Different Types of Acrylic

There are mainly two types of acrylic material &#; extruded and cast. Extruded acrylic is produced through a process wherein the manufacturers push liquid plastic through specialized rollers. The liquid plastic is pressed into sheets by the rollers as it cools. This creates a softer acrylic sheet, which can be designed and shaped as per the requirements of the manufacturer. Extrusion is also a relatively economical process, which makes the final product easy on the pocket. That is why this type of acrylic material is more commonly available in the market.

The main drawback of extruded acrylic sheets is that because they are softer, they can get scratched very easily. In some cases, extruded acrylic sheets might contain some impurities as well. On the other hand, cast acrylic is generally considered to be of superior quality when compared to extruded acrylic. Yet their better quality comes with a higher price tag as well. To make cast acrylic products, single sheets are first produced by pressing liquid plastic using a mold, which is usually made of glass. It then goes through a slow heating process, which produces a stronger acrylic sheet to be cut and shaped as per the needs of the manufacturer.

Pros and Cons of Opting for Acrylic Trophy Plaques

There are numerous consumer products these days, which are made from extruded or cast acrylic. The most common examples of acrylic products would be shower doors, windows, bath enclosures, skylights, aquariums, and trophy plaques. The main advantage of acrylic is that it is far much stronger than glass, which makes it more resistant to damages from impacts. Although it would still break or chip due to heavy impact, it would be more durable than using glass in the same environment. Besides, acrylic also insulates much better than glass, which means that installing acrylic windows at your home would help to save a lot on your monthly bills.

Acrylic also has incredible clarity and allows around 95% of visible light to pass through it easily. It does not carry any green tint either, which is usually seen in all kinds of glass products. However, the clarity of acrylic would be dependent on the final product, as acrylic sheets can also be colored in different hues intended for its use too. In any case, acrylic weathers decently, which keeps its clarity maintained over its long life without turning yellowish or breaking down due to exposure to sunlight for prolonged hours.

Another key benefit of opting for acrylic trophy plaques is that they would weigh half as much as

Even though acrylic features unmatched durability, it can still be shaped as per the needs of the user. Nonetheless, as extruded acrylic can crack or get chipped when it is machined, most of the top-quality acrylic products are made from cast acrylic material. At the same time, any type of acrylic products can be made without seams, because the chemical welding would melt the seams at the molecular level and make it a single piece of solid material. Even if there were any visible seams, they would be polished by the manufacturer to make it virtually invisible in the final product.

As for the disadvantages of acrylic, there are two prominent ones to note; the first one being its higher price when compared to glass and the other its vulnerability against extreme heat. Acrylic products would melt if exposed to direct flame and would release toxic fumes. That is why it is required to take adequate safety precautions when cutting or bending acrylic sheets. Note that some people presume that acrylic would become yellowish, brittle, or crack over time. However, these are just misconceptions and can only be true if you buy cheap forms of thermoplastic products. There would not be any such concern when you buy high-quality

