What Is Acrylic Tubing in Utah?

June 25, 2019 8:44 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Acrylic tubes are commonly used in a variety of manufacturing applications. They are made with acrylic resins that get thermoformed (molded with the assistance of heat) into their tubular shape, though that same process can also be used to make a variety of other types of usable plastic products. But if you need clear tubing, this is an ideal process, because the majority of thermoformed acrylic resins are nearly transparent.

Here are some of the benefits associated with acrylic tubing in Utah to consider:

  • Durability: You’ll find that acrylic tubing does not noticeably age. It’s far more likely that you’ll accidentally break an acrylic tube than that the tube will wear down to the point where it can’t continue to be used. It’s not affected by sunlight, and is functional in a wide variety of conditions, including hot and cold temperatures and situations in which it is exposed to moisture. It doesn’t crack, warp or corrode as a result of exposure to those conditions, making it highly durable and reliable.
  • Flexibility: Acrylic tubes are used in many different applications, including surgical devices, toys, lab equipment, lighting, home furnishings and many other types of products. Their versatility makes them ideal for use in all types of industries and situations.
  • Efficiency: When you’re looking for clear tubing, you’ll find acrylic to be a better option than glass, as it performs better both in terms of functionality and economy. Glass tubing weighs twice as much, isn’t as insulated and is much more vulnerable to impact and breakage. Acrylic tubing benefits from excellent tensile strength and is very light considering just how durable it is.
  • Easy to make: Acrylic tubes aren’t just cost effective—they’re also very easy to fabricate. Once you’ve got your mold set up, the process is extremely repeatable, to the point where you can create massive order quantities with completely consistent results from batch to batch, which is ideal for companies that rely on consistency in the qualities of their products and require larger production runs.

So how exactly is acrylic tubing made? You’ll find either extruded or cell cast tubing on the market. In extrusion, a hopper located over the extrusion machine gets filled with acrylic resin, which then drops into a conveyance channel. A screw in that channel forces the raw acrylic toward a die, which is used to shape the material. Friction that results from the screw turning, plus heat from the electric heat sources inside the channel, melt that raw material and force it into the die, which makes it a tubular shape. Once it cools, it comes out as acrylic tubing.

Cell casting is a little more straightforward. It involves molten plastic being poured into a mold. It’s not as efficient or effective as extrusion, but it’s still relatively common.

For more information about acrylic tubing in Utah, the benefits of acrylic tubing and how it’s made, we encourage you to contact the team at D&D Plastics with your questions. We look forward to assisting you soon!

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