Acrylic Or Polycarbonate – Which One To Use?

1
When it comes to clear roofs, glass has been left
way behind because of its drawbacks of being
brittle and prone to cracking/breakage. With
lesser impact resistance, and no capability to
reflect UV radiations, glass has been replaced
by various other constructional materials. Two
most popular materials that have replaced glass
in the constructional industry are acrylic and
polycarbonate. Both these materials have their
own pros and cons. And, to know which one of the
two you should use, you must be able to know the
qualities and drawbacks of each, to decide as to
which one is most suitable for your particular
application. This blog will educate you about
all the qualities of both these materials.
Which is stronger? Both acrylic and polycarbonate
are light weight almost half the weight of
glass, yet much stronger too. But, acrylic has
only 10 times the impact resistance of glass,
while polycarbonate has 200 times the impact
resistance! Moreover, acrylic is rigid, while
polycarbonate is flexible thus acrylic is more
susceptible to cracking when under
stress. Winner Polycarbonate Which is easier
to maintain? Both acrylic and polycarbonate are
easy to clean. Both the materials require only
the use of 100 cotton or microfiber cloths.
But, acrylic needs to be cleaned with warm soapy
water or an acrylic cleanser only. Any kind of
chemicals can significantly damage acrylic.
Although polycarbonate
2
also needs to be cleaned only with soapy water,
but in case of any chemical touching its surface,
the material has a higher chemical resistance as
compared to acrylic, thus it can be cleaned by
harsher cleaners that contain ammonia. Winner
Polycarbonate Which is easier to work
with? Acrylic can be used at temperatures ranging
from -30F to 190F, thus capable of expanding
and contracting with changes in temperature.
However, polycarbonate can handle temperatures up
to 240F, and is also highly resistant to
chemicals like gasoline and acids. Winner
Polycarbonate Which is easier to cut? Both
acrylic and polycarbonate are easy to cut with
conventional tools like saws and routers.
However, polycarbonate fights the initial push of
a saw or router at the start of a cut, while
acrylic cuts much easier. Winner
Acrylic Which is easier to drill? Acrylic cracks
much easier as compared to polycarbonate,
especially when drilled near the edge, or with a
drill that is not designed for plastics. On the
other hand, polycarbonate does not crack when
being drilled, even when drilled close to the
edge. Winner Polycarbonate Which is more
flexible? Both acrylic and polycarbonate can be
bent easily, with the only difference lying in
the fact that acrylic requires to be heat bent,
while polycarbonate can be cold-formed or bent
without heating. Winner Polycarbonate
We can clearly see how polycarbonate wins the
case against acrylic with a ratio of 51. So, if
cutting is not an issue for you, polycarbonate is
what you would definitely choose. And if this is
your choice, then the choice for polycarbonate
sheet manufacturers should be Tuflite Polymers,
the leaders in the industry supplying a variety
of polycarbonate to clients both in India and
abroad since more than a decade.