Acrylic Plastic: A New-Age Plastic

 
 

Plastics are an integral part of our life. We use plastics in almost every object, from frames to doors, bottles and buckets. We are all surrounded by plastics. 

There are a variety of plastics available in the market for you to choose from. One of which is acrylic plastic, which is now gaining popularity. This new-age plastic is currently utilised in manufacturing most objects, from sporting equipment to windows.  

If you want to get hold of acrylic plastics, then check us out at McNeall Plastics.

What Is Acrylic Plastic?

Acrylic plastic, commonly named PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), is a transparent thermoplastic homopolymer plastic material that possesses extraordinary strength, optical clarity and stiffness. It is also known as Plexiglass as it exhibits glass-like qualities, such as transparency, clarity and brilliance. However, its weight is half the weight of the glass but has a more significant impact resistance. This plastic material is similar to polycarbonate and is used mostly as a replacement for glass.

Acrylic plastic was first manufactured in 1928 and then introduced to the market by Rohm and Hass company five years later. It was first used to manufacture submarine periscopes, turrets, canopies and aeroplane windows. 

In this modern era, acrylic plastic is used in acrylic nails, security barriers, LCD screens, lenses, paint, furniture and medical devices. It is also often used in manufacturing skylights, retail store fixtures, shelves, displays and durable signs. Because of its natural transparency and impact resistance, acrylic plastic is also commonly used in tanks and windows. It is durable and has aesthetic qualities making it the most versatile material. 

Acrylic plastic sheets can be easily fabricated, and they bond perfectly with solvents and adhesives. They also possess better weathering properties compared to other plastics.

Properties Of Acrylic Plastics And Sheets

Acrylic plastics are quite popular because of their unique properties, which make them different from other plastics. Here are some of the key properties of acrylic plastics:

  • Excellent impact resistance

  • Good weather ability and UV resistance

  • Excellent optical clarity

  • Lightweight

  • Amazing chemical resistance to all solvents

  • High dimensional stability.

Advantages Of Acrylic Plastic 

Acrylic plastic has several advantages over other transparent plastics, which is why it is commonly used in manufacturing items requiring transparency.

Here are the advantages that make it superior to other transparent plastics:

Lighter But Stronger

The most significant advantage of using acrylic sheets over glass is their lightweight. It is stronger, more durable and 50% lighter than glass. Processing the acrylic sheets in the extruded form or cast will not reduce the toughness but make it 10 times tougher than glass. 

Moreover, if the acrylic sheet gets broken whilst processing, it won’t shatter into small pieces but will break into large pieces. Thus, it is better from the safety point of view as well. This feature makes it best for products like sliding doors, windows and shower doors.

Easy To Maintain

When it comes to cleaning and maintenance, acrylic plastics are easier to work with. You can use a wet microfiber cloth to wipe or clean the plastic. Rough towels are not recommended for cleaning because they might create scratches on their surface. Also, chemical cleaners should not be used as the chemicals present in them may lead to roughness on the acrylic’s surface. Soapy water is the best to use for cleaning acrylic plastic. You can check on the label of the acrylic sheet to know if you can paint on acrylic plastic or not.

Pro Tip: When cleaning an acrylic sheet, make sure to use cloth with water to remove the dust particles so that they could not cause any harm to the acrylic’s surface.

Easy To Process And Shape

Acrylic plastics are easy to process and mould into different shapes. When heated, they become soft and thus become flexible to be moulded into various shapes, sizes and forms. After cooling, it becomes quite hard and retains shape, which makes it easier to process them in machines further. Metal and wooden moulds are used to give shape to acrylic sheets, and these materials make the shaping process cost-efficient.

McNeall Plastics: Helping Businesses Through Plastic Engineering and Manufacturing

The bottom line is that acrylic plastics are best for manufacturing products that require transparency and high-impact resistance, such as windows and doors. This type of plastic is the perfect substitute for glass and other clear plastics. It is also commonly used in the decoration industry because of its aesthetic appeal. If you want to know if you can paint on acrylic plastic or not, consult your manufacturer. 

 
 
Cathy Ellis