Looking through a new, clear sheet of each you probably wouldn’t notice the difference. Acrylic is often compared to polycarbonate, another transparent polymer sometimes used for bearing loads. Acrylic VS Polycarbonate. Acrylic is … The unique physical properties and manufacturing process of each plastic allows sheeting to be produced in a variety of forms specifically designed to fulfill both broad and narrow applications. Polycarbonate has 250 times the impact resistance of glass. Acrylic sheeting, commonly referred to as plexiglass sheeting, is the most common alternative to traditional glass. Acrylic is a transparent plastic material with outstanding strength, stiffness, and optical clarity. The obvious place to start is the chemical structures and raw materials that make up these incredible plastics. Values may vary according to brand name. Acrylic is marginally clearer than polycarbonate and the difference is negligible but the gap will widen if polycarbonate is allowed to yellow, as a result of sun-exposure. Polycarbonate is yet another type of thermoplastic polymer used in manufacturing. Making the Correct Choice: Acrylic vs Polycarbonate Luminaire Lenses. As a result, both plastics are used in a number of applications across a range of industries. As a result, polycarbonate and acrylic look, feel and act differently due to the specific kinds of molecules they’re made up of and how they’re put together. The comparison gives a clear idea of the right one to apply for a specific task. Here is the much awaited comparison between the most commonly used clear products in the industry, Acrylic & Polycarbonate. Difference Between Acrylic (Plexiglass) vs Polycarbonate (Lexan) Glass. Now that you know what both Plexiglass and Lexan are made of and when they are often used for, let’s compare the two. Most consumers do not understand the difference between these two types. It’s usually chosen over other forms of plastic sheeting because of its strength and resistance to impact. When shopping for a basketball backboard you will discover many different materials that basketball backboards are made of. You could leave acrylic to soak up those rays for days, weeks, months, or even years on end. Polycarbonate can be bent to a tight radius, 100 times the thickness (R=Tx100), without cracking or crazing. All statements, technical information and recommendations contained in this publication are for informational purposes only. The best choice for cleaning is a microfibre or 100-percent cotton cloths. On the other hand, if you are looking for high impact resistance, polycarbonate sheeting is the obvious choice. Heat deflection temperature @ 66 psi/264 psi, Maximum continuous service temperature in air, Light transmittance (transparency/clarity). Please ask your Curbell Plastics representative for more specific information about an individual brand. Polycarbonate sheet has a UK Class 1 fire rating whereas acrylic has a UK Class 3 fire rating. Acrylic has 17 times the impact resistance of glass. Today, a number of manufacturers create plexiglass acrylic products sold under brand names including Acrylite, Crylux, Lucite and Perspex. Polycarbonate is sometimes called Lexan (trademarked name by GE Plastics) or Makrolon. Polycarbonate is a polymer of a carbonate group and bisphenol. Additionally over time both will lose visual clarity, the difference being that acrylic be polished to regain it; polycarbonate cannot be. Here are some common applications: Spectator protection for ice hockey rinks. The key difference between polycarbonate and acrylic is that polycarbonate is nearly unbreakable, whereas acrylic can be breakable if a higher force is applied. Acrylic and polycarbonate are very useful plastics with a wide variety of properties. Hammerglass® is another polycarbonate mainly used for security and against vandalism. How to choose between acrylic and polycarbonate. Polycarbonate vs. Acrylic for Greenhouses Glass has been a mainstay in greenhouse construction for centuries, but while its light transmitting properties are ideal for plant growth and natural indoor lighting, its performance as a durable construction material leaves a lot to be desired. Don’t misunderstand my preference for acrylic. Polycarbonate sheets can cost on average about 35% more than acrylic. Polycarbonate is far more impact resistant than acrylic but easier to scratch - polycarbonate is virtually unbreakable. Polycarbonate is, to an extent, more resistant to chemicals than acrylic, but substances such as ammonia can cause damage over the long-run. Although easy to fabricate, unlike cast and extruded acrylic sheet material, the edges of polycarbonate cannot be polished. Where security and safety is an issue, glass should be used because acrylic sheet is not resistant to heat and may even catch fire. Batch cell is the most common form of bulk polymerization because it is effective at making acrylic sheets in thicknesses from 0.06 to 6.0 inches and widths from 3 feet to several hundred feet. Learn more about how to choose between polycarbonate vs. acrylic. Also, be sure to check out our complete acrylic and polycarbonate product lines. These two types of plastics are oftentimes compared to one another because they are similar in appearance and the most frequently utilized see-through plastic materials on the market. Each exhibits particular advantageous and disadvantageous characteristics that make one or the other more appropriate to use in a given application. The polycarbonate and acrylic both are available in different colors. Polycarbonate is more flexible than acrylic, but will bend more under load bearing application. If you are interested