How to distinguish between Cast Acrylic Sheet and Extruded Acrylic Sheets?
Release time: 2025-05-26
Casting Acrylic Sheets and Extruded Acrylic Sheets are two common types of acrylic materials, each with distinct characteristics and applications.
Manufacturing Process
Casting Acrylic Sheets: Casting involves pouring liquid acrylic resin into a mold and curing it with heat. This process typically occurs in a controlled environment, where liquid monomer acrylic is mixed with a catalyst and poured into a mold to solidify. The production process is slower and more intricate, allowing for the creation of thicker, higher-quality sheets.
Extruded Acrylic Sheets: Extruded sheets are made by heating acrylic resin pellets to a molten state and then extruding them through a machine to form sheets, which are then cooled. The production process is faster and suitable for mass production. The acrylic pellets used are often pre-polymerized, and the surface of the resulting sheets is usually smooth but not as glossy as cast sheets.
Physical Properties Comparison
| Characteristic | Casting Acrylic Sheets | Extruded Acrylic Sheets |
| Transparency | Higher, smoother surface | Slightly lower, may have textures |
| Strength and Durability | More durable, better UV resistance | High strength, but weaker UV and impact resistance |
| Workability | Easy to cut, polish, and drill | Easy to process, but edge treatment not as fine as cast sheets |
| Dimensional Stability | High, less likely to deform | Slightly lower, may warp or deform |
Identification Methods
Appearance: Casting acrylic sheets have a smooth surface with higher transparency and no noticeable texture. Extruded acrylic sheets may have slight lines or textures and slightly lower transparency.
Touch: Casting sheets tend to feel smoother with a more refined touch, while extruded sheets feel relatively rougher.
Weight: Due to their thickness and higher density, casting sheets are generally heavier. Extruded sheets are lighter due to differences in manufacturing process and thickness.
Sound: When tapped, casting sheets produce a crisp sound, while extruded sheets tend to make a duller sound.
Applications
High-end display stands, signage, billboards, light boxes, and decorative items requiring high transparency and gloss.
High-quality optical lenses, eyeglass lenses, and other applications requiring superior optical performance.
Precision machining fields such as laser engraving, laser cutting, and processing.
Mass-produced advertisements, interior and exterior building decorations, etc.
Industrial and engineering fields for applications like windshields, transparent barriers, and furniture components.
Commonly used to make transparent covers, partitions, etc., where lower performance is acceptable.
When choosing between casting and extruded acrylic sheets, consider the manufacturing process, physical properties, chemical performance, and application needs. If durability, chemical resistance, and high transparency are crucial, go for casting sheets. If cost-efficiency, ease of processing, or large-scale production is required, extruded sheets are the better option. You can quickly differentiate between the two by observing thickness uniformity, cutting edges, or conducting simple tests.
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