Tuffak Polycarbonate and Optix Acrylic: Clear Plastics with Clear Differences
Tuffak® Polycarbonate and Optix® Acrylic (PMMA) are two very similar looking plastics. Both are often bought as transparent sheets with similar smooth glossy surfaces, and are often used as tougher and more impact resistant alternatives for glass in industrial and consumer applications. These two materials can be found in windows, viewing panels, protective barriers, eye-wear, display cabinets, and similar applications. However, polycarbonate and acrylic actually have very different physical properties and resulting applications.
Polycarbonate: Industrial Grade Impact Resistance
Tuffak® Polycarbonate (manufactured by Plaskolite) is an amorphous thermoplastic material, meaning it has a low degree of crystallinity and a more random polymer chemical
High Impact – Break Resistant Tuffak Polycarbonate
structure. This gives the Tuffak Polycarbonate sheet plastic an interesting combination of physical and optical properties, such as transparency comparable to silicate glass and an exceptionally high impact and chemical resistance.
Its exceptional impact resistance has made this particular material popular for manufacturing in sheet form, a lot like sheet metal. It can be rolled, pressed, heated, and formed without cracking or breaking. Polycarbonate can be fabricated quickly and relatively inexpensively into shapes not possible with glass thanks to its chemical structure.
Tuffak Polycarbonate is commonly used in protective applications, such as barriers and bullet-proof windows, ceiling panels, displays, and enclosures. Despite its impact resistance, polycarbonate tends to scratch easily, so it is not well-suited to displays and applications that require high aesthetics.
OPTIX® Acrylic (PMMA): Durability on Display
Quality American Made Acrylic Sheet
Acrylic, short for poly-methyl-methacrylate, (PMMA) can come in many forms, including a sheet material typically referred to as acrylic glass. Like polycarbonate, acrylic is an amorphous thermoplastic, though it features much better transparency. Tough and strong, yet acrylic impact resistance is not as high as that of polycarbonate.
Optix® Acrylic (manufactured by Plaskolite) offers a higher tensile strength and UV resistance than polycarbonate, as well as much better optical characteristics. Acrylic is also easy to clean and maintain, and is generally pretty easy to fabricate, so long as it’s masked for protection during handling. This, combined with being less expensive has made acrylic common in display and consumer applications.
There are many different applications for acrylic thanks to these properties, ranging from LEDs to displays to even consumer windows. Optix® Acrylic sheet can be found in shop displays and enclosures, ceiling skylights, media discs, and fiber optics, as the material is a lightweight and tougher alternative to glass.
Looking for a trusted supplier of Tuffak® Polycarbonate, OPTIX® PMMA, and other Performance Plastic materials?
Industrial Plastic Supply, Inc. is one of the largest and most experienced plastic suppliers in the world, with a vast inventory of premium Plaskolite Acrylic and Tuffak Polycarbonate sheets. Our experienced and certified customer service team are available to assist you. Head over to our website to explore all of the materials that we carry and contact us today with any questions you may have, click here.
The quick answer is: Performance Plastics are the opposite of single use plastics.
Performance plastic materials are a wide range of materials that are designed for use in mechanical, engineering, aerospace, food processing, and many other applications. These performance plastic materials generally have superior physical properties. Most of these materials are frequently are used to replace other materials like metals, wood and glass.
Most performance plastic sheets and rods are machinable. These special materials can be used to replace other substrates that can not stand up to the same demanding applications. Performance plastics are the natural choice when considering replacement for traditional materials, such as bronze, stainless steel, glass, wood and copper. Performance plastics offer a wide range and combination of features and benefits.
Why Performance Plastics Are So Popular
Because of their cost-effectiveness as well as their reliability, durability, and special characteristics performance plastic materials are replacing metals in the oil and gas industry. The constant development of new and better high performance plastic materials is therefore closely linked to the development and economic production of new materials. High performance plastics can be divided in amorphous and semi-crystalline polymers, just like all polymers.
Performance Plastics properties
Single Use Plastic properties
Long life – up to 50 years of service
Very short, often instant throw away
Wear Resistance
Very cheap
Self Lubricating
Little to no physical properties
High Heat Resistance
Very low melting point
Machinable
Very light weight
Can be Very UV Resistant
Deteriorates quickly
Very Long Life
Extremely short life
Tough and Durable
Considered disposable
Very High Impact Strength
Flimsy, low value
Why use a Performance Plastic?
