What Is Acrylic?
Acrylic is a plastic material made of a polymer called polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). It is a lightweight and shatter-resistant alternative to traditional glass and has many applications, including windows, skylights, picture frames and lighting fixtures.
Acrylic is known for its excellent optical clarity, weather resistance, and durability, making it a popular choice for a wide range of applications. It is also easy to fabricate, which makes it ideal for custom-made products and projects. Additionally, it is UV resistant, which means that it won’t yellow or become brittle over time when exposed to sunlight.
What Is PERSPEX®?
PERSPEX® is one of the many different brand names for Acrylic. In 1934, Imperial Chemical Industries, one the UK’s biggest manufacturers’ trademarked their acrylic PMMA material as PERSPEX® which is derived from the Latin term “to see through”. With its popularity over the years, the PERSPEX® brand has manufactured different types of cast and extruded acrylic including clear, coloured and impact modified sheets.
Is Perspex Another Name 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.
This type of association can happen when a brand becomes so popular with one specific product. Another example of this happening in the market is ‘Hoover’. Hoover is actually a brand that sells a number of different high-performing appliances, yet they are known for their hoover. Due to their popularity, the term ‘hoover’ has now been used as a universal way to describe a vacuum.
What Is The Difference Between Perspex and Acrylic?
Ultimately, the terms “Acrylic” and “Perspex” refer to the same material and can be used interchangeably. Both terms are used to describe the same product, which is a PMMA material that is known for its excellent optical clarity, weather resistance, and overall durability. As well as PERSPEX®, there are other brands that manufacture acrylic sheet material including Lucite, Altuglas and Plexiglass. If you compare these brands’ acrylic products to each other, It is unlikely that there will be a noticeable difference in specifications.
For more information on Acrylic, Perspex, MDF, Dibond and Polycarbonate please visit our Guide and Blog sections of the website.
Cut Plastic Sheeting are based on the south Coast in Ivybridge, Devon UK. We have a full manufacturing facility which enables us to offer Cut To Size Acrylic as well as Cut To Size MDF. Shop our full range of products, including our Clear Acrylic, coloured acrylic and more recent MDF Wood Sheet ranges.
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