Acrylic sheet

Acrylic is produced in two basic versions, cast and extruded. Cast acrylic is produced by mixing the acrylic liquid ingredients in molds, for acrylic plates between two glass plates. A chemical process in the mold create a homogeneous material with equivalent properties in all directions. In contrast, extruded acrylic is produced by continuously pushing acrylic mass through a form, while the chemical process takes place. Extruded acrylic is therefore heterogeneous, with the properties which vary depending on the direction. Cast acrylic is usually regarded as a better quality than extruded acrylic. There are some small but important differences.

• Cast acrylic is more resistant to same solvents.

When laser cutting extruded acrylic, there becomes a burl on one side of the sheet, casted acrylic will not give a burl. The edges on extruded sheets can look a bit different depending on the direction of the acrylic extrusion.

• The laser engraving will be on extruded sheet look matt grey, on cast acrylic sheet matt white.

By heat bending a sheet of acrylic sheet can because of the acrylic extrusion direction behave differently depending on the bending direction relatively to the extrusion. With cast acrylic sheet, it makes no difference.

• Sheets of cast acrylic vary more in thickness. 

A cast of 3mm acrylic sheet vary +/-15% while an extruded sheet only varies +/- 5%.

• Cast acrylic is more scats resistant than extruded acrylic.

• Cast acrylic can be produced in many different color and thicknesses, .The extruded acrylic sheet is more limited in the color selection.

• Alligator keeps stock of extruded sheets size 2000x1000mm.