Performance plastics are designed for repeated or multi-use applications and generate a smaller carbon footprint than glass, steel, or wood. Moreover, high performance plastics are plastics that can perform well under extreme environments. Because most performance plastics are considered ‘self lubricating’, these materials can be made into parts that replace metals. Also, performance plastics don’t require the continual maintenance and lubrication that metals require.
Over the past few decades the Mechanical Plastics have increasingly replaced metals due to their strength-to-weight ratios. Performance plastics have excellent resistance to wear and have surpassed aluminum and steel, respectively. When certain additives are blended with thermoplastic polymers, this performance plastic can meet stringent codes. These Include compliance ratings for smoke, flammability, and even toxic gas release. Similarly, there are several high end performance plastics can meet the stringent FM-4910 flame and smoke rating.
Performance Plastic materials are not ‘cheap’
As opposed to ‘single use’ plastics, the performance plastic materials are not inexpensive or ‘throw away’. Rather these high performance materials are designed for specific applications, and out perform most other substrates. Other characteristics of high performance plastics can be extraordinary resistance to wear and tear. Other considerations include high purity or particular electrical insulation. High performance plastics are plastics that can perform well under extreme conditions. High performance plastics are best known for their temperature, chemical and wear resistance.
Performance Plastics offers high performance plastics for high performance applications. All this and at economical prices, made by quality American made engineering plastics manufacturers. High-performance plastics are formulated to operate under extreme environments. Such as chemical, high temperature and heavy load applications or additionally a combination of these. Most performance plastics are used where the highest demands are placed on these materials. This includes thermal or chemical resistance, product mechanics, or on the self-lubrication of products.
In the performance plastic market, one size does not fit all. With over 40 high performance plastics, each with its own physical properties. Several materials may be upgraded choices for your performance plastic requirement. Please feel free to call one of our certified customer service personnel for assistance in choosing the best performance plastic for your application.
People in the plastics industry have known for over 50 years that Tuffak Polycarbonate Sheets are tough. This clear plastic sheet material is commonly used to replace window glazing. The best known property for this polycarbonate sheet material is that it is break resistant, or in many cases, considered unbreakable. This is a great benefit for areas where window glass is broken easily.
Recently some cities have passed ordinances to change out the plywood window coverings on abandoned homes, and they are installing clear polycarbonate sheets instead. This is a very attractive replacement, and is a big step in fighting the blight of abandoned homes.
Polycarbonate is produced under several trade names, including Plaskolite Tuffak® GP, Covestro Makrolon®, SABIC Lexan®, Cyrolon®, Zelux® and many more. These materials are available in sheets, plate, slab, bar and rod.
Read more on this material below.
Excerpt from AZCentral, The Arizona Republic:
Property owners and banks in Phoenix had begun outfitting windows with sheets of polycarbonate, a thin, nearly indestructible plastic that mirrors the appearance of glass.
And last month, the city became among the first in the U.S. to make polycarbonate windows a matter of municipal law.
Phoenix now requires all window and door openings visible from the street to be secured with the material if the structure has been unoccupied for more than 90 days. The 90-day provision is also new, replacing the previous deadline of 180 days. The measures were the result of an abandoned buildings task force that Gallego spearheaded.
No one likes living next to abandoned buildings with boarded up doors or windows. So the city of Durham started replacing the plywood eyesores with a clear, durable plastic.
The city is working to reduce the number of abandoned houses by helping owners fix them up. But for houses that still need boarding up, the city has found that plastic not only improves the overall appearance of a neighborhood, it may reduce crime by discouraging squatters and making it easier for police to see inside vacant buildings.
“I can’t stress enough how the elimination of the boards has a tremendous positive impact on neighborhoods and communities,” said Faith Gardner, housing code administrator of the city’s department of neighborhood improvement services.
Read more here: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/durham-county/article20778429.html#storylink=cpy
These communities have fought back against vandalism and crime, as well as enhanced the value of local homes by changing from Plywood to Clear Polycarbonate Sheets. Tuffak GP is a super tough glazing grade clear Polycarbonate Sheet material is the same kind of material that Police Officers use for face shields and banks are using for bullet resistant glazing.
The premier manufacturer of Polycarbonate Sheet in the USA is Tuffak® PG made by Plaskolite and made from Covestro® (formerly Bayer MaterialScience) resins, and they produce Tuffak® GP Polycarbonate Sheet. Polycarbonate is also available in rod and thick plate for machined parts.
