Translucent Cast Acrylic (Plexiglass) Sheet

We make our living working with acrylic and plexiglass sheet. Acrylic (Plexiglass) is a relatively soft material and it scratches easily if it is not taken care of. It also naturally builds up a static charge and it attracts dirt and dust like a magnet. We offer two of the best plastic cleaners and polishes on the market today, Novus and Brillianize.

Both of these fantastic products clean all plastics without scratching and they both leave a lustrous shine that resist fogging, repels dust and eliminates the static charge.

Resists finger marking
Contains no abrasives or harsh chemicals
Leaves a smooth, clean, greaseless shine
Use our Novus #1 for new or undamaged acrylic/plexiglass sheet

Novus #1 gently cleans all plastics without scratching. Leaves a lustrous shine that resists fogging, repels dust, and eliminates static.

To clean New or Undamaged Acrylic Plexiglass Sheet:

If the surface is extremely dirty, apply NOVUS No. 1 liberally and wipe using long, sweeping strokes. Do not use pressure at this time or large dirt particles may scratch the plastic.
• Re-apply NOVUS No. 1. Polish using short, circular strokes with a clean portion of the cloth.
• When the surface is thoroughly clean and uniformly covered, buff to a slippery glaze with a clean portion of the cloth. Surfaces buffed to a high glaze are more resistant to dust and future scratching.
• Reapply NOVUS No. 1 regularly to maintain the antistatic, smudge and scratch resistant properties.

To Clean Acrylic Plexiglass Sheet with Light Scratches:

Our Novus Fine Scratch Remover removes fine scratches, haziness and abrasions from most plastics. With repeated use, NOVUS No. 2 restores faded and discolored plastics.
Removes the damage instead of filling it in.
Buffs out quickly

After restoring, seal with a coat of polish

• Observe condition of the surface to be treated. The deeper the scratches, the greater the pressure required to remove them.
• If the surface is dirty, clean with NOVUS No.1 before applying NOVUS No. 2.
• Shake well. Test in an inconspicuous area.
• Apply NOVUS No. 2 liberally. Using a clean, soft cloth, polish with a firm back-and-forth motion at right angles to the scratches. Keep the cloth saturated with polish at all times.
• When the worst scratches have been polished out, reapply NOVUS No.2 uniformly in a circular motion to the entire surface using short, circular strokes and light pressure. Allow to dry to a light haze.
• Using a clean portion of the cloth, buff the surface to a slippery glaze using firm, short strokes. This procedure is imperative in achieving the best results.
• For heavy scratches, multiple applications of NOVUS No. 2 or application of NOVUS No. 3 may be required.
• Follow with NOVUS No. 1 for best results.

To Clean Acrylic Plexiglass Sheet with Heavy Scratches and Abrasion:

Requires use of NOVUS No. 2 for final finishing

Our product is Not recommended for use on coated plastics

• Shake well. Test in an inconspicuous area.
• Apply NOVUS No. 3 liberally. Using a clean, soft cloth, polish with a firm back-and-forth motion at right angles to the scratches. Keep the cloth saturated with polish at all times.
• Continue polishing until only fine scratches remain. Using cloth, remove all remaining polish, this is very important!
• Using a clean cloth, apply NOVUS No. 2 in a circular motion uniformly to entire surface. Polish using light pressure until NOVUS No. 2 dries to a light haze.

Using a clean portion of the cloth, buff the surface clean. Follow with NOVUS No. 1 for best results.

Acrylic sheet is a cell cast acrylic sheet made to exacting standards. It offers excellent optical characteristics, thickness tolerances, light stability, and low internal stress levels for consistent performance. Colorless sheet and a wide range of transparent and translucent colors are available.

Acrylic sheet is a lightweight, rigid thermoplastic material that has many times the breakage resistance of glass. Acrylic is ultraviolet light absorbing and therefore very weather resistant, it is able to withstand exposure for many years without losing its surface gloss or mechanical properties. Acrylic sheets can be easily fabricated using wood working tools. It can be sawed, machined, thermoformed, and cemented using readily available companion products. Our cast acrylic sheet may be perceived as "transparent wood" which can be easily formed and machined making it ideal for a wide range of applications.

SAFETY

Our Chemcast acrylic sheet complies with American National Standard Z 97.1, Safety Glazing For Buildings. It is more 17 times more impact resistant than glass. If it is subjected to impact beyond the limit of its resistance, it does not shatter into small slivers but breaks into comparatively large pieces.

WEATHER RESISTANCE

Acrylic plastic sheet offers weather resistance unmatched by any other plastic material or most man-made materials. The sheet will withstand exposure to blazing sun, extreme cold, sudden temperature changes, salt water spray and other harsh conditions. It will not deteriorate after many years of service. Our acrylic sheet has been widely accepted for use in domes and skylights, fascia panels, school glazing, industrial plant glazing, aircraft glazing and outdoor signs. Note that the stability against deterioration from the weather elements pertains to clear acrylic. Colored acrylics are subject to fading to varying degrees depending on the colorants used.

DIMENSIONAL STABILITY

Although our CHEMCAST acrylic plexiglass sheet will expand and contract due to changes in temperature and humidity, it will not shrink with age. Some shrinkage occurs when CHEMCAST sheet is heated to forming temperature. When used as a glazing material, acrylic will tend to bow toward the heat and humidity. It will reverse by the season, for example, it will bow inwardly during winter months and outwardly in the summer.

