Every project comes with different designs. You may be looking into skylights or renovating your windows for more natural light. Depending on the application, your material will matter. In case you are planning an interior design project and need material for partition walls, which one would your choice be – polycarbonate sheet or acrylic sheet? Deciding between the two can be challenging at first glance. Though both are very versatile and popular in the market, their properties would stand out from each other at some point.
So, what are Polycarbonate and Acrylic Sheets?
Polycarbonate Sheet
This is a thermoplastic material well known for its impact resistance and lightweight features. Its optical clarity and flexibility are preferred in applications where natural light is desired with great strength and toughness. Polycarbonate sheets are commonly used for skylights, roofing, shielding barriers, machine guards, and greenhouses.
Acrylic Sheet
Acrylic has a glass-like appearance but consists of transparent plastic material. It is appreciated for its clarity, resistance to UV effects, and cost-effectiveness. Acrylic sheets can be seen in display cases, signage, aquariums, and decorative panels.
Both serve a wide variety of industries, from building and construction to retail business, and their properties make them perfectly suited for different applications.
Why Polycarbonate Sheet is a Preferred Option
Polycarbonate sheet outperforms acrylic in versatility, durability, and more.
Strong and Bendable
Polycarbonate is much more stronger than acrylic and it is a better choice for applications for high impact such as protection barriers and machine guarding. Unlike acrylic, polycarbonate can be bent at room temperature without breaking, thus giving it more latitude in site application and design.
Heat and Chemical Resistance
Polycarbonate displays resistance to more extreme temperatures and is non-flammable. They are highly resistant to chemicals and durable for industrial or harsh environments of chemicals that may degrade acrylic. This is further contributing to its safety and reliability when heat or chemical exposure is anticipated.
Easy drilling
It does not crack or break while drilling like acrylic, making it a preferable plastic for projects requiring sharp machining or assembly.
Lightweight and Translucent
Though it offers excellent strength, polycarbonate sheets are lighter than acrylic sheets; hence, transporting and installing them is less hassle and less costly. Although polycarbonate is more translucent than transparent compared to acrylic, this attribute makes it invaluable for applications which require diffused light, like skylights and greenhouses.
Acrylic does have some advantages; for example, it is easily machined and polished and has good adhesion with glue. But then, acrylic would be much more brittle and liable to cracking from drilling and chipping if struck. It cannot withstand open flames, and it does not possess the heat and fire resistance of polycarbonate. It is less expensive but polycarbonate sheet is the better choice for longer-term sustainability and performance.
So why Sri Ramana Polycarbonate Sheets?
The Sri Ramana polycarbonate sheet ticks the right boxes with excellent impact resistance for demanding applications. Their UV-resistant coating ensures lasting clarity and keeps them looking great for years. Sri Ramana polycarbonate sheets are all-weather ready with added flame-retardant protection. Their lightweight design makes installation easy, and they can be moulded into various shapes—perfect for architects and designers. Whether it is used for a greenhouse, skylight, or protective barriers, strength, flexibility and sustainability are all found in Sri Ramana polycarbonate sheets for good results.
Conclusion
Polycarbonate or acrylic: Your project depends entirely on the specific needs of your project. Superior durability and impact resistance are usually delivered in polycarbonate sheet. Why don’t you have a look at Sri Ramana to obtain top-class quality polycarbonate sheets to deliver exceptional performance for any kind of application?