Polycarbonate sheets are very lightweight and often installed on any solid flames including aluminum, steel, plastic, wood or other materials. 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. The most confusing issue about acrylic and Plexiglass are the numerous names used in the plastics industry. It comes in a variety of thicknesses, though the thicker the sheet, the more durable (and expensive) Lexan tends to be. 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. Polycarbonate is an extremely good material for constructing a greenhouse. 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. 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. Polycarbonate, however, is another level above that and would be recommended for applications where heavy impact is likely i.e. LEXAN is approximately 250 times stronger than glass. It has superior weathering properties compared to many other transparent plastics. Polycarbonate panels are finding use in an increa… Both polycarbonate sheets vs. acrylic sheets offer a ton of benefits over glass and other transparent materials. A transparent thermoplastic with exceptional durability sold under different brands including Makrolon and Lexan. When polycarbonate is exposed to UV light it becomes yellow, cloudy and brittle. Add UHMW, PTFE, plastic glue, Multiwall polycarbonate, Seaboard, architectural and engineering plastics. First off, it is important to note that both acrylic and polycarbonate backboards share quite a lot of similarities. Compared with conventional concrete sound barrier, polycarbonate significantly decrease installation time and project cost. The acrylic is sometimes interchangeably called Plexiglass (the brand name). Price of Acrylic vs. Polycarbonate. Don’t misunderstand my preference for acrylic. In this lesson we will compare and contrast the physical and mechanical properties of each, as well as the uses of each. Summary – Polycarbonate vs Plastic. What Are the Similarities Between a Polycarbonate Vs Acrylic Basketball Backboards. Using Acrylic. Common Applications of Acrylic & Polycarbonate. This clear plastic is typically more expensive than acrylic and polystyrene, but it is extremely strong. At Creative Mechanisms, we have used Polycarbonate in a number of applications across a range of industries. It is a clear plastic sheet that is flexible, splinterless, and sturdy. Polystyrene is stronger than budget materials (like PVC); it can withstand knocks and offers fair cable retention. Plexiglas is the original trade or brand name for this type of acrylic. Our customers use acrylic plexiglass in commercial construction, home improvement projects, laser engraving, furniture making, merchandising, and other uses. I was a teen with access to a shop filled with Plexiglas® Acrylic sheets, Lexan®, Plastic Sheets & Fiberglass sheet. Lexan is a brand name for a polycarbonate sheet of plastic. Both materials cut well with a band saw or table saw using a high speed with small teeth. Acrylic is a parent name that indicates the type of polymer used in its manufacturing. The key difference between polycarbonate and plastic is that Polycarbonates are lighter but much stronger than plastic. Polycarbonate sheet maintains glass-like clarity and is highly impact resistant and strong. When comparing plexiglass vs glass for windows, it’s clear that they each have their advantages. x 18 in., LEXAN polycarbonate sheet, 24 in. It is a lighter alternative to glass and a natural UV filter, so it is often used in eyewear. They provide different benefits (and drawbacks). 40 years later I educate our team on new materials and processes - to customers worldwide. Polycarbonate (PC). Their drawbacks are: acrylic can crack/shatter under impact and polycarbonate is easier to scratch. Acrylic and Polycarbonate are essentially very similar materials. Plexiglas and Lexan are different materials: acrylic and polycarbonate, respectively. LEXAN polycarbonate sheet, 24 in. 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. You can get a very clean edge on acrylic by lasercutting it. However, plexiglass is so much cheaper that you can afford to get either thicker sheets or more pieces for the same price as glass. Polycarbonate is an incredibly useful plastic for applications requiring transparency and high impact resistance. While it offers certain advantages over conventional glass sheets, it also comes with a few limitations. Some of the main pros and cons of polycarbonate panels are listed below. Fish tanks, reptile and other animal enclosures Additionally over time both will lose visual clarity, the difference being that acrylic be polished to regain it; polycarbonate cannot be. Rodriguez, Ferdinand. Each exhibits particular advantageous and disadvantageous characteristics that make one or the other more appropriate to use in a given application. Between glass and plexiglass of the same thickness, glass is the more effective soundproofing material. The differences start to appear when you look at tensile strength and impact resistance. It also is a strong material, able to withstand different types of weather and tear. x 18 in., is a perfect glass substitute. Can I use plexiglass for a greenhouse? Product link URL Join Andy Joe Plastic Hero as he tests glass, acrylic and polycarbonate against the force of a baseball bat! Polycarbonate sound barrier installation. Acrylic and polycarbonate are two of the most popular clear plastics. All the acrylic sheet we supply is designed to meet the strict demands of many commercial, industrial, and residential applications. Reference: 1. Is Lexan® the same as Makrolon® or Polycarbonate?. 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. Road Tankers. Acrylic sheet is easy to fabricate, bonds well with adhesives and solvents, and is easy to thermoform. The term Plexiglass is more commonly used for this type of acrylic. To begin with, they are both strong and durable plastic materials. Cast Acrylic vs. Extruded Acrylic Acrylic is less expensive than Polycarbonate. Differences Between Acrylic and Polycarbonate. While it depends on the final product and volume, Polycarbonate is generally 30-40% more expensive than Acrylic. It is available in clear and opaque forms, making it the ideal choice for construction and security-related purposes. However, polycarbonate is marketed as being bullet proof whereas acrylic is not. This plastic sheeting is durable, heat resistant, and so impact resistant that some "bulletproof" glass is made of Lexan. Polycarbonate is a type of plastic. Acrylic is significantly more durable when exposed to Ultra Violet radiation (sunlight). Plastic Vs Polycarbonate Lenses- Which One Is Better? 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. Unfortunately, polycarbonate has one major drawback. Plastic is a polymer that has a large molecular mass. … Plexiglas is a cell cast acrylic, so it has fewer impurities (tiny ripples or embedded specks). 2-ft x 6-ft Corrugated Clear Polycarbonate Plastic Roof Panel. Acrylic is more scratch resistant than standard (9034) polycarbonate. As you might imagine, Polycarbonate is more expensive than Acrylic. Today PMMA (“plexiglass”) is sold under many different brand names, including Acrylite, Lucite® and Perspex®. Acrylic is a transparent plastic material with outstanding strength, stiffness, and optical clarity. Acrylic plastic is a handy building material that has a variety of uses. A jigsaw might tend to crack acrylic, but will be fine for polycarbonate. 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. Polycarbonate and acrylic are two plastics frequently used today. Polycarbonate is yet another type of thermoplastic polymer used in manufacturing. In summary the benefits are: acrylic is stiffer, shinier, more scratch resistant and cheaper than polycarbonate which is bendier and virtually unbreakable. 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. Insulating Properties of Plexiglass Vs. Polycarbonate is sold under the trade names Lexan® and Makrolon® and is used in various applications. So finding a reliable plastics distributor that can provide both types of sheets to you in order to meet all of these different needs. 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