A Guide To Perspex Acrylic | Cut Plastic Sheeting

A Complete Guide To Clear Perspex Acrylic

Clear Perspex acrylic sheeting is a versatile and highly sought-after material that has found its way into countless applications across various industries. With its exceptional transparency, durability, and ease of fabrication, this remarkable material has become a staple in the worlds of design, construction, and innovation. Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast, a professional builder, or simply curious about the possibilities it offers, this guide will provide you with comprehensive insights into the world of clear Perspex acrylic sheeting.

What Is Perspex Acrylic?

Acrylic, composed of a polymer known as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), stands as a lightweight and resilient substitute for conventional glass. This versatile material finds use in a multitude of applications, spanning from windows and skylights to picture frames and lighting fixtures.

What sets acrylic apart is its remarkable optical clarity, ability to withstand varying weather conditions, and its inherent durability, rendering it a preferred choice for a diverse array of uses. Moreover, its ease of fabrication makes it exceptionally suitable for tailored products and projects, while its UV resistance ensures that it maintains its integrity over time, without yellowing or becoming brittle when exposed to sunlight.

Perspex vs Acrylic

Ultimately, the terms “Acrylic” and “Perspex” refer to the same material and can be used interchangeably. PERSPEX® is one of the many different brand names for Acrylic. As the PERSPEX® brand grew so popular over the years, the term perspex has actually become a synonym for acrylic. Consumers now use the term as a way to reference the product, rather than the brand.

What Are The Benefits Of Clear Acrylic?

Its exceptional transparency ensures maximum light transmission while being remarkably shatter-resistant and durable, making it ideal for both indoor and outdoor use. Acrylic’s lightweight nature simplifies handling and installation, reducing structural demands in various applications. Furthermore, its ease of customisation allows for tailored solutions in signage, displays, enclosures, and more. With the excellent UV resistance, acrylic maintains its clarity when exposed to sunlight. This versatile material is also chemical-resistant, low maintenance, and can be treated to enhance scratch resistance, preserving its aesthetic appeal. 

How Can You Use Clear Perspex Acrylic?

The versatility, durability, and hygienic properties of sheet materials make them invaluable in healthcare applications, contributing to the safety, cleanliness, and functionality of healthcare facilities while enhancing patient care and staff safety.

Medical Displays

Clear Acrylic sheets can be used for medical displays, providing hygienic, clear, and durable screens for diagnostic equipment or monitors.

Protective Barriers

Clear acrylic offers exceptional transparency, allowing for a clear line of sight while providing a protective barrier. Acrylic is highly resilient and can withstand impact.

Balustrades

Acrylic is a popular choice for balustrades in residential and commercial settings, to improve safety, reduce maintenance appeal and enhance aesthetic.

Signage

Clear acrylic is an attractive and practical choice for signage due to its transparency, durability, customisation options, and cost-effectiveness

Wall Cladding

With busy footfall in businesses, buildings can become worn down and difficult to clean. Clear acrylic makes it easier by offering a protective layer on walls. 

Greenhouse Panels

Acrylic is a perfect material for greenhouse panel replacements as it has all the external qualities you need for it to be effective and long-lasting.

Shed Windows

If your shed window has been damaged or is looking a bit worn, using acrylic is a quick and inexpensive way to replace the panel yourself.

Table Top Protectors

An acrylic tabletop protector is a clear plastic sheet that is placed on top of a table to protect the surface from scratches, stains, and other types of damage. 

Secondary Glazing

Give your property an extra layer of layer of protection from the elements, outside noise and potential intruders by using shatterproof acrylic. 

Picture Frames

With excellent clarity, UV resistance, and resilient shatterproof qualities, clear acrylic is an ideal replacement for traditional glass.

Clear Acrylic FAQs

‘Clear acrylic’ is also known by the trade names of Lucite, Altuglas, Plexi Glass and Plexiglass. Clear Acrylic is commonly known as Perspex, Please view our blog to understand the difference between Perspex® and Acrylic.

Extruded acrylic and cast acrylic are two common forms of acrylic sheets with distinct characteristics. Extruded acrylic is produced through an extrusion process, offering high-gloss surfaces on both sides, excellent optical clarity, and precise thickness options. In contrast, cast acrylic is made by pouring liquid resin into molds, resulting in one glossy side and one matte or textured side. While cast acrylic maintains good transparency, the matte side may have slightly reduced clarity and requires more effort to achieve a smooth finish.

One of the best ways to clean your acrylic panels is to use soapy water with a micro-fibre cloth. Using washing-up detergent will create a soapy lather that you can keep building with more water, whilst the micro-fibre cloth will deal with any dirt particles that are sitting on the panel.