Acrylic glass specific weight: weight of 1 m² sheet

Acrylic glass, also known as plexiglass, polymethyl methacrylate or PMMA, has been produced and actively used in construction and everyday life for more than 70 years. In essence, it is a type of plastic that surpasses silicate glass in many technical qualities. Made from thermoplastic resins, acrylic glass can take almost any shape when heated and still retain its transparency.

It remains popular all over the world because of many positive qualities. Acrylic glass has:

• high light transmission, similar to ordinary glass;
• light diffusion when matte grades are used;
• mechanical strength: acrylic glass is about five times stronger than silicate glass;
• low weight: acrylic glass is about 2.5 times lighter than silicate glass and has a density of 1.19 g/cm³ or 1190 kg/m³;
• environmental friendliness;
• resistance to temperature fluctuations;
• simple processing;
• ability to transmit up to 70% of UV radiation, while color and transparency usually do not change over time;
• resistance to chemical and biological effects;
• high electrical insulation properties;
• simple recycling.

The disadvantages of the material include:

• easy flammability;
• possibility of surface damage and scratches;
• internal stress at bends during thermoforming, which can lead to microcracks.

Acrylic glass can be used indoors if the material requirements and operating conditions are met. Plexiglass is relatively easy to ignite, so it should not be treated as a non-combustible material. Fire requirements and manufacturer recommendations must be considered when choosing it.

Acrylic can be colored in any shade and can have different degrees of light diffusion. It is a durable material with high fracture strength, and manufacturers often claim a long service life for it.

Compared with similar transparent plastics, solid polycarbonate usually has better impact resistance, while acrylic glass is valued for high transparency, rigidity and good surface processing.

Types of acrylic glass

Organic glass is produced in two ways:

• by the block, or cast, method, where molten material is poured between two forming silicate glass sheets;
• by extrusion, where molten material is pressed through an extrusion machine.

The difference between the resulting materials lies in the available thicknesses and sheet formats. Cast acrylic glass is less stretchable than extruded acrylic. Organic glass produced by different methods may differ in dimensional stability under temperature changes and in surface quality. Cast plexiglass is easier to polish, better tolerates impact vibrations and exceeds extruded material in many other parameters.