Acrylic Plastic Sheets – An Invention With Hundreds of Uses

Acrylic plastic sheets can be referred to as the next best thing to glass, with many of its own unique additions. It’s a very beneficial and commodious clear plastic, and is the closest material to glass with 93% of clarity, along with many other properties which make it far more superior.

It comes from a family of synthetic plastic substances and is derived from acrylic acid. Acrylic plastic has been segregated in four brands namely Plexiglas, Lucite, Perspex, and Crystallite; the brands are all versions of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).

All are superior quality plastics which are tough, shatter proof and resistant to ultraviolet radiations and weathering and most importantly are highly transparent. Thick sheets of glass have a greenish tint but acrylic plastic sheets retain their transparency even at very high density.

Acrylic plastic has become the mainstay of a large number of industries and is being used for making windshields, shower doors, skylights, windows, automobile taillights, aquariums, outdoor signs and a lot more. Its basic advantages include its strength, acrylic plastic is many times lighter than glass, yet its far stronger and impact resistant, also one of its most unique qualities is the flexibility and the ease with which it can be molded into multitude shapes. The fact that it can be easily scratched is considered its downside; however the scratches can be easily buffed out, making it clear as it was on the very first day of installation.

Acrylic plastic sheets can be bought from plastic stores, directly from the markets and from the online stores as well. The sheets are available in pre-defined sizes starting from 24″ x48″ to 72″x186″, and thickness varying from 1/16″ to 4″. Many showrooms also provide complete cutting and shaping services, with precision ‘cut to size’ capabilities facilitated by the professional service experts.

These days there is a colossal variety of acrylic plastic available including cast, extruded, clear, colored, tinted, laser cut and also mirrored. Apart from the sheet you can also obtain this resourceful plastic in the form of tubes, cubes, rods and balls. It’s often said that acrylic plastic sheets turn brittle and yellow over a period of time and also develops cracks. However this happens only to the normal plastics, Acrylic plastics retain their shapes and colors over a long period of time.

Cleaning and maintenance of this plastic is also fairly easy as it doesn’t need any special sprays, some mild soap or good quality detergent along with lukewarm water suffices, for drying a dry cloth or chamois is apt.
If you are looking forward to remodeling your bathroom or aquarium or even plan to add a new look to your windows, acrylic could be a very intelligent choice. Though it’s more expensive than glass, but the advantages far outweigh the price. It’s the material of the present and the future, and is being used more than it ever was in the past, even though its advent into the commercial markets dates back to 1936. Other important places where it’s famously used include malls, colleges, institutions, hospitals and commercial offices. About 32mm of superior quality acrylic plastic sheet is bullet resistant and is a favorite for use in the presidential motorcades and for protection and security for dignitaries around the world.