in clarity and light transmittance, acrylic sheets will outperform polycarbonate sheets. Don't get us wrong; polycarbonate is definitely necessary and extremely useful. Methyl methacrylate is typically created by reacting acetone with sodium cyanide to produce acetone cyanohydrin. Both polycarbonate sheets vs. acrylic sheets offer a ton of benefits over glass and other transparent materials. From durable signs and skylights to eye-catching retail store fixtures, displays, and shelves, acrylic plastics provide outstanding versatility, durability, and aesthetic qualities. Both plastics are resilient materials in comparison to its glass counterparts. Strength: The polycarbonate is stronger than the acrylic. Acrylic vs Polycarbonate. First, like polycarbonate, acrylic has very high transmissivity (it allows for the passage of light). Acrylic is a transparent plastic material with outstanding strength, stiffness, and optical clarity. All rights hereto are retained by Curbell Plastics and any third party owners of such rights. Acrylic Vs. Polycarbonate - Understanding The Differences. Acrylic (PMMA): Acrylic is also well known for two principal characteristics. Product link URL Join Andy Joe Plastic Hero as he tests glass, acrylic and polycarbonate against the force of a baseball bat! When it comes to clear backboards, two types you will commonly see are acrylic and polycarbonate. Choosing one over the other depends entirely on the specifics of your application. Less expensive than polycarbonate. Acrylic is more rigid than polycarbonate, which … Acrylic is preferred when very clear, lightweight material is needed, or when a specific size or shape is required because it is easily formed without impacting visibility. This overall creation process is known as polymerization. Acrylic is often compared to polycarbonate, another transparent polymer sometimes used for bearing loads. Solve application challenges, find answers to material questions, and get valuable technical advice. Polycarbonate sheet is often used in bullet proof glass and riot shield and helmets. Have questions about acrylic or polycarbonate? First off, it is important to note that both acrylic and polycarbonate backboards share quite a lot of similarities. It has superior weathering properties compared to many other transparent plastics. While they are often considered to be similar in materials and applications, they can be used for different things and have different benefits. While they are often considered to be similar in materials and applications, they can be used for different things and have different benefits. Acrylic vs Polycarbonate Addicted To Property 7 December 2018. acrylic versus polycarbonate Sales of acrylic (polymethyl methacrylate) and polycarbonate represent most of the “see thru” plastics that are sold. Acrylic vs. Polycarbonate Before deciding whether acrylic or polycarbonate best suits your machining needs, it is important to understand the differences between the two plastics materials. Acrylic or Perspex is often still used in secondary glazing, as well as the display market. A polymer is simply a material made up of different molecules that are linked together in long chains. Differences Between Acrylic and Polycarbonate. One of the biggest differences between acrylic and polycarbonate is the cost. Polycarbonate sheets can cost on average about 35% more than acrylic. Acrylic is more scratch resistant than standard (9034) polycarbonate. These advantages include increased light filtration, impact resistance, increased strength, and improved weight and viscosity flow characteristics. *Double-15° notch. The molds are then cooled, opened, and the resulting acrylic plastic sheets are either immediately used or further processed to improve the overall quality of the final product. When shopping for a basketball backboard you will discover many different materials that basketball backboards are made of. Some goals are made of molded plastic, acrylic, polycarbonate … We provide custom cut materials, machined plastic parts, and fabrication sourcing. Acrylic is less expensive than Polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is a tough, transparent plastic material with outstanding strength, stiffness, and impact resistance. Curbell Plastics, Inc. does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information contained herein and it is the customer’s responsibility to conduct its own research and make its own determination regarding the suitability of specific products for any given application. Comparing acrylic and polycarbonate is the safest way of determining the one to use for a project. Summary – Perspex vs Polycarbonate Perspex is a trade name for acrylic sheets, which are manufactured by the polymerization of acrylic monomers and their copolymers. Or Register to create a new user account. Plexiglass (acrylic plastic) is the winner here. Polycarbonate is also widely used in architectural glazing for  medical facilities, retail and government buildings, and transportation centers at risk from breakage and vandalism. Acrylic is marketed under many trademark names such as Plexiglas, Lucite, Perspex, Policril, Gavrieli, Vitroflex, Limacryl, R-Cast, Per-Clax, Plazcryl, Acrylex, Acrylite, Acrylplast, Altuglas, Polycast, Oroglass, Optix. Polycarbonate cannot be polished, so the edge will remain dull once cut. Welcome Back! This clear plastic is typically more expensive than acrylic and polystyrene, but it is extremely strong. The melted polycarbonate material is then forced through a die that is shaped to produce flat sheets of various lengths, widths, and thicknesses with uniform cross-sections. It has been widely