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The material and the different names

PMMA

The technical name for acrylic is PMMA, which is an abbreviation for Polymethylmethacrylate. Acrylic is known by various names, such as Perspex®, Plexiglas® and Altuglas®. Acrylic is a very strong material, much stronger than glass and also lighter than glass. That is why acrylic is often used for making aquariums, or for example as safety glass. Acrylic is weather-resistant and UV-resistant. For more background information see also http://www.pmma-online.eu .

Acrylic was developed and marketed in the 1930s. Since then, the material has become an indispensable part of our society. Acrylic has numerous applications, for example in the advertising world, for hobby projects and for design objects. Acrylic is also a frequently seen material in the aircraft industry, the medical world and architecture.

The production process

The difference between cast and extruded acrylic

Acrylic sheets can be produced in different ways. Cast sheets have better optical qualities and there is less tension in the material, making them more suitable for post-processing. The cast quality offers the largest choice of versions. Extruded sheets have a smaller thickness tolerance and are cheaper. Extruded sheets are also sold as budget sheets.

Foil and edges

Finishing the plate

Acrylic sheets are provided with protective foil (PE foil) on both sides. The difference between the top and bottom is barely visible, but it is there. The protective foil with print is usually the visible side of the sheets.

The edge of the plate

Sawing, polishing and laser cutting

Your order will be cut to size as standard with a tolerance of +-1mm. The end edges are straight but there is a light stripe pattern visible from the sawing. If you want the end edges to be perfectly shiny, please contact us for the possibilities. Sawn plates can be polished. Another option is to cut the plate with a laser cutting machine instead of sawing. The laser cutting makes the edge look nice and smooth.

Edits

What can you do with an acrylic sheet?

Acrylic sheets can be drilled, sawn, milled, laser-cut, bent, blasted, polished and printed.

Technical specifications

More information about the material

The largest part of our range consists of acrylic from the brand Perspex®. Under the link below you will find PDF downloads of the technical specifications of cast and extruded sheets from Perspex®. The properties of sheets from the other brands that we carry are very similar. Link: Download

Available Brands
Perspex®
Plexiglas®
EBRI®
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