Acrylic Sheet
Leyu
LY20231017
Mitsubishi Corporation Lucite brand acrylic raw material
20-800mm
Swimming Pool Acrylic aquarium
Wooden box, iron frame
Provide technical guidance and on-site installation services
Transparency reaches 92%
Can customize cylindrical cylinders of different sizes
Uvioresistant
5000 tons
Clear transparency, 92%
various shapes
Availability: | |
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Product Description
Acrylic or glass? That's the questions manufacturers and designers ask across a variety of industries, including those that make furniture, vehicles, medical supplies, and farm and recreation equipment. When a transparent material is needed, the design team often has to choose between laminated or tempered glass or acrylic sheeting. If you're choosing between these materials, our injection molding company is comparing the two on several levels to help you determine which option is best for your project.
Glass and acrylic are two extremely different materials all the way down to their chemical structure. While they are far from interchangeable, they can be used for many of the same things, though. Both are transparent materials with over 90 percent light transmittance and available in large sheets. This is why they are both used frequently used to make windows, electronics' screens, aquariums, and vehicle windshields. Beyond those, the two materials are very different in almost every other factor.
If you're choosing between acrylic and glass, let's first look at why you may want to opt for acrylic sheets over glass:
A sheet of acrylic weighs less than half of a similarly sized sheet of glass. This makes it easier to carry, install, and transport.
Not only are the material costs of acrylic around half the cost of the same size sheet of glass, but the costs related to manufacturing custom acrylic components are much lower too. Acrylic is a thermoplastic, meaning it can be shaped and molded when heated up without losing it's properties. This means shaping and trimming is going to be much less labor intensive than it is to cut and mold glass, minimizing the manufacturing costs, and because it's lighter in weight, shipping will be less, too.
One of the main benefits of using thermoplastic over glass is the impact resistance. Acrylic has a much higher rating for impact resistance - roughly 17 times more - than even tempered glass and most incidents of wear and tear won't cause it to break or crack.
When glass breaks, it tends to shatter into big, uneven pieces with sharp, dangerous edges. Even tempered glass, known as "safety glass" shatters into small pieces that are difficult to clean, and while they aren't sharp, can still cause injury.
From shape to functionality to decoration, acrylic offers a multitude of customization options. As we mentioned, it's easy to trim and shape through thermoforming, plus, it can be tinted with different colors while still maintaining its transparency. The qualities of acrylic itself can also be changed through coatings. For example, acrylic can be easy to scratch and will allow UV rays to pass through, but UV coatings can block them while anti-scratch coatings (hardcoating) provides extra protection.
Even though acrylic does offer several benefits, it's important to factor in where glass may be the better option. Glass is more resistant to scratching in its natural state, whereas acrylic requires an anti-scratch coating to prevent scuffs and scrapes.
Also, recycling and sustainability is a factor to consider. While acrylic is one of the more sustainable thermoplastics, able to be melted down and made into new materials with ease, the process of recycling acrylic can release chemicals into the air. Glass recycling is less expensive, simpler, and gentler on the environment.
"Sneeze guards" or barriers used at restaurants, in front of cash register stands, or at bank and receptionist windows;
Recreational and farm vehicle windshields;
Fish tanks and aquariums;
Eyeglasses and sunglasses;
Commercial windows and doors;
Television and electronics' screens;
Skylights
Windows in airplanes and submarines
Mirrors in commercial spaces
Signs and displays in retail and commercial spaces
Contact Leyu acrylic for Custom Acrylic Manufacturing
If you decide that acrylic or plexiglass in place of glass is right for you, we can help.
Before we begin discussing the differences between acrylic sheet and glass, we must first understand the two types of acrylic sheet. Cast acrylic is made by pouring liquid ingredients into a glass mold, where it then hardens into a strong sheet. Plexiglass, one of the most well-known acrylic brands, is manufactured using this cell cast process. Alternatively, extruded acrylic is manufactured using an extrusion process which pushes the liquid through an extruder and rollers to create a similar sheet. While there are some key differences between cast and extruded acrylic, the benefits of both are extremely similar.
Impact Resistance: Acrylic has a higher impact resistance than glass. It is also 10 times more shatter resistant than glass.
While acrylic and glass can be used interchangeably in some applications, there are many situations where you would want to take advantage of the superior properties of acrylic. Acrylic is the best choice for situations that require:
Better optical clarity
Long-term cost effectiveness
Easy fabrication and installation
Enhanced UV protection
Lightweight properties
Enhanced security
Where Is Acrylic Used?
Acrylic has quickly become one of the most versatile and widely used plastic materials in the world. It offers a clear advantage in a myriad of applications due to its exceptional clarity, durability, and resistance to UV light and weathering.
Commonly utilized in both indoor and outdoor settings, acrylic is the preferred material for products like signage, retail display cases, and window glazing. Its impact resistance and optical clarity make it an ideal choice for safety-related uses such as aquarium tanks, protective barriers in banks or stores, and face shields used in medical settings. Additionally, its ease of fabrication and ability to be molded into various shapes enhances its suitability for decorative panels, furniture, and lighting fixtures, showcasing acrylic’s flexibility across different industries.
This adaptability, combined with its aesthetic qualities, ensures that acrylic sheet continues to be indispensable in commercial, industrial, and residential applications.
Camper Shell / Truck Cap Windows
Drive Up Windows
Skylights
Displays | Point of Sale
Point of Sale Displays (POS)
Store Fixtures
Exhibits
Aquariums
Signage
Cashier Safety Shield
Safety Partition
Transit Operator Barriers
School Glazing
And More!
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