What are polycarbonate panels?

Polycarbonate plastic is stronger and has higher impact strength than acrylic. Polycarbonate is not only extremely lightweight, but also has exceptional resistance to numerous types of damage and is almost impossible to break.

Polycarbonate sheets can be cut to size to ensure that they fit your project perfectly, regardless of the purpose for which you are using them.

Why use polycarbonates?

With its strong nature and low moisture absorption, polycarbonate is a thermoplastic that is transparent and offers exceptional durability as well as resistance to impact and water damage. They are also very stable, heat-resistant, chemical-resistant, and flame-retardant.

Polycarbonate sheets are simple to work with; they cut and fasten with ease using bolts, nuts, and screws. It is easy to shape and size polycarbonate using thermoforming and machining.

At its melting temperature, this turns into a liquid that is easily recycled or injection-molded since it can be repeatedly chilled and heated without suffering considerable degradation.

Polycarbonate's strength and resistance make it an excellent choice for applications where security and safety are crucial.

What are the uses?

Polycarbonate sheets are perfect for commercial and do-it-yourself projects, as well as indoor and outdoor use, because of their weather resistance and UV protection. Manufacturers typically employ polycarbonate plastic for a variety of uses. For instance, polycarbonate is frequently utilized in the manufacturing of laptops, mobile devices, and CDs and DVDs.

Since strong polycarbonate panels is absolutely unbreakable and lasts year after year, it is ideal for use in the roofing industry as well as outdoor applications. Utilizing polycarbonate is commonplace for:

• Canopy roofs.

• Conservatory roofs.

• Construction.

• Glazing.

• Greenhouse roofing.

• Lighting.

• Machine guards.

• Protective sneeze guards.

• Security components.

• Signage.

• Skylights.

 

What are acrylic sheets?

Acrylic sheet is one of the most sought-after and widely used materials in the plastics industry. There are many companies that distribute them, where you will find a complete tutorial that explains the ins and outs of acrylic sheet and everything you need to know to machine, customize, and maintain it properly.

How are they made?

Cast and extruded acrylic sheets are the two most widely used types. Each of these two varieties of acrylic sheets has a unique production technique.

Batch cell and continuous production are the two manufacturing methods that can be used to make cast acrylic sheets. The most commonly utilized process is batch cell. This is a quick and easy method to make acrylic sheets with thicknesses varying from.06 to 6 inches and lengths from a few hundred to three feet! Sheets manufactured using this method are frequently made-to-order. Conversely, continuous manufacturing is a labor-saving, fast-moving process that operates continuously. This method of production is widely used for extremely thin or narrow sheets.

The base material for extruded acrylic sheets is extrusion-grade polymer pellets. When a catalyst is added to a solution of monomers and water, droplets of polymers are produced, resulting in these pellets. After that, the pellets are put into an apparatus known as an extruder, which heats them up until they melt and become liquid. The plastic melt is placed into a metal dye, which functions similarly to a mold. Then, under pressure, the dye flattens on the molten plastic to form a consistent sheet.

Depending on the distance between the dyes, sheets can be created in a variety of thicknesses. The acrylic sheet is then solidified by feeding the sheets into cooling rows. Finally, the sheet will be appropriately sized by cutting and finishing using sanding and buffing methods.

Benefits

One of the many uses for acrylic sheets is their versatility in a range of sectors. Additional advantages of acrylic sheets are their ease of fabrication and shaping, strength and weight advantages over glass, high transparency, ease of cleaning and machining, and ease of maintenance. For point-of-purchase applications, displays, windows, signage, picture frames, furniture, aquariums, and do-it-yourself projects, this makes it a desirable material.