Views: 328 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2021-10-11 Origin: Site
Extruded and cast acrylic are composed of the same material composition. The main difference between the two is the manufacturing process for each product and the items to be used. Often substituted for glass, acrylic, also called plexiglass or lucite is lighter in weight by up to 50% with greater transparency.
Cast acrylic, like the name implies, is manufactured by a process in which MMA (methyl methacrylate) is pumped into a mold made from glass and submerged in warm water. This mold process creates rigid sheets of PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate sheet), often referred to as Plexiglass or Perspex.
Cast pmma sheets tend to have a greater variance on thickness tolerance than their extruded counterparts, and thicknesses can vary as much or little as +/- 30%. However, the variance issue is offset by the glass-life surface and high visual clarity.
Main features of cast acrylic include: highly resistant to solvents; highly resistant to scratches; laser cuts with a smooth, clear edge; has a true glass-like appearance and available in many colors.
In detail, cast acrylic has the following benefits: greater range thickness up to 4" including those produced as bullet resistant; lightweight and rigid; low water absorption; excellent optical properties; good electrical and UV resistivity and outstanding resistance to long-term exposure to sunlight and weathering.
Extruded polycarbonate acrylic sheets are manufactured by a process in which pmma pellets are fed into an extrusion line by a continuous feed. While being driven through the feed, the extrusion system's heat zones increase in temperature, turning the acrylic pellets into a molten mass. The melted material is then pushed forward into a die which widens under pressure and pushes outward to form a continuous molten sheet.
The hot sheet is then passed through cooling rollers and, while cooling, cut into the final sheet sizes. It is during this cooling stage that patterns may be applied to the surface, or the finished sheets may be produced with a standard, glossy and smooth finish. Extruded polycarbonate acrylic sheets have a much better tolerance on thickness than cast pmma acrylic sheets, with only =/- 10% variance.
Main features of extruded acrylic include: available in thinner sheets than cast; can have a directional "burr" on the edge when cut with a laser; has a lower melt point; easier to shape/bend and easier to flame polish edges.
To be specific, extruded polycarbonate sheet has the following benefits: thermoformable; less expensive than glass or cast acrylic; excellent optical properties; more impact resistant than glass and good electrical and UV resistivity.
Hangzhou Saining Polycarbonate Sheet Co., Ltd. was founded in 1997, a manufacturer that specializes in producing various kinds of high-quality polycarbonate sheets (such as pc lite polycarbonate hollow sheet and corrugated polycarbonate sheet). At Saining, we have worked with many customers to help choose which material type works best for particular product designs and uses, while keeping visions and budgets in mind. Contact us today to learn about our designing expertise, we'd love to offer you lowest pmma sheet price on your next project!
