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 With lesser impact resistance, and no capability to reflect UV radiations, glass has been replaced by various other constructional materials.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 -30°F to 190°F, thus capable of expanding and contracting with changes in temperature. However, polycarbonate can handle temperatures up to 240°F, 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 5:1. 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.