used in medical industry, lenses manufacturing, automotive and packaging industry owing to its good chemical and weather resistance and excellent transparency. Acrylic and Lexan, a branded name for polycarbonate sheeting, are both durable and flexible materials, often compared to one another because both are transparent and both stand as two of the most frequently utilized types of see-through plastics.Acrylic and polycarbonate both weigh half as much as glass and yet both plastics are much more shatter resistant. It won’t begin to lose that strength and durability that it has today! Acrylic is marginally clearer than polycarbonate and the difference is negligible but the gap will widen if polycarbonate is allowed to yellow, as a result of sun-exposure. Both acrylic and polycarbonate are clear plastic materials, so they are similar on several accounts, but differences exist between both of them. Acrylic sheet exhibits glass-like qualities — clarity, brilliance, and transparency — but at half the weight and many times the impact resistance of glass. Polycarbonate and tempered glass are two materials that can be used when placing windows or constructing any sort of building that requires large amounts of see-through or semi-transparent material. When acrylic was created in the early 1900s, one of the products produced with it was registered under the name Plexiglas. Pros of Acrylic: Shinier. Greater UV resistance than polycarbonate. The best choice for cleaning is a microfibre or 100-percent cotton cloths. Once the polycarbonate sheets have been fabricated through the extrusion process, they can be further processed to achieve the desired final product. Quick links to our most popular materials to make buying online easy. Uses of Perspex® Acrylic Sheet vs Polycarbonate Sheet. Both acrylic and polycarbonate are easy to clean. On the other hand, polycarbonate can resist impacting up to 250 times as much as glass. In particular, “Plexiglas” is used almost interchangeably with “acrylic plastic.” While each trademark product may have slightly different characteristics, they each form an acrylic plastic. Acrylic is the most common choice for the majority of basketball hoops for the outdoors. Polycarbonate is definitely the stronger of the two, partly due to the fact that polycarbonate plastic is much more flexible than acr ylic plastic. Add in the up-charge for the scratch resistant-ultra violet material and the material cost could easily be double that of Acrylic. Now that you know what both Plexiglass and Lexan are made of and when they are often used for, let’s compare the two. Batch cell and continuous bulk polymerization are the two methods used to create acrylic plastic sheets. Acrylic is a less expensive alternative to polycarbonate, but polycarbonate is stronger and better able to withstand heat and UV rays. When it comes to producing polycarbonate sheets, however, the extrusion manufacturing process is most commonly utilized. When it comes to clear backboards, two types you will commonly see are acrylic and polycarbonate. Cleaning. Reference: 1. This is then reacted with methyl alcohol to finally produce methyl methacrylate. Additionally over time both will lose visual clarity, the difference being that acrylic be polished to regain it; polycarbonate cannot be. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. Acrylic (also known as Plexiglas) and Polycarbonate (also known as Lexan) are top popular clear plastics that are considered as eminent solutions for a broad range of visual applications. Acrylic cracks more easily than polycarbonate under stress. Polycarbonate and acrylic are two plastics frequently used today. When it comes to their appearance, both are generally clear and look very similar to one another from afar. It is 250 times stronger and just as clear as glass. Polycarbonate vs Acrylic Plastic Polycarbonate is much stronger. There are many requirements in our lives for clear plastics, from packaging that allows us to see the products we want, to submarine windows that restrain thousands of tons of pressure, yet allow us to see life beneath the waves. Here are the different types of polycarbonate and acrylic sheeting available: Polycarbonate and acrylic share many of the same types of plastic sheeting options like clear, colored, mirrored, and more. Polycarbonate can be more bendy and flexible, especially in thinner grades. Acrylic has a low chemical resistance and needs more specific cleaners. Partnering with over 100 of the best plastic manufacturers. So finding a reliable plastics distributor that can provide both types of sheets to you in order to meet all of these different needs. Making the Correct Choice: Acrylic vs Polycarbonate Luminaire Lenses. Polycarbonate is the option to go for if you want an almost unbreakable clear plastic sheet. Many people associate polycarbonate with "bullet-proof glass" because it is the same material used to make armored windows in government motorcade vehicles as well as airplane windows. Compare products, read reviews & get the best deals! The continuous method of bulk polymerization is quicker and less labor intensive because this method is specifically used for creating acrylic plastic sheets with thinner thicknesses and smaller widths than batch cell can produce. Most consumers do not understand the difference between these two types. Polycarbonate is more robust than acrylic. Acrylic sheet is easy to fabricate, bonds well with adhesives and solvents, and is easy to thermoform. It has superior weathering properties compared to many other transparent plastics. Gluing with cements designed for acrylic and polycarbonate, acrylic gives a cleaner glue joint than polycarbonate. Because they have a similar look and are both a see-through plastic material for use in windows and similar applications, many customers lump them together. 