What are the Properties of Acrylic Sheets and Their Applications?
Acrylic is also called Acrylite or Plexiglas or Lucite or PMMA and is a transparent thermoplastic. It is a versatile material and has properties of being lightweight, strong, tough, shatter-resistant and impact resistant.
Acrylic can be easily thermoformed or formed using the common moulding processes. It is easy to produce, transport, handle and fabricate. It is also cost-effective and used in many applications. Manufacturers provide different types of acrylic sheets in Dubai like clear acrylic sheets, coloured sheets, light diffusing sheets, fluorescent sheets, prismatic sheets, mirror sheets, matt sheets and metallic sheets.
Acrylic is produced using emulsion, solution or bulk polymerisation. The different types of acrylic sheets are cast and extruded. The highest quality of acrylic sheets is produced by the cell casting process.
Cast acrylic sheets have a wider thermoforming range and are known for superior surface finish. Extruded sheets are less thermally stable and tend to melt and clog.
Acrylic Sheets in Dubai
Properties of acrylic sheets
Clear acrylic sheets can transmit visible light up to 92%. When light falls perpendicular to the sheet most of it is transmitted, a part is reflected and a negligible amount of light is absorbed. Acrylic has a refractive index of 1.49 and therefore it can transmit light up to 92%. Additives can be added or coating can be done to improve the absorption.
Acrylic can absorb short-wavelength ultraviolet light and transmits most of the long-wavelength UV. This makes it weather resistant and a preferred choice for outdoor and lighting applications.
PMMA transmits most of the visible infrared light and the transmittance depends on the thickness of the sheet. It decreases as the thickness increases. When the sheet is thick enough it becomes opaque. Coloured sheets selectively transmit infrared light.
PMMA has excellent resistance to discoloration when exposed for long periods to fluorescent lamps.
Clear acrylic can transmit most of the television and broadcast waves and radar bands. Coloured PMMA allows specific infrared wavelengths to pass while blocking visible light.
Exposure to climatic conditions, visible light and UV radiations do not affect the optical properties of acrylic. Clear PMMA also has nuclear transmittance properties.
Acrylic offers sound loss characteristics that are much better than glass. It is shatter-resistant and can be used to reduce the noise levels.
Acrylic is available in a large range of transparent and translucent colours and can withstand climate conditions. Therefore they are used in outdoor lighting and displays.
Applications
- Cast acrylic is used to make products that require shaping or machining. It is used to make awards, trophies and corporate gifts. It is used to make funeral tombstones, aquariums and more.
- Acrylic can be cut into different shapes and painted and decorated to create custom keychains, signs, home decor pieces or charms.