Summary – Polycarbonate vs Acrylic. These advantages include increased light filtration, impact resistance, increased strength, and improved weight and viscosity flow characteristics. 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. Acrylic VS Polycarbonate. Add in the up-charge for the scratch resistant-ultra violet material and the material cost could easily be double that of Acrylic. Acrylic is a less expensive alternative to polycarbonate, but polycarbonate is stronger and better able to withstand heat and UV rays. 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. Similar in appearance and the most frequently used transparent plastic materials on the market, it’s easy to see why these two are compared to one another. Don’t misunderstand my preference for acrylic. It is 250 times stronger and just as clear as glass. Acrylic is more rigid than polycarbonate, which … Polycarbonate is more flexible than acrylic, but will bend more under load bearing application. Cleaning. Acrylic is significantly more durable when exposed to Ultra Violet radiation (sunlight). Another popular brand name for Polycarbonate is Makrolon®, owned by Bayer. Either acrylic or polycarbonate plastic can be used for a greenhouse. All other trademarks, service marks and logos used herein are property of their respective owners. Acrylic and polycarbonate sheeting have a number of differing characteristics. Even though each plastic can share the same form, they will function very differently. Acrylic is less expensive than Polycarbonate. Acrylic is the most common choice for the majority of basketball hoops for the outdoors. Although easy to fabricate, unlike cast and extruded acrylic sheet material, the edges of polycarbonate cannot be polished. It won’t begin to lose that strength and durability that it has today! As a result, both plastics are used in a number of applications across a range of industries. Don’t misunderstand my preference for acrylic. acrylic versus polycarbonate Sales of acrylic (polymethyl methacrylate) and polycarbonate represent most of the “see thru” plastics that are sold. Compare products, read reviews & get the best deals! Quick links to our most popular materials to make buying online easy. But when compared to each other, acrylic has a huge color pallet, which is not the same in the polycarbonate. Since PC has a limited variety of colors and its color clarity erodes with time. The best choice for cleaning is a microfibre or 100-percent cotton cloths. Acrylic (PMMA): Acrylic is also well known for two principal characteristics. Acrylic and polycarbonate are two of the most popular clear plastics. Each sheet is made differently and with different materials, hence the difference in characteristics and price. When compared to standard glass, both acrylic and polycarbonate materials provide many benefits that standard glass does not afford. However, the selection of either acrylic or polycarbonate depends more significantly on the application. But before we compare and contrast polycarbonate and acrylic sheeting in detail, let’s identify some well-known features that are unique to each material. Acrylic plastic has a light transmittance of 92% compared to that of polycarbonate plastic which has a light transmittance of 88% comparatively. Polycarbonate is the option to go for if you want an almost unbreakable clear plastic sheet. Price of Acrylic vs. Polycarbonate. Transparent plastic is typically categorized into two general types: polycarbonate and acrylic. Acrylic or Perspex is often still used in secondary glazing, as well as the display market. Acrylic vs. Polycarbonate Machining Please select... ABS Acetal Acrylic Delrin ® FR-4 FR-5 G-9 G-10 G-11 G-3 G-5 G-7 Grade C Canvas Grade CE Canvas Grade L Linen Grade LE Linen Grade X Paper Grade XX Paper Grade XXX Paper HDPE Nylatron ® Nylon PEEK Plexiglas Polycarbonate LDPE Polypropylene PVC Rulon ® Ryton Teflon ® PTFE/FEP Torlon ® UHMW Ultem ® Vespel ® Each exhibits particular advantageous and disadvantageous characteristics that make one or the other more appropriate to use in a given application. Acrylic plastic is less expensive and can be heated and molded, but is vulnerable to cracks. Choosing one over the other depends entirely on the specifics of your application. Polycarbonate cannot be polished, so the edge will remain dull once cut. These advantages include increased light filtration, impact resistance, increased strength, and improved weight and viscosity flow characteristics. You could leave acrylic to soak up those rays for days, weeks, months, or even years on end. Comparison of Lexan vs Plexiglass. Heat deflection temperature @ 66 psi/264 psi, Maximum continuous service temperature in air, Light transmittance (transparency/clarity). One of the biggest differences between acrylic and polycarbonate is the cost. Today, there are many options for clear plastic sheet, and many people do not know the difference between the two main options: Perspex® cast acrylic sheet and polycarbonate sheet. Differences Between Acrylic and Polycarbonate. Because of these two qualities acrylic is … , POP displays name Plexiglas cost could easily be double that of acrylic a. Specifics of your application creating these polymers glass backboards when purchasing a basketball goal first! Which has a UK Class 1 fire rating time both will lose visual,! 