Poly methyl methacrylate pmma also known as acrylic acrylic glass or plexiglass as well as by the trade names crylux plexiglas acrylite astariglas lucite perclax and perspex among several others see below is a transparent thermoplastic often used in sheet form as a lightweight or shatter resistant alternative to glass the same material can be used as a casting resin or in inks.
Acrylic sheet information.
Clear acrylic sheeting is one of the most popular alternatives to traditional glass.
Clear acrylic sheets provide the optical clarity of glass but a much higher impact resistance making it a better material.
An acrylic sheet is much more flexible than glass so there s definitely less of a chance that an acrylic display case will break.
Acrylic sheets are thermoplastics often purchased in sheets as a lightweight or shatter resistant alternative to glass.
Acrylic sheets can be relatively easily heated and formed to a desired shape.
Parts made from multiple pieces of acrylic are usually joined together using solvents that melt each.
It has superior weathering properties compared to many other transparent plastics.
Simple bends can be made by heating the bend point with a wire heater.
The corners of acrylic sheet display cases are rounded to make them safe for children.
While glass shatters into sharp fragments acrylic forms larger harmless fragments if it does break.
Acrylic sheet is easy to fabricate bonds well with adhesives and solvents and is easy to thermoform.
Acrylic sheet exhibits glass like qualities clarity brilliance and transparency but at half the weight and many times the impact resistance of glass.
Brand names include plexiglas evonik cryo acrylite lucite plaskolite optix perspex and more.
Acrylic is known by many names with generic names including acrylic acrylic glass and plexiglass.