Acrylic Thermoplastic Material
Acrylic is a transparent commodity thermoplastic often used for applications where light transmission or clarity is required because of its transparent properties. It is a polymer of methyl methacrylate (PMMA) made with the distillation of hydrocarbon fuels into fractions that are combined with additional materials to produce plastics.
Acrylic thermoplastics are useful plastic for applications requiring transparency, clarity or impact resistance. It is often used as an alternative to glass because it is lighter and scratch resistant but can also be a more cost-effective alternative to polycarbonate.
Acrylic is commonly known by its brand name, Plexiglass. Crescent Plastics provides acrylic thermoplastic material extrusions for Signage, POP Displays, LED Light Diffusers and many other applications.
Characteristics of Acrylic
Acrylic (PMMA) is classified as a thermoplastic, meaning the material can be remelted and recycled into another shape without the loss of physical properties. It makes Acrylic thermoplastic an ideal extrusion material and the benefits include:
- Scratch-Resistant
- Transparent
- Excellent optical clarity
- Excellent weatherability and resistance to sunlight
- Rigid with good impact strength
- Excellent dimensional stability
- Chemical Resistance
- Impact resistance
Common Uses of Acrylic
Acrylic is a versatile thermoplastic that provides applications for a variety of industries. Acrylic is perfect for these applications:
Point of Purchase Displays: Acrylic is an ideal material for POP displays. Acrylic can be used for shelf talkers, bumpers, captain holders, edge trim, structural components, and more.
Appliances: Acrylic can be used for bumpers and light lenses.
Building and Construction: Acrylic can be used for everything from conveyor covers to LED light diffuser acrylic lenses.
Outdoor Signage: Acrylic is durable and lightweight enough to be used for exterior signage, light lenses, and architectural extrusions for convenience stores, gas stations, and many other applications.
Extruded Plastic Trim: Extruded plastic trim can be used for a variety of applications including seat edge trims, edge trim, J-clips, U-channels, and more.
Signs/Sign Holders: Acrylic can be used to produce extruded sign holders for store fixtures, label holders, POP displays, and more.
LED Light Lenses: Acrylic is also a useful material for specialty plastic extrusions like light fixture lenses. Because of its transparent nature and weatherability, Acrylic is perfect for extruded frosted and clear acrylic lenses for all of your lighting needs. Crescent has over 50 blends of Acrylic to provide diffusion needs from 50% to 94% light transmission. We work with your engineers to find the right blend to reduce pixilation and provide the correct lighting efficacy.
Acrylic Fabrications from Crescent Plastics
Crescent Plastics can mill, route, angle cut or apply tape to your Acrylic extrusion. This allows us to meet all of your application needs. In addition to our traditional plastic fabrication, we can also provide specialty acrylic extrusion if your project requires it. Whether you need outdoor signage or light fixture lenses, we offer the ideal acrylic material.
To learn more about our custom plastic fabrications, contact us today or request a quote.
