While it offers certain advantages over conventional glass sheets, it also comes with a few limitations. Anytime you are in the market for a new pair of eyeglasses, you are going to be provided with different options regarding the lens material. Price of Acrylic vs. Polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is an incredibly useful plastic for applications requiring transparency and high impact resistance. PETG is an easy to mould clear plastic material with about 70% of the impact strength of polycarbonate, but it is still fantastically strong when compared with extruded acrylic or glass. It is available in clear and opaque forms, making it the ideal choice for construction and security-related purposes. Between glass and plexiglass of the same thickness, glass is the more effective soundproofing material. The term Plexiglass is more commonly used for this type of acrylic. x 18 in., is a perfect glass substitute. The acrylic glass was developed in the year 1928 in some laboratories by chemists such as William Chalmers, and it was made available to the market under the Plexiglas trademark. Polycarbonate and acrylic are two plastics frequently used today. Acrylic plastic is a handy building material that has a variety of uses. Acrylic and Polycarbonate are essentially very similar materials. When polycarbonate is exposed to UV light it becomes yellow, cloudy and brittle. LEXAN polycarbonate sheet, 24 in. Acrylic is a transparent plastic material with outstanding strength, stiffness, and optical clarity. So finding a reliable plastics distributor that can provide both types of sheets to you in order to meet all of these different needs. Can I use plexiglass for a greenhouse? Reference: 1. 2-ft x 6-ft Corrugated Clear Polycarbonate Plastic Roof Panel. Rodriguez, Ferdinand. 40 years later I educate our team on new materials and processes - to customers worldwide. Is Lexan® the same as Makrolon® or Polycarbonate?. Product link URL Join Andy Joe Plastic Hero as he tests glass, acrylic and polycarbonate against the force of a baseball bat! Polycarbonate panels are finding use in an increa… What Are the Similarities Between a Polycarbonate Vs Acrylic Basketball Backboards. The key difference between polycarbonate and plastic is that Polycarbonates are lighter but much stronger than plastic. Unfortunately, polycarbonate has one major drawback. However, plexiglass is so much cheaper that you can afford to get either thicker sheets or more pieces for the same price as glass. Compared with conventional concrete sound barrier, polycarbonate significantly decrease installation time and project cost. You can get a very clean edge on acrylic by lasercutting it. Common Applications of Acrylic & Polycarbonate. First off, it is important to note that both acrylic and polycarbonate backboards share quite a lot of similarities. Each exhibits particular advantageous and disadvantageous characteristics that make one or the other more appropriate to use in a given application. To begin with, they are both strong and durable plastic materials. When comparing plexiglass vs glass for windows, it’s clear that they each have their advantages. The most confusing issue about acrylic and Plexiglass are the numerous names used in the plastics industry. It is a lighter alternative to glass and a natural UV filter, so it is often used in eyewear. Plastic is a polymer that has a large molecular mass. Plexiglas and Lexan are different materials: acrylic and polycarbonate, respectively. The acrylic is sometimes interchangeably called Plexiglass (the brand name). It also is a strong material, able to withstand different types of weather and tear. Item #1697674. Acrylic is less expensive than Polycarbonate. Polycarbonate (PC). This plastic sheeting is durable, heat resistant, and so impact resistant that some "bulletproof" glass is made of Lexan. 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. Cast Acrylic vs. Extruded Acrylic Polycarbonate is a thermoplastic that is exceedingly tough, resistant to ultraviolet rays, and provides an attractive look. 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. A jigsaw might tend to crack acrylic, but will be fine for polycarbonate. Road Tankers. Acrylic and polycarbonate are two of the most popular clear plastics. Fish tanks, reptile and other animal enclosures Acrylic is a parent name that indicates the type of polymer used in its manufacturing. x 18 in., LEXAN polycarbonate sheet, 24 in. Acrylic is significantly more durable when exposed to Ultra Violet radiation (sunlight). There are a lot of great eyeglass lenses in the market, but before you buy a pair, it is imperative to consider both their pros and cons. LEXAN is approximately 250 times stronger than glass. Polycarbonate sheet maintains glass-like clarity and is highly impact resistant and strong. Plastic vs. Polycarbonate Lenses Today