Acrylic, also known as Plexiglass, is a versatile plastic material with a variety of purposes and benefits, available in a spectrum of colors and opacities. Acrylic plastic was first produced in 1928 and brought to the market by Rohm and Hass Company around 1933. It was initially used during World War ll for products such as airplane windows, canopies, and turrets.
Today, acrylic is most commonly sold in sheets of various thicknesses but can also be found in forms such as rods or tubes, and styles such as frosted, mirrored, or non-glare. Not only is acrylic available in many shapes and sizes, they can also be molded and colored to fit specific applications. No matter what option best suits your needs, acrylic will provide a cost-effective, durable material for your project.
Since acrylic combines a wide variety of options with a copious amount of benefits, they can be fashioned into a diverse range of useful products. This includes aquariums, retail displays, window panes, and even bulletproof glass! Acrylic is almost certainly bound to be an exemplary choice no matter what purpose it is used for.
Acrylic plastic is a transparent thermoplastic homopolymer that is often colloquially referred to as plexiglass. This plastic has unique properties that make it ideal for a variety of purposes, ranging from basic household items to fiber optic cables that power the world. These properties have allowed acrylic to enjoy immense popularity in manufacturing as well as DIY projects:
Out of all these properties, the most commonly cited advantage of acrylic is its durability. Despite its lower price point, it is 10 times more impact resistant than glass. In the unlikely event that acrylic plastic does break, it will fracture into dull-edged pieces instead of sharp, dangerous shards. These properties contribute to acrylic's popularity as windows for commercial buildings.
Whether you’re looking for strength, longevity, or clarity, acrylic plastic offers several advantages over other materials and is extremely versatile—meaning it can be used in a variety of different applications. Here are a few examples:
If you are looking for a transparent plastic that is easily moldable and has high impact resistance, it may be acrylic plastic that you ultimately need to finish your project.
Acrylic plexiglass sheets are thermoplastics, often purchased in sheets as a lightweight or shatter-resistant alternative to glass. Acrylic is known by many names, with generic names including acrylic, acrylic glass, and plexiglass. Brand names include Plexiglas, Evonik Cryo Acrylite, Lucite, Plaskolite, Optix, Perspex, and more.
The thickness of an acrylic sheet will positively influence factors like impact resistance. For cast acrylic sheets, there's a wide variety of thicknesses ranging from .06 inches to 4 inches thick. Specifically, these thicknesses are .06", 1⁄8", 3⁄16",1⁄4", 3⁄8", 1⁄4", 1⁄2", 1", 1.25", 1.5", 2", 2.5", 3", and 4".
Pricing is dependent on the size, thickness, and quantity of acrylic purchased. As a result, it is difficult to be precise without asking for a quote directly. For an estimate, view our extruded acrylic sheet and cast acrylic sheet product pages.
Plexiglass is a colloquial way to refer to clear acrylic sheets---making acrylic and plexiglass the same product. The origin of the term "plexiglass" comes from a brand of clear cast acrylic sheets called "Plexiglas," but today plexiglass and acrylic are often used interchangeably.
While Acme Plastics offers more advanced methods for cutting and machining acrylic, the process is simple to accomplish at home with basic tools. While basic tools are not the optimal way to cut acrylic both a scoring knife and a Dremel are popular ways to cut acrylic. If an optimal cut is needed, then it's best to have plastic cut by an expert with specialty tools.
A scoring knife is an easy and accessible way to cut thin sheets of acrylic in a clean, straight line. Simply do the following:
A Dremel is one way to cut sheets of acrylic into complex shapes. After taking all necessary safety precautions, consider using the following steps:
While it is possible to cut acrylic plastics yourself, consider enlisting the help of experts to ensure the cutting process is done correctly the first time. Having your acrylic sheets machined by a professional will ensure a clean cut, the proper finish, and most importantly, your overall safety.
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