The plastic materials used by the industry are too many. Those we handle are many too. Plexiglass (PMMA)— polycarbonate (PC) - polystyrene (PS) – PVC solid and foam – Petg. Composite aluminum panels. Industrial plastics: polyethylene (PE) – polypropylene (PP) – acetals – ertalon and other. Expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam – DOW type).
All these are produced in sheet form and some in tube or rod-bar form too.
1. Acrylic sheets (PMMA) plexiglass.
The acrylic glass, as often called, is very light (1/5 of glass), light transmittance 92%, temperature resistance up to 80⁰C, UV protected and at least 10 years guarantee for weather conditions. Over 20mm thickness it becomes bulletproof.
- P.M.M.A. cast, in sheets up to 200mm clear, in many colors effects and many special characteristics as High impact, hard coated, crosslinked – resist etc. It is produced in tubes and rods in a lot of forms.
- PMMA (xt) -sheets – rods and tubes.
- Acrylic parts: Hinges – catcher – distancers and so on.
- Polycarbonate solid and cellular sheets clear and color to any length. UV protected and been unbreakable can be used into many applications. Even to high temperatures up to 120⁰C, and self-fire-extinguishing. Tubes, usually in clear and opal color.
- Polystyrene (PS) in clear sheets and other colors. The transparency is very good. It has a lot of application and is ideal for vacuum forming.
- PVC - foam in sheets white – black and other colors from 1mm to 24mm. ideal for digital printing and a lot of other applications.
- Composite aluminum panels, in sheets. Very strong and stiff in white – black and other colors. Ideal for cladding – digital printing- signs and many other applications.
- Pet g. - Clear sheets, good clarity. Ideal for thermoforming but even better for vacuum forming and digital mirror printing.
- Expanded polystyrene (DOW type) up to 100mm. The cheapest way to cut 3D letters.
- Industrial plastics: There are many types with special characteristics according to the use. High temperature or tensile strength to self-oiling and many more.
2. Protection and cleaning of Plexiglass.
PMMA – PC- PS – PETG sheets are protected by PP -film on both sides, and usually is removed at the end of all processing. The film will polymerize if the material is not stored properly and cannot be removed destroying the material. Materials must be stored inside a building away from the sun and rain. After removing the film, we clean using wet soft cloth and antistatic liquid (i.e., AZAX with antistatic properties) NEVER use alcohol solvents. Plexiglass can be restored if there are light scratches on the surface by rubbing with sandpaper and water (300-500grid) and finally buffing (cotton buffing wheel) and some special wax type element, returning to its original form. The same applies if you need to polish the peripheral sites of the material. We always try not to OVERHAT the material.
3. Processing.
For cutting – drilling – tapping – sandpapering and so on, we use woodworking machinery and in some cases metal working machinery. Nowadays, of course, there are more sophisticated machinery CNC or NOT.
LIKE: Lasers for cutting and engraving. Diamond polishing machines CNC routers 2D or 3D machining.
Line bending heat machinery and – or hot air blow if needed. Thermoforming is done using ovens and presses, heating the materials up to 170⁰C.
Techniques we follow:
1. Drapeforming (boat windshield – shades and may more)
2. Male or female molds
3. Free air blow – hemispheres etc.
4. Hot press forming
5. Vacuum forming
Acrilix S.A. has all the above features and technics for processing plexiglass and the knowledge to back up your projects. If you need information and have questions, do not hesitate to contact us by e-mail or phone. We have stock materials up to 100mm clear, black - opal up to 50mm and all the materials mentioned.