What is Acrylic? Advantages & Technical features

Author: Susanna

Jan. 13, 2025

What is Acrylic? Advantages & Technical features

What kind of material is Acrylic?

Acrylic is a plastic whose scientific name is &#;polymethyl methacrylate&#; or PMMA for short. The material is more flexible than glass, making it much more impact-resistant. The plastic is also lightweight, making it suitable for a variety of applications. The most well-known variant is the clear one, which is just as transparent as regular glass.

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Fun fact: the material acrylic has been around for some time, approximately 100 years. Production really took off in the s. It was first introduced to the market in , and by now it has become indispensable!

Ideal replacement for glass

Its clarity, friendly price and high impact resistance make clear acrylic sheets the ideal replacement for regular glass. Acrylic sheet is also more flexible than glass and therefore less likely to break. This means that acrylic is often chosen for applications such as secondary glazing or skylights.

Other names you also may know Acrylic from

These other names of acrylic may look familiar to you. For example, you will have heard of the brand Perspex before, or the scientific name of acrylic: polymethyl methacrylate. This is often abbreviated to PMMA.

Scientific name Brand names Polymethyl methacrylate, PMMA Perspex, Plexiglas, Deglas, Versato, Paraglass, Altuglas, Vitredil, Vedril, Oroglas, Lucryl, Ispaglas, Crilux, Casocryl

Order your acrylic sheets quickly and easily online. The acrylic sheets will be cut to size for you.

The advantages of Acrylic

Acrylic has several advantages. Acrylic is strong, impact-resistant, lightweight and friendly priced. The clear acrylic sheets are also as clear as regular glass. Acrylic glass is also water- and UV-resistant and easy to maintain.

1. Impact resistant

Acrylic is more flexible than regular glass, making it less likely to break. Moreover, if you do manage to break acrylic, the sheet will not shatter like glass. Acrylic will then crack or break into larger pieces. The impact resistance combined with not splintering makes acrylic very safe to use with children, animals or in the garden, for example.

2. Lightweight

Compared to glass, acrylic is lightweight. This is good news if you are looking for a material for an application where the sheet must not weigh too much. Naturally, the thinner the sheet you choose, the lighter it will be.

3. Friendly price

Acrylic glass is friendly priced and, in addition, it is a durable material. This means you can enjoy the sheet for a long time. Moreover, acrylic is low-maintenance; a quick clean with mild soapy water and a soft cloth is sufficient. If there are any scratches on the sheet, you can always polish it with a polishing agent.

What is Acrylic mainly used for?

Acrylic glass is widely used by both professionals and DIY enthusiasts for all kinds of applications. These include making secondary glazing, a door awning, a kitchen wall panel or for windproofing animal pens.

Technical features

Below are the technical properties of acrylic.

  • Up to 92% light transmission
  • UV-resistant
  • Lightweight: 1.19 g/cm^3
  • Heat insulating
  • Soundproofing
  • Impact-resistant

Processing of Acrylic

Are you looking for trouble-free acrylic processing? Then we recommend you choose cast (GS) acrylic. It&#;s better to go for this type of sheet instead of an extruded (XT) sheet. This is because extruded (XT) sheets have a greater internal tension due to the way they are made. As a result, they are more likely to break or crack when you start processing them.

Below you will find all the processing options for acrylic sheets.

In which variants and colours is acrylic available?

Acrylic glass is available in a variety of versions. From the colour black, to crystal clear, and from tinted orange to reflective gold. In addition, acrylic sheets are available in different thicknesses and shapes, like acrylic discs. Each colour has different thicknesses available.

Thickness

Taking into account all the various sheets, acrylic is available in thicknesses ranging from 2 mm to 30 mm. The thinnest or thickest of these sheets are often only available in the clear variant. Of the other colours and finishes, specific forms of processing are possible for each colour or finish.

Colours

Acrylic glass is available in a variety of colours, shades and effects. There is, of course, the clear variant that most people will be familiar with. But apart from that, you can choose from a palette of colours and finishes. Below you will find all colours, such as blue, beige, red or green!

