Re: Stus-List Plexus Question

[Bill Bina]

Questions and Answers on Polycast® Acrylic Sheet Q.: What's the difference between Polycast® Cell-Cast Acrylic Sheet and Extruded Acrylic Sheet? A.: Extruded Acrylic Sheet is a more economical general purpose grade of acrylic sheet that is made utilizing an extrusion/die method to produce the sheet. This extrusion process is the most economical approach to the production of acrylic sheet. Extruded sheet however has limitations in its ability to be machined and fabricated, may have detectable "grains" in the surface of the sheet, will have lower physical properties then cast acrylic sheet and more so, it's overall optical quality is not within the standards of "cast acrylic" sheet. Also, extruded acrylic sheet is typically limited to a maximum thickness of 1/4" -so, when thicker sheet is desired, cast acrylic sheet is the only option. Cell-Cast Acrylic (vs. Extruded Acrylic Sheet) on the other hand has higher physical properties, vastly higher optical properties, can be produced in very large sheet sizes (72" x 120" maximum) and in a variety of colors and compositions, and can also be produced in very thick gauges. Q.: Why does Cell-Cast Acrylic Sheet typically cost more than Extruded Acrylic sheet? A.: Cell Cast Acrylic Sheet is vertically cast between individual glass plates and has superior optical properties and surface qualities. This type of manufacturing process involves a slower, more laborious process then the relatively fast horizontal production of extruding sheet acrylic. In addition the cost of the base chemical used in the production of cell-cast acrylic sheet is more then those costs involved in the production of extruded acrylic sheet. Polycast® Cast Acrylic Sheet is available in a wide range of colors, patterns, thickness, sheet size and grades. Other attributes of Polycast® Clear Cast Acrylic Sheet products include: U.V. stabilized for superb outdoor weatherability Easy to machine Excellent sound abatement properties Can be cold and hot formed Superior insulating properties Less than 50% as heavy as glass On 3/19/2014 9:14 PM, Jim Watts wrote: Same stuff, varying qualities. Most cheap extruded acrylic comes from China and it's useless. Quality acrylic usually has a name on the cover. Plexiglas is a trade name for the Rohm & Haas product, while other companies make different brands like Perspex or Acrylite. I have never heard of a UV-protected acrylic in sheet form except for museum-grade, which is generally too thin for glazing and really designed more for artwork protection. Lexan (Makrolon) is available UV-protected because it doesn't have the same UV stability of cast acrylic. More to the point, I used cast 2404 for our windows, you can see white sealant through it, and they show no sign of distress after 6 years. Novus products work really well to remove hazing and scratches.  Jim Watts Paradigm Shift C&C 35 Mk III Victoria, BC

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