LIGHT WEIGHT

Our acrylic plexiglass sheet is less than half the weight of glass, and 43% the weight of aluminum. One square foot of .118" (1/8") thick sheet weighs less than 3/4 pound.

STIFFNESS

Our sheet is not as rigid as glass or metals. However, it is more rigid than most thermoplastics such as acetate, polycarbonate, or PVC. When subjected to high winds, a sheet will bow and foreshorten as a result of deflection, requiring design considerations for rabbet depth and thickness for use in windows, domes, skylights and signs or other outside applications.

When our acrylic sheet is formed into corrugated or domed shapes, rigidity is naturally increased and deflection minimized.

COLD FLOW (or creep)

This can occur when our Chemcast Plexiglass is insufficiently supported. For example, a flat skylight will deflect with a snow load; or, a shelf will sag if the proper thickness is not used and supports are infrequent.

STRENGTH AND STRESSES

Although the tensile strength of acrylic sheet is 10,000 psi at room temperature (ASTM D 638), stress crazing (tiny fissures) can be caused by continuous loads below this value. Continuously imposed design loads should not exceed 1500 psi. Localized, concentrated stresses must be avoided particularly near drilled holes or edges. For this reason, and because of thermal expansion and contraction, large sheets should never be fastened with bolts. Installing acrylic sheet in frames is more desirable. All thermoplastic materials, including our acrylic sheet, gradually lose tensile strength as temperatures approach the maximum recommended for continuous service, which, for acrylic sheet, is 140F.

EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION

Plastics are organic materials which naturally expand and contract more than inorganic materials. Our acrylic sheet will expand 3 times as much as metals, and 8 times as much as glass, and therefore the coefficient of expansion and contraction must be considered by architects and designers. A 48" panel will expand and contract approximately .002" for each degree F change in temperature. Another quick calculation is Chemcast Acrylic Plexiglass will expand (or contract) 1/8" per running foot per 1 degree F. In outdoor use, where summer and winter temperatures differ as much as 100 degree F, a 48" sheet will expand and contract approximately 1/4". Sash rabbets must be of sufficient depth to allow for expansion as well as for contraction.

Acrylic sheet also absorbs water when exposed to high relative humidity, resulting in expansion of the sheet. At relative humidity of 100%, 80%, and 60%, the dimensional changes are 0.3%, 0.2% and 0.1%, respectively.

HEAT RESISTANCE

Our CHEMCAST Acrylic Plexiglass sheets can be used at temperatures from -40F up to 180 F , depending on the application. It is recommended that temperatures not exceed 160 F for continuous service. Components made of acrylic sheet should not be exposed to high heat sources such as high wattage incandescent lamps, unless the finished product is ventilated to permit the dissipation of heat.

LIGHT TRANSMITTANCE

Clear (colorless) Acrylic Plexiglass sheet has a light transmittance of 92%.

Transparent, colored CHEMCAST GP sheets can be used to reduce glare and solar energy transmittance. The sheets are available in a wide range of color densities with light transmittance values from 6% to 79% , enabling designers to choose a density which provides adequate daylight while controlling glare and solar heat buildup.

CUTTING AND MACHINING

Our CHEMCAST Acrylic Plexiglass sheet may be cut by sawing or routing with power equipment saws or by scribing and breaking. Scribing is limited to straight cuts in thin sheets of Chemcast acrylic, 1/4" or less and is practical for use by the craftsman who has no power tools when cutting small quantities of sheet. It can be drilled, routed, filed and machined much like wood or brass. Keeping cutting tools cool is recommended to minimize the buildup of localized stresses due to heat which can lead to stress crazing (fissure cracks). Well sharpened and "true" tools are essential to prevent heat buildup and subsequent crazing and possible edge chipping.

CEMENTING

CHEMCAST Acrylic Plexiglass sheet can be cemented to itself using common solvent cements or polymerizable cements. The most critical factor is the condition of the edge to be cemented. The edge must be properly machined to have a square flat surface and no stresses (a network of fine cracks). Note: Always polish after cementing. Do not cement flame polished parts as crazing is almost certain to occur. Annealing parts prior to cementing is recommended. For additional information on cementing acrylic to itself or dissimilar materials call us.

SURFACE HARDNESS

The surface of plastics is softer than glass. Therefore, reasonable care should be exercised in handling and cleaning CHEMCAST Acrylic Plexiglass sheet similar to the care given to acrylic finishes on automobiles, appliances or fine furniture. Use dampened soft cotton cloths such as discarded undershirts or chamois to clean Chemcast sheet and allow to air dry. Simonize wax can be used to polish scratches. For additional information on the maintenance of acrylic sheet call us.

FLAMMABILITY

Acrylic sheet is a combustible thermoplastic and is classified by UL as a slow burning plastic. Precautions should be taken to protect the material from flames and high heat sources. Access panels may be required for evacuation and venting of rooms glazed with CHEMCAST? GP sheet. Generally speaking, the same fire precautions that are observed in connection with the use of any ordinary combustible material should be observed when handling, storing or using acrylic sheet.