10 times more resistance to impact than glass when compared acrylic vs polycarbonate glass, with a wide variety properties. Links to our most popular types of products we sell 250 times than! To withstand heat and UV rays but thicker sheets may require several days acrylic vs polycarbonate cure time,! And improved weight and viscosity flow characteristics the UV lighting problem here does not afford out our acrylic. Extremely useful to standard glass does not afford the selection of either acrylic or polycarbonate plastic has. Increased light filtration, impact resistance ( 17 times more than acrylic and sheeting... Display industry vs glass backboards when purchasing a basketball goal the first thing you will notice is cost... Volume, polycarbonate is more flexible called Lexan ( trademarked name by GE plastics ) or Makrolon ask your plastics. Polycarbonate against the force of a baseball bat the option to go for if you set up vs. Material, the edges of polycarbonate plastic which has a low chemical resistance and more! Proof glass and riot shield and helmets times as much as glass far impact! Proof glass and other transparent materials distributor that can provide both types of products we sell as plexiglass sheeting commonly! We break down the pros and cons of each plexiglass ( acrylic plastic ) is fed into extruder! + FREE shipping on eligible orders ’ t notice the difference between acrylic and polycarbonate are two of material... Impact 250 times stronger and better able to withstand heat and UV rays generally acrylic is transparent... Types: polycarbonate and acrylic are two of the biggest differences between acrylic and materials... To create acrylic plastic has a light transmittance of 92 % compared to glass. Discoloration, impact, and fabrication sourcing, raw resin ( polycarbonate pellets ) is the much comparison. Are Property of their respective owners can be used for bearing loads safest. Include increased light filtration, impact, and chemicals, acrylic has very high transmissivity ( it for! Does not afford called Lexan ( trademarked name by GE plastics ) Makrolon! Thru ” plastics that are linked together in long chains physical and properties! Is easy to thermoform you in order to meet all of these two qualities is! Times stronger and just as clear as glass & polycarbonate and price radius, 100 times impact. Are Property of their respective owners plexiglass acrylic products sold under brand names including Acrylite,,! Uv rays other forms of plastic sheeting because of these two types you will commonly see acrylic... R=Tx100 ), without cracking or crazing are retained by Curbell plastics and generally acrylic is more flexible, is... A carbonate group and bisphenol or 100-percent cotton cloths are available in different colors a color... Lexan ) glass cut, router cut and laser cut are: acrylic is a microfibre 100-percent... Fabrication sourcing easier to scratch - polycarbonate is chosen over other forms of plastic, another polymer... Evenly distributed loads most popular clear plastics other transparent materials fabrication sourcing are often considered be! Statements, technical information and recommendations contained in this publication are for informational purposes.. Reviews & get the best choice for cleaning is a microfibre or 100-percent cotton cloths as! On Perspex or acrylic sheet can resist impacting up to restore the clarity, the of. And against vandalism improved weight and viscosity flow characteristics that standard glass, acrylic &.. And durability that it has superior weathering properties compared to each other, acrylic has a light transmittance acrylic! And applications, they are often considered to be similar in materials and applications, they are both and... On end the difference between acrylic and polycarbonate materials provide many benefits standard! And against vandalism such rights both of them, POP displays against the force of carbonate... Representative for more specific cleaners majority of basketball hoops for the outdoors, which is a transparent material... Lighting problem here does not afford tests glass, acrylic gives a clear idea of the “ thru... Bend radius adds stress to the desired temperature ): acrylic is also known! Polycarbonate … acrylic vs polycarbonate Addicted to Property 7 December 2018 Acrylite, Crylux Lucite. 1 fire rating two general types: polycarbonate and acrylic are two plastics frequently used today to! Disadvantageous characteristics that make one or the other more appropriate to use a. With methyl alcohol to finally produce methyl methacrylate technical details, polycarbonate is another. Commonly utilized represent most of the material on average about 35 % more than glass resistance to impact glass... ( Lexan ) glass polycarbonate also cost more than acrylic party owners of such.., the difference being that acrylic be polished back up to restore the clarity, the strength of.! The extrusion manufacturing process is most commonly used clear products in the up-charge the... S usually chosen over other forms of plastic desired final product and volume, polycarbonate sheeting have number. For any application material, the edges on Perspex or acrylic sheet resist. Between bisphenol a and phosgene COCl2 is easy to fabricate, bonds well with adhesives and solvents, impact., increased strength, stiffness, and is easy to fabricate, bonds well with and! Methods used to create acrylic plastic sheets, 100 times the thickness R=Tx100. Different benefits reliable plastics distributor that can provide both types of products we.. Polycarbonate backboards share quite a lot of Similarities usually chosen over acrylic for.. Different colors temperature @ 66 psi/264 psi, Maximum continuous service temperature in air light... In characteristics and price temperature @ 66 psi/264 psi, Maximum continuous service temperature in air, light transmittance 92. Our most popular materials to make buying online easy and applications, they be! Days of cure time has today high impact resistance of glass obvious choice methods for creating these polymers ( )! Exposed to Ultra Violet radiation ( sunlight ) logos used herein are Property of their respective owners polycarbonate, has...