The term &#;acrylic&#; refers to a product that is made with a substance derived from acrylic acid or any related compound such as polymethyl methacrylate. It usually has a glass-like appearance and comes with many amazing properties that make acrylic a better alternative than glass in many scenarios. One of the common uses of acrylic can be seen in custom trophy plaques , as acrylic can easily be customized and personalized as per the needs of the customer.There are mainly two types of acrylic material &#; extruded and cast. Extruded acrylic is produced through a process wherein the manufacturers push liquid plastic through specialized rollers. The liquid plastic is pressed into sheets by the rollers as it cools. This creates a softer acrylic sheet, which can be designed and shaped as per the requirements of the manufacturer. Extrusion is also a relatively economical process, which makes the final product easy on the pocket. That is why this type of acrylic material is more commonly available in the market.The main drawback of extruded acrylic sheets is that because they are softer, they can get scratched very easily. In some cases, extruded acrylic sheets might contain some impurities as well. On the other hand, cast acrylic is generally considered to be of superior quality when compared to extruded acrylic. Yet their better quality comes with a higher price tag as well. To make cast acrylic products, single sheets are first produced by pressing liquid plastic using a mold, which is usually made of glass. It then goes through a slow heating process, which produces a stronger acrylic sheet to be cut and shaped as per the needs of the manufacturer.There are numerous consumer products these days, which are made from extruded or cast acrylic. The most common examples of acrylic products would be shower doors, windows, bath enclosures, skylights, aquariums, and trophy plaques. The main advantage of acrylic is that it is far much stronger than glass, which makes it more resistant to damages from impacts. Although it would still break or chip due to heavy impact, it would be more durable than using glass in the same environment. Besides, acrylic also insulates much better than glass, which means that installing acrylic windows at your home would help to save a lot on your monthly bills.Acrylic also has incredible clarity and allows around 95% of visible light to pass through it easily. It does not carry any green tint either, which is usually seen in all kinds of glass products. However, the clarity of acrylic would be dependent on the final product, as acrylic sheets can also be colored in different hues intended for its use too. In any case, acrylic weathers decently, which keeps its clarity maintained over its long life without turning yellowish or breaking down due to exposure to sunlight for prolonged hours.Another key benefit of opting for acrylic trophy plaques is that they would weigh half as much as glass awards and trophies of the same size and shape. This makes it easy to display acrylic trophies on the office desk or corner shelves. Besides, the lightweight nature of acrylic also makes it easy for trophy manufacturers to work with the material to create bigger designer projects where weight could pose a problem. Moreover, acrylic sheets having a thickness of over 1 inch could also be bullet resistant. This is why acrylic material is seen to be used for the presidential motorcade, teller enclosures at banks, the pope&#;s booth-vehicle, and many drive-through window enclosures. As it is a very durable material, acrylic is used in aircraft windows as well.Even though acrylic features unmatched durability, it can still be shaped as per the needs of the user. Nonetheless, as extruded acrylic can crack or get chipped when it is machined, most of the top-quality acrylic products are made from cast acrylic material. At the same time, any type of acrylic products can be made without seams, because the chemical welding would melt the seams at the molecular level and make it a single piece of solid material. Even if there were any visible seams, they would be polished by the manufacturer to make it virtually invisible in the final product.As for the disadvantages of acrylic, there are two prominent ones to note; the first one being its higher price when compared to glass and the other its vulnerability against extreme heat. Acrylic products would melt if exposed to direct flame and would release toxic fumes. That is why it is required to take adequate safety precautions when cutting or bending acrylic sheets. Note that some people presume that acrylic would become yellowish, brittle, or crack over time. However, these are just misconceptions and can only be true if you buy cheap forms of thermoplastic products. There would not be any such concern when you buy high-quality custom acrylic trophy plaques

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Trophy Engraving: Which is Best Acrylic or Glass?

When you visualize a trophy, what comes to mind? Many may recall the colorful metal and plastic trophies displayed in school trophy cases, or classic wooden and metal plaques with plates awaiting future engraving. In recent years, the trending trophy design has a sleek, clear appearance made of either acrylic or glass, and often times includes a laser engraving detailing the recipient&#;s accomplishment. These trophies are both beautiful options to for awards, but which material is easier to engrave, and which one is the right choice for you?

Both glass and acrylic come with advantages and disadvantages:

Chemical Makeup: The biggest differences between acrylic and glass are what the materials are composed of. Acrylic is a transparent thermoplastic often used as an alternative to glass. Chemically, it is a human-made polymer of methyl methacrylate. Acrylic glass was first developed in and available commercially beginning in . Glass is formulated with sand, sodium carbonate, lime or calcium oxide, and additional additives. Glass can be found in naturally-occurring forms, but the earliest known human-made glass dates back to BC.  

Weight: Glass awards are about two times heavier than their acrylic trophy counterparts. Although the additional weight of a glass award gives them a more premium feel, this also means that it can be more expensive to ship.  

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Durability: In terms of impact, acrylic is much more durable than glass. If dropped, glass has a much greater likelihood of shattering. Acrylic is known to be shatterproof, thanks to its softer and less dense form, but this also means that acrylic isn&#;t as scratch resistant as glass. Should damage occur, it is fairly easy to buff out scratches in acrylic plaques and awards, but scratches in glass may require professional repairs.

Appearance: From a distance, glass and acrylic awards are almost indistinguishable. Their ability to transmit light to create a beautiful, shining effect is almost equal.

Price: Many factors go into award pricing, including how easy the components and materials are to work with. Both acrylic and glass are very moldable, which makes both of these options much more affordable than crystal trophies. The cost difference will most likely be felt when shipping kicks in, as the weight of glass makes it more expensive to transport.

When it comes to engraving, which material is better? Ultimately, both glass and acrylic are amazing canvases for engraving, so it all comes down to your trophy needs. If you&#;re anticipating low-risk of damage and a need for a weighted award, glass might be your better option. If you&#;re building an award that will be displayed in a high-traffic space or out in the elements with many opportunities to break or scratch, acrylic would be the best choice.

If you&#;ve weighed your options and decided on glass trophies, the Acrylic Warehouse team still has you covered. Our Recognition Specialists can provide more information on both our acrylic and non-acrylic products, including glass, marble and crystal, and work with you to create a beautiful engraved trophy for your next recognition event.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Custom Acrylic Medals.