What are the differences between 3D acrylic and Cast acrylic sheets?

Posted by Admin Selasa, 19 April 2011 0 komentar

Acrylic is a very versatile material that is used in a wide range of environments. Acrylic cladding is available in a vast range of variations, including; clear, colored, mirrored, frosted and even with a brushed aluminium effect.

3D acrylic and acrylic cast are the two main types of acrylic sheet that you'll encounter. Although she initially may look similar, the two have very different properties and is also much more expensive than the other.

It is important to be aware of the differences between the two so that you are the type most suitable for your needs you can choose.

Extruded and cast-acrylic sheets differ mainly in their thermal and chemical properties that are caused by the production process. There are also some other differences such as below that you wish to consider when choosing the acrylic sheet for your home DIY project.

Important differences you should be aware of when working with acrylic sheets:

Thickness differences

Thanks to the way in which the cast acrylic sheets created tend to slight variations in the thickness of the sheet whereas extruded sheets much more uniform, with next to no variation. This makes extruded acrylic ideal for vacuum shapes or situations where more detailed shapes exactly needed.

Temperature response

Cast acrylic has an isotropic response to temperature, which means that there is a maximum contraction of 2% in all directions. It may be important to note that acrylic grows and contracts with a much greater speed than glass. 3D acrylic, on the other hand, shows differences in shrinkage depending on the thickness and direction of extrusion.

Benefits of Extruded sheets

Reduced mechanical properties mean process benefits more than cast acrylic when bending, heating and vacuum formingBetter thickness tolerancesLower viscosity when hot means more ductile than cast acrylic

Benefits of Cast acrylic sheets

Better thermal stabilityHigher crazing resistance (when a network of very small cracks form) when exposed to solventsWider thermoforming range than extruded acrylicBetter ability to reworked hotSuperior surface finish and optical properties

Both types of acrylic benefit from sustainable and long-term, excellent resistance to natural ageing tones. Most manufacturers will guarantee against yellowing noticeably for about 10 years.

Often it may not be obvious what type of acrylic you buy, especially online. Cast acrylic can be as much as double the price of extruded acrylic so if nothing is mentioned and it seems cheap, the chances are that the extruded acrylic.


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