0. Even though each plastic can share the same form, they will function very differently. Both acrylic and polycarbonate are easy to clean. Each sheet is made differently and with different materials, hence the difference in characteristics and price. Acrylic, a more rigid thermoplastic, is limited to bending 180-200 times its thickness. Light & Clarity. Each of the two have benefits and drawbacks. Polycarbonate is sometimes called Lexan®, which is a trademark by Sabic. What Are the Similarities Between a Polycarbonate Vs Acrylic Basketball Backboards. Acrylic is significantly more durable when exposed to Ultra Violet radiation (sunlight). Second, acrylic is extremely scratch resistant. ©2021 Curbell Plastics, Inc. All rights reserved. Another popular brand name for Polycarbonate is Makrolon®, owned by Bayer. Both acrylic and polycarbonate are clear plastic materials, so they are similar on several accounts, but differences exist between both of them. Contact us today and we will be happy to help you. At Piedmont Plastics, acrylic sheeting and polycarbonate sheeting are two of the most popular types of products we sell. Price match guarantee + FREE shipping on eligible orders. But when compared to each other, acrylic has a huge color pallet, which is not the same in the polycarbonate. Material used for roofing, glazing, and cladding nearly always needs to withstand weather, potential vandalism, and incidental contact, and the greater impact resistance of polycarbonate is what makes it the material of choice for these environments. Second, acrylic is extremely scratch resistant. Price of Acrylic vs. Polycarbonate. Polycarbonate clear plastic sheet is an extremely versatile and strong material with a high resistance to impact. Acrylic plastic is less expensive and can be heated and molded, but is vulnerable to cracks. Acrylic sheet is easy to fabricate, bonds well with adhesives and solvents, and is easy to thermoform. Because of these two qualities acrylic is frequently the plastic of choice for optical devices. These advantages include increased light filtration, impact resistance, increased strength, and improved weight and viscosity flow characteristics. To begin with, they are both strong and durable plastic materials. Both have benefits and drawbacks. Acrylic vs Polycarbonate vs Glass Backboards When purchasing a basketball goal the first thing you will notice is the differences in material. Each exhibits particular advantageous and disadvantageous characteristics that make one or the other more appropriate to use in a given application. Strength: The polycarbonate is stronger than the acrylic. Compared to glass, acrylic plastic has 10 times the impact resistance of glass. Acrylic sheet can be saw cut, router cut and laser cut. These are the most common methods for creating these polymers. Polycarbonate offers five times the impact resistance of acrylic, which is the primary reason polycarbonate is chosen over acrylic for construction. Common Applications of Acrylic & Polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is sometimes called Lexan (trademarked name by GE Plastics) or Makrolon. While it depends on the final product and volume, Polycarbonate is generally 30-40% more expensive than Acrylic. One of the biggest differences between acrylic and polycarbonate is the cost. Acrylic and polycarbonate are two of the most popular clear plastics. Comparison of Lexan vs Plexiglass. Both materials are also very easy to clean. Acrylic vs. Polycarbonate Backboards. When to use LEXAN vs Plexiglass Polycarbonate and acrylic are suitable for use in a variety of applications, some similar, and some very different. We’re here to help. 1. Polycarbonate and acrylic are two common transparent plastic forms. Because of these two qualities acrylic is … On the other hand, acrylic is made by synthesizing methyl methacrylate. Acrylic has a low chemical resistance and needs more specific cleaners. In this lesson we will compare and contrast the physical and mechanical properties of each, as well as the uses of each. Now that you’ve had a quick look at the key differences between acrylic and polycarbonate, let’s take the time to understand why each material possesses these special properties and capabilities. Acrylic is significantly more durable when exposed to Ultra Violet radiation (sunlight). Acrylic is less expensive than Polycarbonate. A Quantitative and Qualitative Comparison. Acrylic vs. Polycarbonate Before deciding whether acrylic or polycarbonate best suits your machining needs, it is important to understand the differences between the two plastics materials. As you might imagine, Polycarbonate is more expensive than Acrylic. Acrylic is less expensive but easier to crack. Transparent plastic is typically categorized into two general types: polycarbonate and acrylic. Costs Summary – Polycarbonate vs Acrylic. They provide different benefits (and drawbacks). Acrylic (PMMA): Acrylic is also well known for two principal characteristics. Polycarbonate cuts and drills easily with little chance of it chipping or cracking unlike acrylic, due to its brittle nature. Both are considered amorphous plastics and generally acrylic is considered a “commodity” plastic while polycarbonate is considered an “engineering” plastic. Their drawbacks are: acrylic can crack/shatter under impact and polycarbonate is easier to scratch. It can actually be purchased in varying degrees of flexibility. 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