What is acrylic?

Acrylic, also known as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), is a transparent thermoplastic with exceptional optical properties, available in a wide range of colors.

 

It is known for its high clarity and ease of processing, making it a popular choice across various industries.

 

We often get asked what the difference is between acrylic and Plexiglas. The simple answer is that Plexiglas is a trade name for acrylic from a specific manufacturer.

 

Other brand names include PERSPEX®, Policril®, Satinglas®, Setacryl®, Oroglas®, ALTUGLAS™, and GreenCast®, which are all forms of acrylic.

A range of acrylic samples in colours including green, yellow, red and purple

Properties and Advantages

 

Acrylic boasts excellent optical clarity, providing a crystal-clear representation of colors and shapes. It is often used as a lightweight alternative to glass, although it is less scratch-resistant.

 

Despite its low weight, acrylic is relatively impact-resistant and resilient against breaks and cracks, though it will shatter upon impact.

 

Acrylic can be used in temperatures ranging from -40°C to 80°C but becomes soft at higher temperatures. However, it has good weather resistance and UV stability, making it suitable for outdoor applications.

 

Acrylic tolerates weak acids, bases, and some nonpolar solvents but does not withstand strong acids, bases, or polar solvents like acetone and chloroform.

Samples of Perspex acrylic in yellow and grey colours from Induflex

Is the material approved for food-contact

As standard, acrylic is approved as a food contact material (FCM), allowing it to be used for example in the storage of food or medicine.

 

We can offer fully documented traceability of your acrylic items, ensuring you always receive the highest level of safety and compliance with the highest standards and requirements.

Is the material approved for food-contact

As standard, acrylic is approved as a food contact material (FCM), allowing it to be used for example in the storage of food or medicine.

 

We can offer fully documented traceability of your acrylic items, ensuring you always receive the highest level of safety and compliance with the highest standards and requirements.

Safety screen in heat bent, smoke-coloured polycarbonate

What is PMMA used for?

Acrylic is a highly versatile visual material that can be used for both indoor and outdoor purposes. Therefore, it is ideal for products where visual properties are paramount, but it also has good characteristics for industrial use.

 

This includes:

 

  • Machine guards
  • Viewing panes and door panels
  • Protective covers
  • Storage containers
  • Signs and displays

 

And much more.

 

Store display in clear acrylic with nine laser cutted holes

Machining of acrylic

Acrylic is very versatile when it comes to processing, as items can be produced using laser cutting, knife cutting, and CNC machining.

 

Additionally, the plastic can be heat bent, glued, and polished to achieve the perfect shape and clear finish. We also offer engraving on acrylic, which further expands the design possibilities.

 

Acrylic is available in many surface finishes, such as frosted, matte, glossy, and mirror finishes.

An employee adjusts a display of acrylic that lies on a heat-bending table.

Alternative
materials
to PMMA

When it comes to visual expression, acrylic is an unparalleled material. However, there may be requirements for a finished product that make PMMA not the right choice.

 

Polycarbonate may not be available in as many colors and finishes as acrylic, but it is much more impact-resistant and can withstand temperatures from -40 to 120°C. For certain types of safety screens, PC may therefore be the better choice.

 

If you need a material that offers exceptional chemical resistance and durability comparable to polycarbonate, then PETG could be the ideal option for you.

 

Alternative
materials
to PMMA

When it comes to visual expression, acrylic is an unparalleled material. However, there may be requirements for a finished product that make PMMA not the right choice.

 

Polycarbonate may not be available in as many colors and finishes as acrylic, but it is much more impact-resistant and can withstand temperatures from -40 to 120°C. For certain types of safety screens, PC may therefore be the better choice.

 

If you need a material that offers exceptional chemical resistance and durability comparable to polycarbonate, then PETG could be the ideal option for you.

 

Sheets of acrylic in many different colours in stock
Have any questions?
At Induflex, we specialize in plastics. We are ready to help you identify your needs, ensuring you get the right material for your project. Contact us today for personalized advice on your project!
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  • We have a large inventory of plastic materials, allowing us to accommodate requests for items made from standard materials within 8-14 business days, depending on the complexity of your components.

     

    If your project requires more specialized plastic, such as acrylic in custom colors, we typically operate within a month.

     

    We only work with European suppliers, ensuring that we can quickly order materials tailored to your needs.

  • At Induflex, we can achieve very tight tolerances in plastic.

     

    When you order a plastic part from us, it will comply with Danish Standard ISO 2768-1 (medium) by default. We measure the tolerances at room temperature, around 21 °C.

     

    Of course, we can agree on different tolerances if you wish.

  • Like many other thermoplastics, acrylic is stress-sensitive. Therefore, designs should be made without sharp internal corners.

     

    If a design combines stress concentration with internal stresses, it doesn’t take much for the acrylic to crack during processing, transport, or initial use.

