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We are all guilty of it,
every vacuum cleaner is a “Hoover®” and every piece of
clear plastic is “Perspex®
”. Perspex® was the trademark,
branding, used by ICI for their range of acrylic (PMMA) sheets.
The Perspex® brand of acrylic is now manufactured by
the Lucite International Ltd group of companies.
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Engineering & Design Plastics Ltd
mainly stock and distribute the Perspex® brand of cast acrylic
sheet but we also can supply Altuglas® and Oroglas® cast acrylic
sheet which are alternative brands of acrylic sheet. In
the past, we have also supplied REPSOL GLASS® cast acrylic sheet which was manufactured by Repsol YPF. In
March 2008 Altuglas International purchased the acrylic
production facilities of Repsol YPF. The REPSOL GLASS®
brand has now been phased out and sheet manufactured at
the former Repsol YPF plant is now been branded Oroglas®.
Engineering & Design Plastics Ltd can also supply other
brands of acrylic sheet, to order, if you need another
specific brand of acrylic, for instance Irpen Policril®,
Madreperla Setacryl® or ROEHM Plexiglas® we would like
the opportunity to try and help you with your
requirement.
Acrylic sheet is manufactured in
two forms; cell cast and extruded sheet. Cell cast
acrylic sheet is available in a wide range of
thicknesses and colours, including blocks, colours and a
limited range of surface patterns.
Extruded acrylic is
available as clear sheet and in a limited range of opal
and tinted colours and impact modified grades although
minimum orders can apply. Extruded acrylic sheet has a
good surface finish and consistent properties, which
make it suitable for many internal and external glazing
applications. Extruded acrylic sheet usually has a
tighter tolerance on the thickness than that of standard
cast acrylic sheet which is surprisingly wide (see
tables below). Extruded acrylic sheet can be solvent
bonded to its self, however we would always recommend
where possible using a cast acrylic when bonding. The extruded material
has more internal stresses in it due to the
manufacturing process. It is more susceptible to crazing
due to the solvents in the glue than the cast product. It is
always good practice to
vent any fumes away from the product when bonding, even
when using cast material.
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| Please note that the
solvent adhesives are only available for
collection from our Cambridge sales office or
local delivery on our own vehicles. We can send
this goods nationally or internationally by
carriers. |
We would like draw your attention
to the tolerance on the thickness of cast acrylic sheet.
It is a lot wider than many people expect! For example a
nominal 6mm thick Perspex®
sheet can actually measure as thin as 5mm or as thick as
7mm. This problem is compounded by the fact that the
same sheet might be on top tolerance in one position and
bottom in another.
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Thickness |
Perspex®
Cast sheet |
Standard sheet size |
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1.0mm |
±0.25mm |
1.25Mx1.2M |
|
1.5mm |
±0.40mm |
1.2Mx2.5M |
|
2.0mm |
±0.60mm |
2.03Mx3.05M |
|
2.5mm |
±0.60mm |
2.03Mx2.55M |
|
3.0mm |
±0.70mm |
2.03Mx3.05M |
|
4.0mm |
±0.80mm |
2.03Mx3.05M |
|
5.0mm |
±0.90mm |
2.03Mx3.05M |
|
6.0mm |
±1.00mm |
2.03Mx3.05M |
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8.0mm |
±1.20mm |
2.03Mx3.05M |
|
10.0mm |
±1.4mm |
2.03Mx3.05M |
|
12.0mm |
±1.60mm |
2.03Mx3.05M |
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15.0mm |
±1.9mm |
2.03Mx3.05M |
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20.0mm |
±2.40mm |
2.03Mx3.05M |
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25.0mm |
±2.90mm |
2.03Mx3.05M |
Acrylic sheet, block, rod and tube have
properties which are suitable for a wide variety of
applications ranging from precision engineering
components to domestic and commercial products. They are
easy to machine / work with (we would recommend the cast
product for complicated machined components due again to the
inherent stress in the extruded product) using conventional equipment and can be
thermoformed by inexpensive apparatus.
- Half the weight of
glass
- Outstanding
transparency
- Good flexural
strength
- Outstanding in all
climates.
- Will not noticeably
yellow in less than 10 years.
See Perspex
warranty belowGood resistance to
many common chemicals
Good resistance to
breakage 7 to 10 times stronger than
standard glass of same thickness.
Cracks rather than
shatter into multiple fragments.
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