When it comes to clear backboards, two types you will commonly see are acrylic and polycarbonate. Continuous exposure of standard polycarbonate to sunlight will make it yellow though the sheets can be treated to give a UV-resistant product to minimise yellowing. Polycarbonate vs Acrylic Weâve seen how polycarbonate is used and the many applications itâs used in but as with any building or production material, there is always an alternative. 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. Another popular brand name for Polycarbonate is Makrolon®, owned by Bayer. These are the most common methods for creating these polymers. 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. Each exhibits particular advantageous and disadvantageous characteristics that make one or the other more appropriate to use in a given application. Here are some common applications: Spectator protection for ice hockey rinks. At Piedmont Plastics, acrylic sheeting and polycarbonate sheeting are two of the most popular types of products we sell. Both polycarbonate and acrylic are stronger and lighter than glass, but both scratch more easily. It is 250 times stronger and just as clear as glass. First, like polycarbonate, acrylic has very high transmissivity (it allows for the passage of light). 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. Difference Between Acrylic (Plexiglass) vs Polycarbonate (Lexan) Glass 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. To help choose the right material for your sheet, rod, or tube, here are a few ideal applications for each plastic: Your one stop plastics center for any brand, any shape, any product. Acrylic is often compared to polycarbonate, another transparent polymer sometimes used for bearing loads. When it comes to their appearance, both are generally clear and look very similar to one another from afar. Both acrylic and polycarbonate are clear plastic materials, so they are similar on several accounts, but differences exist between both of them. 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. 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. Now that youâve had a quick look at the key differences between acrylic and polycarbonate, letâs take the time to understand why each material possesses these special properties and capabilities. During this process, the polycarbonate sheet can be produced with colors, high or low glosses, smooth or textured surfaces, and in single or multiple layers. A polymer is simply a material made up of different molecules that are linked together in long chains. Lexan and Plexiglas are not specific names to generalize Acrylic and Polycarbonate. 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. In particular, âPlexiglasâ is used almost interchangeably with âacrylic plastic.â While each trademark product may have slightly different characteristics, they each form an acrylic plastic. Polycarbonate is sometimes called Lexan (trademarked name by GE Plastics) or Makrolon. Also, be sure to check out our complete acrylic and polycarbonate product lines. While the form may be the same, you will find that a clear polycarbonate sheet and a clear acrylic sheet are vastly different due to the physical and chemical properties of the plastic. Polycarbonate offers much more resilience than acrylic, making it ideal for highly demanding applications like bullet-resistant windows. 1. 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. On the other hand, acrylic is made by synthesizing methyl methacrylate. The polycarbonate and acrylic both are available in different colors. You could leave acrylic to soak up those rays for days, weeks, months, or even years on end. Acrylic sheet exhibits glass-like qualities â clarity, brilliance, and transparency â but at half the weight and many times the impact resistance of glass. Price of Acrylic vs. Polycarbonate. 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. Acrylic and polycarbonate both weigh less than half of what a comparably sized piece of glass weighs yet they are both much stronger than glass. Both have benefits and drawbacks. Plastic is synthesized from petrochemicals. Acrylic is a transparent plastic mаtеrÑаl wÑth outstanding strength, ÑtÑffnеÑÑ, and оÑtÑÑаl ÑlаrÑtÑ. 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. But before we compare and contrast polycarbonate and acrylic sheeting in detail, letâs identify some well-known features that are unique to each material. Our expansive warehouse and manufacturing facility combined with experienced personnel assure that you receive the service and prices that you deserve. The key difference between polycarbonate and Plexiglass is that polycarbonate contains carbonate linkages as repeating units, whereas Plexiglass contains methyl methacrylate units as repeating units.. Polycarbonate and Plexiglass are polymers. Using Acrylic. To begin the process, raw resin (polycarbonate pellets) is fed into an extruder and melted to the desired temperature. When it comes to producing polycarbonate sheets, however, the extrusion manufacturing process is most commonly utilized. Â. Polycarbonate is a synthetic resin in which the monomer units link with each other through carbonate linkages while Plexiglass is the trade ⦠Methyl methacrylate is typically created by reacting acetone with sodium cyanide to produce acetone cyanohydrin. Sign Up for Our Newsletter to Receive Special Offers, Acrylic UV-Filtering OP3 Frame Grade Clear Sheet, Acrylic UV-Filtering OP3 Non-Glare P99 Frame Grade Clear Sheet, Acrylic Non-Glare P99 Frame Grade Clear Sheet, Twinwall and Multiwall Polycarbonate Sheets, Comparing the Physical Properties of Plastic, Polishing, Beveling & Rounding Acrylic Edges, Polycarbonate & Acrylic Greenhouse Panels. As you might imagine, Polycarbonate is more expensive than Acrylic. 