Consider using Polycarbonate sheet for your next glazing material.
A wide variety of plastics are available in sheet form.
The term: ‘Plastic Sheet‘ or ‘Plastic Sheets’ is more of a general statement covering over a hundred types of plastic materials and plastic products. Some of the most popular plastic materials made as a sheet are:
In addition to the wide range of plastic materials available as plastic sheet, most of these materials are also available as: thin gauge or film, strip, plate, block, slab and plastic panels. The thin gauge or film materials are frequently available with or without a pressure sensitive adhesive also called ‘tape’. Sheet in some materials is available over 4.0″ thick and perhaps as thick as 8.0″ thick in a few materials. The standard sheet size on most of our plastic sheets is either 24″ X 48″ or the larger 48″ X 96″ sheet size; although some materials are available as: 48″ X 120″, 60″ X 96″ or 72″ X 96″. Contact us with with questions on your required piece sizes, we are happy to provide plastic sheets cut to size.
While there are lots and lots of different materials available as plastic sheet, there may only be one or two materials that are right for your application. We want to assist with your search. If you need help choosing the proper plastic material for your application, check out our free Plastic Material Selector Guide. Also, feel free to contact us for further assistance. As a leading plastic sheet distributor since 1975, we feel that we are your best choice as your new plastic sheet and sheets supplier. Give us a call at 866-832-9315.
Today’s topic is all about industrial plastic sheet materials in flat sheet or sheets. Also known as plate, slab, strip and bar.
Most plastic materials are processed into sheets or rods. Rods are round, sheet is flat, square or rectangular. These two basic shapes are both generally extruded, although sheet can also be compression molded. Almost all plastic raw materials are available in sheet, and in a huge range of sizes. Most materials are available from .063″ to over 4″ in thickness; and some as thick as 8″ (how to measure thickness accurately, use a 6-Inch Digital Caliper with Extra-Large LCD). Sheet sizes vary, but generally most plastics are produced in 48″ X 96″ sheets or larger, but once again this changes with types of materials and thickness desired. We can help with almost any plastic material.
Need Help Picking a Plastic Sheet Material?
Deciding on the proper material for an application is the first step. Start by reviewing our Plastic Materials Selection Guide to help narrow your search. Having the key properties and needs of your project in mind will help you with this step. Also looking at both the pro’s and con’s of a material will assist in this search. Materials with the greatest property range can be extremely expensive, selecting a material that meets your needs and your budget should be considered.
Step two is researching sizes and availability – this is where we can really help. With most of the major manufacturers as partners, we are able to source your parts from many factories. While the quality from most factories is excellent, the variable is standard and custom sheet sizes. We also stock a wide variety of materials in large sheets. One of our many manufacturers is Westlake Plastics. They have been compression molding large sized sheets of many popular plastic resins; these sheets are available in 48″ X 120″ as a standard sheet size in most plastics. They produce these materials from .250″ – 3.0″ thick or thicker. Other manufacturers produce 24″ X 48″ or 48″ X 96″ sheets as standard. Please contact us for specifics on your material selection.
Mechanical Acetal Sheet
Most of our plastic resins are available as a sheet. This includes some of the most popular plastics, like: Polycarbonate Sheet, Acetal Sheet, PTFE Sheet, Ultem Sheet and dozens more. Sometimes, Plastic sheet is called: Plate, Strip, Bar, Slab, Block or Panel. Please think of these names as being synonyms with Plastic Sheet. Contact us with your special requirements.
In thicker gauges, plastics are frequently referred to as plate, slab or block. And strips or narrow pieces are called bar. A rose by any other name, call it what you will, the plastic starts as a flat sheet from the factory. We can cut them to size or shape. Blanking of sheets to useable sizes is our specialty. Narrow pieces used for long applications are normally called strip. Strip is common in wear type applications.
For a list of materials we have as standard stock materials, check our Plastic Sheets Page. These and many other plastic materials are available, and custom sizes, shapes and colors vary by base material. As a stocking distributor for dozens of major manufactures, we are the West Coasts leading plastic sheet supplier or distributor. If you are in need of some technical assistance go to our Plasticologist page for specific help.
Contact us for more information on plastic sheet materials. Email us or call 866-832-9315
