Acrylic Plastic Extrusions

Material Name: Acrylic - Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA)

Acrylic provides a good balance of strength, weatherability, and clarity. It’s available as a clear compound, and can be tinted, frosted or diffused to specification. Acrylic has gained widespread because of its amazing light transmission and ability to replace glass.

Acrylic Pros

• Very good property retention at high temperatures
• Outstanding light transmission
• Outstanding weatherability

Acrylic Cons

• Higher cost
• Can be brittle
• Hard to cut and clean

Definition

Polymethyl methacrylate, commonly known as acrylic, is a transparent plastic with excellent strength, stiffness, and optical properties. It also has outstanding weatherability, low UV sensitivity, and high chemical and temperature resistance compared to many other transparent plastics. In 1877, German Wilhelm Rudolph Fittig discovered the polymerisation process that turns methyl methacrylate into polymethyl methacrylate and was later brought to the US market in 1933 by a German company under the now well-known trademark of Plexiglass. Acrylic can be extruded or cast, with extrusions being less expensive, easier to cut and polish, and is more dimensionally stable.

Applications

Intek produces tens of thousands of feet of extruded acrylic annually, and some of our more popular applications include lighting products, display shelves and trims, and other retail functions.

Products

• Lighting lenses and diffusers
• Aquariums
• Signs
• Displays
• Glass replacements
• Cappings
• Food storage bins

Properties

The information provided above is based on typical values, and is believed to be reliable.  No warranty is given as to the suitability of the product for a particular application.  Determination of the suitability of this product for any use is solely the responsibility of the user.

Custom Plastic Extrusion

Whether its extruded acrylic or any number of different plastics, choosing the perfect material for a new extrusion project can be an intimidating task. Intek works closely with industry-leading material manufacturers to offer you many different thermoplastic compound options to meet your project’s needs. And Intek Plastics’ tool and die team applies their knowledge and expertise with the most advanced CAD/CAM software, CNC machining and the latest in EDM technology to custom build the highest quality tools. They’ll work with you to literally shape your ideas and take them from concept to production.

Capabilities

With over 30 production lines, we can manufacture acrylic extrusions 24 hours a day, 5 days a week, allowing us to scale production to complete large orders of any complexity. And our extensive extrusion experience in pellet and powder compounds, as well as our advanced cooling capabilities in water, air and vacuum sizing, allow us to succeed in jobs of any shape or size. We serve a wide range of OEMs with orders from 5,000 to 15,000,000 feet.

Did you know that a whopping 85% of the cost of custom plastic extrusions are determined by the design and material? That’s why it’s important to work with an acrylic extruder like Intek who will work hand-in-glove with you and design a high-quality product at the lowest total cost. We start by gaining a deep understanding of your needs. Armed with that information, an Intek project engineer guides you through material selection, highlights critical design considerations and helps develop the most cost-effective solution. This hands-on, knowledge-driven approach keeps your product and business a step ahead of the competition. We’re happy to walk you through the process.