When you are looking for a sheet of plastic, acrylic and polycarbonate should be your top choices. Both are strong and lightweight but there are key differences that you should keep in mind when selecting the right product. This question: acrylic or polycarbonate: Which plastic sheet should I choose? will help me get it right the first time.
ACRYLIC: VERSATILE GLOSS SUBSTITUTE
Acrylic sheet, also known as Plexiglass and Perspex, can be made in a variety of thicknesses, opacities, and colours. This durable and affordable material can be molded into sheets for specific applications. Clear acrylic sheets are a great substitute for glass partitions and windows, with a resistance to impact ten times greater than glass.
Acrylic also has other benefits:
- Weather and UV resistance
- Excellent dimensional stability and light weight
- Polycarbonate is more affordable than polycarbonate
- Polycarbonate is easier to machine
- Can be polished and not like polycarbonate
- Polycarbonate is more porous than glue joints.
Acrylic is great for many business applications such as retail signage, windows and skylights, and even exhibition stands. Acrylic can also be used to polish and glue it, making it an excellent choice for craft projects and point-of-sale displays.
POLYCARBONATE – STRENGTH & DURABILITY
While acrylic may be stronger than glass, polycarbonate is 30x more durable than acrylic. Polycarbonate is available in bulletproof grades. This makes it a popular choice for banks and retail. Polycarbonate is also used to make police riot shields.
Polycarbonate is an excellent choice to make roofing panels and greenhouse glass. It is the best choice for outdoor signage, machine guards, and security barriers because of its strength. This versatile product is available in clear or coloured sheet plastic.
- It is flexible enough to be bent at room temperature
- Excellent chemical resistance
- It is non-flammable, and can be exposed at high temperatures.
- Ideal for insulation
- Can be drilled with no cracking
- Glass is lighter than glass
ACRYLIC VS POLYCARBONATE – WHICH PLASTIC SHEET SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?
We have created a detailed comparison of the properties of acrylic & polycarbonate to help you choose the right clear plastic sheet for your project.
STRENGTH
Acrylic and polycarbonate are both stronger than glass. Polycarbonate is 250 times stronger than acrylic. Polycarbonate has another advantage: it is more flexible and is often called unbreakable.
CLARITY
Acrylic can let through 92% light while polycarbonate transmits 88%. Although polycarbonate cannot be polished, its high strength makes it an excellent choice for bus shelters or other weather-resistant applications. Acrylic can be polished and has a shiner finish, which makes it ideal for secondary glazing.
FINISHING
Acrylic is more easy to machine than polycarbonate, and can also be heated to form it. Polishing cut edges can make them shine and glue bonds will be easier. Polycarbonate can also be cold-formed and drilled without cracking. This makes it more versatile for many applications.
CLEANING
Both acrylic and polycarbonate can be cleaned easily. Use a microfiber cloth with warm soapy water to clean sheet plastic. Although polycarbonate is resistant to harsh chemicals, you shouldn’t clean any plastic sheets with solvents.
DURABILITY
Both materials are weather-resistant but can scratch easily. Acrylic is less likely to crack than polycarbonate, but it doesn’t scratch nearly as easily.
AFFORDABILITY
Acrylic is a cheaper alternative to polycarbonate if budget is an issue.