How acrylic plastic is made

The making of acrylic starts with a chemical reaction in a tank filled with sulphuric acid, hydrogen cyanide, methanol and acetone. Each manufacturer may vary the proportions slightly, but the outcome always produces a flow of PMMA. This is the raw material needed for the finished product. From here there are two methods to create an acrylic sheet: casting (GS) and extruding (XT)

Pouring the molten PMMA into a mould results in the most stable version of acrylic sheets. The sheet will become a product with almost no internal tension. Extruding the molten PMMA is a procedure which feeds the acrylic panels through a series of rollers, finally producing the acrylic sheet of the required thickness. One advantage of rolling the PMMA is a much faster and more efficient process. The main disadvantage is that this process increases the internal tension in the material. The internal tension in extruded acrylic sheets increases the chance of the sheet breaking when working on the material.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Acrylic Sheet

Acrylic sheets are a famous choice for many applications. Other names for these sheets are Plexiglas or acrylic glass, as these sheets are versatile and have unique features. So these are useful in many applications.

With competitive price and timely delivery, XISHUN Acrylic sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.

Moreover, these sheets are transparent with a blend of art and elegance. But when it comes to renovation and construction, many manufacturers prefer to invest in this material.

To know more about these sheets at Planet ECO, read this blog. Here we will discuss the benefits of acrylic sheets and their features.

Advantages of Acrylic Sheets:

Optical Clarity:

The major benefit of acrylic sheets is that they have optical clarity. Therefore these sheets allow light to pass from the glass. So this sheet is the right option for applications where transparency is necessary.

Lightweight and Easy to Handle:

The acrylic sheets are lightweight compared to glass. So these are easy to handle and install. This feature makes sheets perfect for large installations. Therefore, buy Acrylic Sheet from the right store.

Impact Resistance:

The better thing about acrylic sheets is that they resist impact. So these are the better alternative to glass. Therefore these are useful in structures where breakage is the major issue. These include sports centers, homes, and schools.

Weather Resistance:

Along with impact resistance, acrylic sheets resist the weather. This way, these enhance clarity and integrity in bad weather. Moreover, these sheets remain perfect after great exposure to UV. So these are useful in many architectural applications.

Versatility in Fabrication:

As acrylic sheets are easy to cut and mold. So these can be customized in different designs. That is why these sheets are versatile and used in many applications. So buy these sheets from Planet Eco.

UV and Chemical Resistance:

Acrylic sheets are the right option to resist UV light and chemicals. So it enhances the life and suitability of applications.

Thermal Insulation:

Sheets made of acrylic have better thermal insulation compared to glass. So these help to regulate temperature and save energy. Therefore, buy Acrylic Sheet from the right store.

Cost-Effective:

Acrylic sheets are a cost-effective option compared to glass. Also, these are durable and transparent at low prices.

Disadvantages of Acrylic Sheets:

With its several advantages, there are some disadvantages that you must know before investing in it.

Scratching and Scuffing:

As acrylic sheets resist impact but there are more chances of scratches. It is because these sheets don&#;t resist scratch. So proper cleaning and maintenance is necessary.

Less Rigid than Glass:

Acrylic sheets have less rigidity compared to glass. So these are less stable in many applications. To enhance the rigidity of the structure, thick acrylic sheets from Planet Eco are necessary.

Vulnerable to Chemicals:

Hough acrylic sheets resist chemicals, but some solvents may impact these sheets. So you must be careful while using agents on acrylic sheets for cleaning.

Lower Heat Resistance:

The heat resistance is less in acrylic sheets compared to glass. So these may melt soon at high temperatures. Therefore, buy Acrylic Sheet from the right store.

Susceptible to Static Electricity:

Acrylic sheets are more susceptible to electricity. So these attract more dust and dirt. Therefore proper cleaning of these sheets is necessary.

Before buying acrylic sheets, you must find out the best and most reliable suppliers, like Planet ECO, who provide the best range of acrylic sheets in different forms!

Conclusion:

Acrylic sheets are versatile and water and impact resistance. So these are useful in many applications. As the sheets are useful but also come with some limitations. These include heat sensitivity and low rigidity. So when you have to buy these sheets from Planet ECO in UAE, then make sure to consider their pros and cons. After knowing all these things, you will be able to make the right decision. So bring elegance to your structures with the right sheet.

We have discussed the benefits of acrylic sheets. Now you come to know why these sheets are so famous across industries!

The company is the world’s best high quality acrylic sheets supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

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