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. Of the two, polycarbonate has higher impact resistance and is used in bulletproofing applications. Acrylic is more scratch resistant than standard (9034) polycarbonate. Acrylic is shinier and polycarb is stronger. Most consumers do not understand the difference between these two types. With superior resistance to discoloration, impact, and chemicals, acrylic plexiglass sheet is ideal for any application. Generally speaking, acrylic sheeting is shinier and polycarbonate sheet is stronger. Have questions about acrylic or polycarbonate? Polycarbonate can be processed and manufactured in a wide variety of ways, such as extrusion, injection molding, blow molding, thermoforming, and more. Acrylic is significantly more durable when exposed to Ultra Violet radiation (sunlight). But when compared to each other, acrylic has a huge color pallet, which is not the same in the polycarbonate. It wonât begin to lose that strength and durability that it has today! Choosing one over the other depends entirely on the specifics of your application. The molded acrylic sheets are then cured. As a result, both plastics are used in a number of applications across a range of industries. Sheet grade polycarbonate (aka Lexan or Makrolon) and acrylic sheet (aka Lucite) are two of the most frequently used see-through plastics. When comparing polycarbonate to acrylic material, polycarbonate is much more resilient than acrylic, making it ideal for highly demanding applications where impact is a requirement or flame retardance. Either acrylic or polycarbonate plastic can be used for a greenhouse. Cut-to-Size Clear Acrylic Sheet - Extruded, Cut-to-Size Fluorescent Color Acrylic Sheet - Cast. Thinner acrylic sheets can be cured in 10 to 12 hours, but thicker sheets may require several days of cure time. Polycarbonate sheets can cost on average about 35% more than acrylic. 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. Acrylic and Polycarbonate are both half the weight of a comparably sized piece of glass and yet both plastics are much stronger than glass providing much greater imoact resistance. This overall creation process is known as polymerization. So, whatâs the difference between plexiglass vs acrylic? Acrylic is the most common choice for the majority of basketball hoops for the outdoors. 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. Batch cell and continuous bulk polymerization are the two methods used to create acrylic plastic sheets. This is then reacted with methyl alcohol to finally produce methyl methacrylate. What is Acrylic Plastic and What is it Used For? 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. Both materials are also very easy to clean. Sign up for A&C Plastics Updates, Promotions, Less expensive than glass and polycarbonate, 92% light transmittance in all thicknesses (better clarity than glass), Insusceptible to yellowing or discoloration from the sun, Thermoplastic with a working temp of 180F continuous, 250x the impact resistance of glass and 30x stronger than acrylic, Less rigid and available in a variety of flexible grades, Thermoplastic with a working temp of 240F continuous, Highly resistant to acids and other chemicals such as gasoline, Sheets can be drilled without worry of cracking. Polycarbonate is more resistant to chemicals and can, therefore, be cleaned by harsher cleaners containing chemical compounds like ammonia. The polycarbonate exhibits around 30 times more resistance to the force. Both acrylic and polycarbonate can be cleaned more naturally and comfortably using a microfiber or a piece of cloth made from 10% cotton. Even though each plastic can share the same form, they will function very differently. Polycarbonate is a tough, transparent plastic material with outstanding strength, stiffness, and impact resistance. Using a process known as bulk polymerization, the monomer (methyl methacrylate) and the catalyst (typically organic peroxide) are poured into a mold, which is sealed and heated to produce the reaction that forms the acrylic plastic polymer. When shopping for a basketball backboard you will discover many different materials that basketball backboards are made of. Acrylic is less expensive but easier to crack. Acrylic has roughly 17 times the impact resistance. Polycarb is more impact resisant but easier to scratch. 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. On the other hand, if you are looking for high impact resistance, polycarbonate sheeting is the obvious choice. Product link URL Join Andy Joe Plastic Hero as he tests glass, acrylic and polycarbonate against the force of a baseball bat! Both plastics are resilient materials in comparison to its glass counterparts. Polycarbonate sheets can cost on average about 35% more than acrylic. One of the biggest differences between acrylic and polycarbonate is the cost. Here is the much awaited comparison between the most commonly used clear products in the industry, Acrylic & Polycarbonate. POLYCARBONATE (LEXAN) VS ACRYLIC PLASTIC. Common Applications of Acrylic & Polycarbonate. The monomers of plastic are either natural or synthetic. That aside, both are very strong. However, there are a variety of ways that polycarbonate and acrylic can be formed, especially when creating plastic sheets with special qualities such as color, non-glare, anti-static, UV-filtering, and more. From durable signs and skylights to eye-catching retail store fixtures, displays, and shelves, acrylic plastics provide outstanding versatility, durability, and aesthetic qualities. Because of these two qualities acrylic is frequently the plastic of choice for optical devices. Hammerglass® is another polycarbonate mainly used for security and against vandalism. Polycarbonate Light Fixture Lens Material Advantages. Polycarbonate is far more impact resistant than acrylic but easier to scratch - polycarbonate is virtually unbreakable. Light and clarity. One of the biggest differences between acrylic and polycarbonate is the cost. When acrylic was created in the early 1900s, one of the products produced with it was registered under the name Plexiglas. Polycarbonate is sometimes called Lexan®, which is a trademark by Sabic. Acrylic has a high gloss finish and is more transparent, making it ideal for display cases. 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