Acrylic is known by different names and is common because of various qualities, including impact and scratch resistance, glossiness and high load-bearing capability. Different types of acrylic sheets are suited for different applications. Also, acrylic sheets come in various dimensions in terms of thickness and width. The sheets are mainly used as a replacement for glass because they are shatter-resistant. Here are some tips for beginners to know about acrylic sheets.

Extruded Acrylic

Extruded acrylic is manufactured by constantly pushing acrylic via a form to produce heterogeneous and impact-resistant products. When compared to other types of production, extrusion produces acrylic that is dimensionally stable and affordable for most clients, especially those on a low budget. Therefore, extruded acrylic is a cost-effective sheet for various applications. The production process can produce acrylic sheets with different properties based on the direction of extrusion. Besides, the materials have desirable properties such as a low melting point and being highly malleable. Therefore, extruded acrylic can withstand different fabrication processes, such as thermoforming, laser cutting, and polishing. Furthermore, extruded acrylic can tolerate a host of extreme conditions like sunlight, humidity, heat, and cold without degrading the material. For instance, extended exposure to sunlight does not cause extruded acrylic sheets to become yellow over time due to the effects of ultraviolet rays.

Cell Cast Acrylic Sheets

Cell cast acrylic is the highest and most costly grade of acrylic that is popular due to its thermal stability and visual clarity. Notably, this type of sheet is expensive because of the labour-intensive process that goes into production to yield a homogenous and rigid product. In this process, liquid ingredients are mixed with glass moulds to produce the desired acrylic sheets. Further, casting helps acrylic sheets to become highly resistant to chemicals and, thus, suitable for applications that entail solvents and chemicals. Moreover, cast acrylic sheets support different machining processes because they are thick and do not distort easily.

Choosing the Right Acrylic Sheet

When buying acrylic sheets, you can use different methods to know if you are getting a quality product. A straightforward test is observing and touching the material to get a feel of the thickness, pores, and colour. Acrylic sheets should be free of any pores that might be indicative of low strength due to extra calcium content. Also, check out for the glossiness of a material. The glossiness should be very high to make the sheet transparent — otherwise, the sheet is of low quality.

Talk to an acrylic plastic company to learn more.