Acrylic is a clear plastic made from acrylic acid or a related compound. There are two types: extruded and cast. It is stronger, lighter, and more transparent than glass, but more expensive and can melt when exposed to direct flame. Proper care can make it last for decades.
The term “acrylic” is used for products that contain a substance derived from acrylic acid or a related compound. Most often, it is used to describe a clear glass-like plastic known as poly(methyl) methacrylate (PMMA). PMMA, also called acrylic glass, has properties that make it a better choice for many products that might otherwise be made from glass. There are two basic types: extruded and cast.
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Extruded acrylic is made through a process where liquid plastic is pushed through rollers, which press it into sheets as it cools. This is a relatively inexpensive process, but the resulting sheets are softer than cast acrylic, can scratch more easily, and may contain impurities. Extruded acrylic is still generally considered to be of good quality and is usually the most common type available on the market.
Cellular cast acrylic tends to be higher quality than extruded, but it’s also more expensive. In cell casting, single sheets are made by pressing liquid plastic between pieces of a mold, often glass, which is then taken through a gradual heating process. The resulting sheet is stronger than extruded acrylic. This type is often used for aquariums, awards, and other products that require shaping or machining of the final product.
Advantages
Many different products are made from acrylic, including shower doors, bathroom enclosures, windows and skylights. It is several times stronger than glass, making it much more resistant to impact and therefore safer. For example, falling against the shower door won’t break it; baseballs that would otherwise crash into glass windows will, in most cases, simply bounce off the acrylic windows. It also insulates better than glass, potentially saving you money on your heating bills.
Acrylic glass is also very transparent, allowing 92% of visible light to pass through. Glass will very often have a green tinge, while acrylic will remain clear. It also holds up well, maintaining its clarity over the years without yellowing or disintegrating when exposed to sunlight over an extended period of time.
Another advantage of acrylic is that it weighs only half as much as glass. This makes this material easier to work with and makes it a better choice for projects where weight is an issue. It can also be sawn, while glass must be etched.
Virtually all major public aquariums now build display tanks out of this thermoplastic, and it’s often used in many other buildings. When this material is just over 1 inch (about 25 mm) thick, it is bullet resistant; the presidential motorcade, pope’s booth vehicle, cashier enclosures, and drive-through window closures are all made from bullet-resistant acrylic. It is also used for airplane windows.
Shaping
A unique property of this thermoplastic material is its ability to be molded. Extruded acrylic is not as strong as cell cast and tends to crack or chip during processing, so most higher-quality products are made from cast acrylic. The structures can also be made without seams, as chemical welding at the molecular level actually ‘melts’ the seams into one solid piece of material. Properly welded and polished seams are invisible.
Misconceptions and disadvantages
There are some misconceptions about acrylic, namely that it yellows, becomes brittle, and cracks over time. While this might be true for cheap plastic shapes, it isn’t so for acrylic. When cared for, this material can remain new for several decades, regardless of age or sun exposure. Some people worry that it scratches too easily, but unlike glass, scratches can be erased.
For all of its advantages, there are two disadvantages to acrylic: it is more expensive than glass, and if exposed to direct flame, it will melt and eventually burn. Burning releases toxic fumes, so safety precautions should always be taken when cutting with power tools or bending using heat. When not cared for properly, or when an inferior quality acrylic is used, it can become scratched and improperly made seams can be very visible.
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