of manufacturers create plexiglass acrylic products sold under brand names including Acrylite, Crylux, Lucite and Perspex. 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