we are going to be talking specifically about plastic vs polycarbonate lenses and what the major difference is between the lens materials. Polycarbonate is sold under the trade names Lexan® and Makrolon® and is used in various applications. It comes in a variety of thicknesses, though the thicker the sheet, the more durable (and expensive) Lexan tends to be. Polycarbonate is yet another type of thermoplastic polymer used in manufacturing. A transparent thermoplastic with exceptional durability sold under different brands including Makrolon and Lexan. This clear plastic is typically more expensive than acrylic and polystyrene, but it is extremely strong. Polycarbonate is a type of plastic. Polycarbonate panels are extensively used in a variety of applications. Add UHMW, PTFE, plastic glue, Multiwall polycarbonate, Seaboard, architectural and engineering plastics. Plastic Vs Polycarbonate Lenses- Which One Is Better? They provide different benefits (and drawbacks). Using Acrylic. Lexan is a brand name for a polycarbonate sheet of plastic. As you might imagine, Polycarbonate is more expensive than Acrylic. “Plastic.” Both polycarbonate sheets vs. acrylic sheets offer a ton of benefits over glass and other transparent materials. In this lesson we will compare and contrast the physical and mechanical properties of each, as well as the uses of each. Acrylic sheet is easy to fabricate, bonds well with adhesives and solvents, and is easy to thermoform. Plexiglas is a cell cast acrylic, so it has fewer impurities (tiny ripples or embedded specks). The short answer is no, are they very similar, yes.The reason is that both Lexan® and Makrolon® are brand names, along with Hyzod®, Cyrolon®, Zelux®, Paltuf®, Tuffak®, Ensicar®, Unicar®, Texin®, Apex® and many more. Today PMMA (“plexiglass”) is sold under many different brand names, including Acrylite, Lucite® and Perspex®. Their drawbacks are: acrylic can crack/shatter under impact and polycarbonate is easier to scratch. Polycarbonate, however, is another level above that and would be recommended for applications where heavy impact is likely i.e. While it depends on the final product and volume, Polycarbonate is generally 30-40% more expensive than Acrylic. Additionally over time both will lose visual clarity, the difference being that acrylic be polished to regain it; polycarbonate cannot be. Polystyrene is stronger than budget materials (like PVC); it can withstand knocks and offers fair cable retention. Summary – Polycarbonate vs Plastic. All the acrylic sheet we supply is designed to meet the strict demands of many commercial, industrial, and residential applications. Some of the main pros and cons of polycarbonate panels are listed below. At Creative Mechanisms, we have used Polycarbonate in a number of applications across a range of industries. Many people associate polycarbonate with "bullet-proof glass" because it is the same material used to make armored windows in government motorcade vehicles as well as airplane windows. Acrylic is more scratch resistant than standard (9034) polycarbonate. Polycarbonate sheets are very lightweight and often installed on any solid flames including aluminum, steel, plastic, wood or other materials. Polycarbonate sound barrier installation. The differences start to appear when you look at tensile strength and impact resistance. I was a teen with access to a shop filled with Plexiglas® Acrylic sheets, Lexan®, Plastic Sheets & Fiberglass sheet. The manufacturing costs are higher with cast acrylic, which is reflected in its higher price. … However, polycarbonate is marketed as being bullet proof whereas acrylic is not. Less heat is lost with polycarbonate sheets than its glass alternative. 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. Insulating Properties of Plexiglass Vs. Plexiglas is the original trade or brand name for this type of acrylic. Differences Between Acrylic and Polycarbonate. Our customers use acrylic plexiglass in commercial construction, home improvement projects, laser engraving, furniture making, merchandising, and other uses. Other common plastics. Acrylic vs Polycarbonate. It has superior weathering properties compared to many other transparent plastics. Polycarbonate is an extremely good material for constructing a greenhouse. Don’t misunderstand my preference for acrylic. In summary the benefits are: acrylic is stiffer, shinier, more scratch resistant and cheaper than polycarbonate which is bendier and virtually unbreakable. It is a clear plastic sheet that is flexible, splinterless, and sturdy. Both materials cut well with a band saw or table saw using a high speed with small teeth. I buy, use and sell a significant amount of both products and each has its application. Order to meet all of these different needs 6-ft Corrugated clear polycarbonate plastic Roof.! 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