acrylic

Acrylic is a commonly used clear plastic that is chosen over glass because it is many times stronger than glass, and half as heavy - making it much more impact resistant and safer. It's commonly referred to by brand names such as Lucite and Plexiglass and comes in a large variety of colours as well as edge lit options. It can be injection moulded but normally comes in sheet format of which there are two types - extruded and cast. Cast acrylic is the less expensive option but is not as scratch resistant as extruded acrylic. In sheet form it is processed using CNC cutters and can be easily heat bent. Saw or router cut edges of sheet acrylic should be flame finished for a smoother more aesthetic finish. CNC lasering can reduce the need for this finishing process. The material can be printed on and vinyl lettering is often used for graphics.

Material Properties