Plexiglass, commonly referred to as acrylic, is a plastic that was developed in 1928. It is an excellent alternative to glass that is flexible, durable, shatterproof, transparent and looks just like glass. It can be used in place of glass as a result of its see-through quality and strength.
Just like glass, acrylic glass is also versatile in how it can be used, and this is why it is commonly used in many industries. Plexiglass can be manufactured with different coatings, and this allows it to offer protection against harmful ultraviolet rays.
Why Plexiglass Windows?
There are numerous reasons why you should switch to acrylic glass. Let’s examine some of them below.
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Shatter-resistant
Unlike regular glass that breaks into large glass shards that can harm people, acrylic glass is resistant to shatter. Acrylic is more durable than regular glass, and it would require up to seventeen times the amount of effort needed to break through the standard glass.
Apart from being resistant to shatter, when it does break, it breaks into dull pebble-like pieces that cannot harm anyone or cause injuries.
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Clear light transmission
Although glass does an excellent job of transmitting light, there is glare. The clarity of acrylic allows up to ninety percent of light pass through without causing glare. This makes it even clearer and more transparent than glass.
Glass reflects light, and a thick glass usually has a slight discoloration, which is absent from acrylic glass no matter how thick the acrylic sheet is.
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Ease of use
Acrylic glass can be incorporated easily into different structures, designs, and projects better than standard glass. Acrylic is very easy to cut when compared to glass. It can be cut into various sizes for specific project needs, and it is much lighter than glass that is heavy.
Due to their lightweight nature, acrylic glass is more comfortable to move, and thicker acrylic glass sheets won’t weigh as much as glass would. Also, during movement, acrylic glass is easy to handle. It does not require extreme care to prevent cracks from mishandling during movement, unlike glass that requires extra care to prevent the glass from developing cracks or breaking during movement.
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Creativity
As a result of the flexibility. Clarity and lightweight nature of color Plexiglas, it is used to produce advanced designs in construction and architectural planning.
Glass requires extensive customizations before it can be incorporated into architectural pieces.
Also, apart from extensive customizations, cutting glass makes it mandatory to spend much time doing that as a minor mishandling can destroy a complete design.
Acrylic glass, on the other hand, is more comfortable to cut, customize, and can be joined and shaped seamlessly into any desired design.
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Coatings
Acrylic glass gives room for customizations when incorporating them into windows. Acrylic can be made into different colors. This is achieved by applying transparent paint on the surface in even amounts. Once the paint becomes dry, it is followed up with a layer of clear coat to keep the tint in place.
Apart from color customizations, acrylic glass can also be treated with Ultraviolet rays. This helps to keep harmful ultraviolet rays out of the home and prevents them from damaging your furnishings.
How Does a Plexiglass Window Differ From a Glass Window?
Plexiglass is an alternative to glass. It is different from glass. It is made from a thermoplastic product that is petroleum-based and transparent. It is a synthetic polymer that belongs to the family of methyl methacrylate.
Glass, on the other hand, is an amorphous solid. It is an inorganic compound cooled from a liquid state to solid without passing through crystallization. Glass is also transparent, brittle, and primarily made up of silica.
Although glass windows are generally considered scratch-resistant, more affordable, and easily recycled, acrylic glass is resistant to elements and erosion, more resistant to shatter. It is a lot stronger than regular glass windows.
Glass windows reflect light better than acrylic glass, which leads to unnecessary glare and reflections. Acrylic windows are standard because it offers better clarity when compared to glass and produces less glare.
Since glass is made from an amorphous material, it is more prone to shatter when compared to acrylic glass made from a thermoplastic. Thermoplastic is softer than glass.
Besides the above, glass weighs twice the density of acrylic. This makes a sheet of glass in the same dimension as an acrylic sheet very heavy. As a result, acrylic is easy to handle and is not expensive to ship.
Do The Advantages of Plexiglass Overwhelm The Cost?
Standard glass is more affordable than acrylic glass. However, acrylic glass offers many benefits that make it a worthwhile investment for the home.
Besides the benefits, the prices of acrylic glass sheets will not only be decided based on width and size, but added features such as anti-glare coatings and ultraviolet ray coatings would also influence the cost.
Due to the fact that acrylic glass boasts a higher resistance to weathering and erosion, maintaining it for a long term and replacement costs are significantly affordable and cheaper compared to glass.
In the long term, acrylic glass becomes the cost-saving option when compared to glass.
For high-quality plexiglass sheets, you should head on to Fab Glass and Mirror, which has in-stock high-quality acrylic glass sheets in different designs, textures, styles, and varieties of colors. Do you have a custom size request? Head on to the webpage and have them attend to your custom needs and preferences.
