With the soaring use of acrylic for various industrial applications in Sydney, the demand for acrylic sheets has increased significantly. But purchasing acrylic or perplex sheets can be overwhelming for first-time buyers considering the vast number and types of sheets out there. Here is a beginner’s guide on buying the best acrylic sheets Sydney has to offer to enable your purchase sheets that suit your specific applications.
Differences between plexiglass and acrylic sheets
While Plexiglass is created from acrylic, there are subtle differences between the two:
• One of the top differences of the two materials lies in their surface hardness. Acrylic has a softer surface hence making it easier to glue its pieces together. But plexiglass comes with a much harder surface making it less prone to cracking. Plexiglass is, therefore, more resistant to chemicals, including solvent cements that are used to glue it together
• The two materials are manufactured differently. Acrylic can be manufactured either through cell cast or extrusion. Plexiglass is strictly manufactured in cell cast. Additionally, tend to have fewer impurities (embedded specks or tinny ripples).
• Plexiglass costs more than acrylic because it is manufacturing process is labor extensive and more time-consuming.
Thickness and Sizes Guide
Acrylic sheets Sydney are available in different sizes and thickness. For simple home glazing applications, you can choose sheets with a thickness of 2 to 6 millimeter and size of 21440 mm and 1220 mm. For other complex applications such as building an aquarium or windshield, you can use sheets with a thickness of over 30 mm, and size of 3050mm x 20130 mm. in a nutshell, whatever application you have, pick acrylic that come with the appropriate size and thickness for the application at hand
Common Types of Acrylic Sheets
• UV filtering sheets: These sheets are designed to block ultraviolet rays. They are suitable for businesses and individuals that want to protect their items from degradation and fading brought about by UV rays.
• UV Transmitting Sheets: These sheets are designed to permit UV rays. They are commonly used in applications like tanning beds and medical treatment.
• Museum Sheets: They are specially designed to guarantee maximum UV protection to prevent long-term degradation and oxidation. Besides these sheets possessing superior UV filtering capabilities, they are also anti-reflective as well.
Buying acrylic is a process that needs careful consideration and an understanding of the applications at hand. Even if it’s your first time buying these sheets, you can successfully purchase high-quality sheets if you are familiar with precisely what to look for in acrylic sheets.
