Plexiglass Vs Acrylic Sheets

Key difference acrylic vs plexiglass.

Plexiglass vs acrylic sheets.

The biggest difference between plexiglas and some traditional acrylic is the way they are manufactured. Acrylic is generally less expensive than polycarbonate but different coating and grade options may alter the price of each material. The key differenc e between acrylic and plexiglass is that plexiglass is a brand name of acrylic sheets. So what is commonly known as plexiglass is really a brand of acrylic pmma.

Standard extruded acrylic is softer making it ideal for gluing pieces of this material together. In addition to this both are sensitive to heat. Acrylic sheets are easy to glue and are good for milling bending and hot forming and is therefore a material suitable for many different applications. Plexiglass has a harder surface so cracking becomes less of an issue.

These are general guidelines for thickness tolerances on plexiglass acrylic sheets. Acrylic is often used interchangeably with plexiglas which is trademarked by rohm and hass. Exact thickness tolerances will vary by manufacturer. However softer material tends to crack or chip when drilling or cutting it.

Typically plexiglass and acrylic products referred to as plexiglass will have very similar qualities. The material became available for commercial use in 1936 under the protected trademark plexiglas. The acrylic is sometimes interchangeably called plexiglass the brand name. The terms acrylic and plexiglass are often used interchangeably for plastic sheets made from a polymer derived from esters of methacrylic acid.

It is a clear plastic. Acrylic latices may derive from esters of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid. The acrylic glass was developed in the year 1928 in some laboratories by chemists such as william chalmers and it was made available to the market under the plexiglas trademark. The following are pros of acrylic plexiglass.

The primary mechanical difference between extruded acrylic and plexiglass is its surface hardness. While working on them make sure you pay a bit attention to the plexiglass sheet since it can crack or chip off. Typically the only difference is in the way in which the two products are manufactured. The generic name for plexiglas is plexiglass and the material also goes by the trade names of acrylite lucite and perspex.

That is the biggest benefit to purchasing plexiglas over other brands of acrylic sheeting. Acrylic sheeting is usually manufactured using one of two processes. Extrusion or cell casting. Pcs can withstand the temperature of 240 degrees fahrenheit and that of acrylic is 190 degrees fahrenheit.

Acrylic can be manufactured one of two ways. Please call us at 858 560 1551 with any questions.