     

    Internal stresses are well-known in extruded acrylic due to the fabrication method of the raw material, but stresses can also be created by improper flame polishing, laser cutting, or using incorrect tools.

     

    Internal stresses in acrylic can be relieved through annealing, which involves slow heating and cooling.

     

    In clear acrylic, stresses can be visually detected using two pieces of polarizing filter. Place the acrylic behind a light source, lay the filters on top of each other, and observe the acrylic through the filters while rotating them relative to each other. The stresses will now become visible.

  • Acrylic is produced in two versions: cast acrylic (known as acrylic ST) and extruded acrylic (known as acrylic XT).

     

    Cast acrylic is made by mixing the components of acrylic in molds. A chemical process occurs in the mold, creating a homogeneous material with the same properties in all directions.

     

    Extruded acrylic, on the other hand, is produced by continuously pressing the acrylic mass through a mold while the chemical process takes place. As a result, extruded acrylic is heterogeneous and has properties that vary depending on the direction, which is referred to as the extrusion direction.

     

    Cast acrylic is sometimes considered to be of the highest quality, but both cast and extruded acrylic have their advantages and disadvantages—so it is ultimately the application and desired properties of the finished product that determine which is best for your design.

     

    Cast acrylic is available in many colors, while extruded acrylic is often clear (transparent), white, or black. If you order a custom color from us, it will be cast.

     

    In terms of properties, cast acrylic has higher surface durability and is therefore more scratch-resistant and more resistant to chemicals than extruded acrylic.

     

    Cast acrylic sheets have a higher thickness tolerance—a cast 3 mm sheet can vary by +/- 15% in thickness, whereas extruded acrylic varies by +/- 5%. The tolerance for cast acrylic can therefore pose challenges for some designs, such as in relation to joints.

     

    Additionally, cast acrylic has fewer internal stresses than extruded acrylic.

     

    When processing acrylic, cast and extruded acrylic also behave differently.

     

    It is more difficult to bend and shape cast acrylic than extruded acrylic.

     

    When cast acrylic is laser cut, there are almost no burrs, whereas extruded acrylic will have burrs after laser cutting.

     

    The surface engraving of cast acrylic becomes matte white, while that of extruded acrylic becomes matte gray, making it less prominent in the material. Transparent acrylic cannot be engraved with a YAG laser.

     

    There are also differences in polishing between the two types of acrylic. Extruded acrylic can be flame polished, while cast acrylic cannot.

     

    If you are unsure whether to choose cast or extruded acrylic for your design, we are happy to help you.

  • Acrylic can be damaged by cleaning with alcohol, benzene, or harsh brushes that scratch the surface.

     

    Therefore, acrylic is best cleaned with water, regular dish soap, and a clean, soft cloth that won’t scratch the surface of the acrylic. Acrylic can also be sprayed with glass cleaner (without alcohol or spirits) and wiped down with a soft cloth.

     

    Be aware that excessive mechanical friction with a cloth or other objects against the acrylic can create small scratches, which may dull the shiny surface of the acrylic over time.

  • By sending us a STEP file or PDF with your drawings, we can quickly help determine if acrylic is the right choice for your project.

     

    We can also identify which processing method is best suited for the item.

Recycled acrylic with
the same properties

We also offer 100% recycled acrylic, known as R-MMA (recycled methyl methacrylate monomer), an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional acrylic. R-MMA is VOC- and HFC-free, making it a healthier choice for both people and the environment.

 

It meets ISO 7823.1 standards and retains the same technical properties as traditional PMMA, including high transparency, impact resistance, and chemical resistance.

 

An important advantage of recycled acrylic is that it can be recycled multiple times, reducing waste and resource consumption. Additionally, it is produced with less water and lower CO2 emissions than conventional acrylic, thereby minimizing environmental impact.

 

R-MMA is available in many colors and thicknesses and can be processed like regular acrylic, making it easy to integrate into existing production processes.

Recycled acrylic with
the same properties

We also offer 100% recycled acrylic, known as R-MMA (recycled methyl methacrylate monomer), an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional acrylic. R-MMA is VOC- and HFC-free, making it a healthier choice for both people and the environment.

 

It meets ISO 7823.1 standards and retains the same technical properties as traditional PMMA, including high transparency, impact resistance, and chemical resistance.

 

An important advantage of recycled acrylic is that it can be recycled multiple times, reducing waste and resource consumption. Additionally, it is produced with less water and lower CO2 emissions than conventional acrylic, thereby minimizing environmental impact.

 

R-MMA is available in many colors and thicknesses and can be processed like regular acrylic, making it easy to integrate into existing production processes.

One recycled sheet of acrylic by the brand GreenCast

Have any questions? Fill out the form, and we will get in touch with you.

Induflex is always ready to guide you on the use of technical plastics.