Frequently Asked Questions About Acrylic Tubes in Utah

Are you planning on using acrylic plastic tubes for an upcoming manufacturing job? If so, it’s important that you do some background research on these parts and what you should know about them, including their benefits and the effects they might have on the specific application you have in mind.

Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions we receive about acrylic tubes in Utah.

Which is stronger, acrylic or glass?

Acrylic and glass can often be used for the same purposes and even in the same applications. If you’re facing a choice between the two materials, one of the primary factors you’re going to have to consider is strength. In general, a .125” thickness of acrylic will feature about two to three times the amount of impact resistance that you’d get from double strength window glass, and about four or five times more impact resistance than wire glass and other glasses. Double those figures for a .25” thickness of acrylic.

What are the other benefits of using acrylic over glass?

Beyond just the impact resistance and strength you get from using acrylic, the acrylic material is also lighter weight, which can make it more versatile for use in different applications. It is shatter-proof, is much easier to fabricate and can be easily formed into various shapes, such as tubes.

How does acrylic compare to plastic?

In terms of strength, you’re going to get more strength from polycarbonate, which is about the strongest plastic material you’ll find on the market. Still, acrylic measures up quite well to many types of plastics, and while it is not the single most durable material on the market, it gives you an excellent value for what you’re paying.

Does acrylic turn yellow with sun exposure?

There are a lot of types of plastic that have problems with fading or yellowing in the sun. Sunlight can have a severely negative effect on some plastics, particularly polyethylene. However, acrylic comes from natural gas and is fully inert in solid form. It will not have any issues with yellowing in the sunlight, unlike other similar types of materials, which makes it particularly ideal for applications that will see a lot of exposure to the elements.

Is acrylic a non-conductive material?

Standard acrylic is a conductive material. If you need non-conductivity for your application, you can use a spray coating that can get you the results you need.

Do I need to be worried about expansion and contraction?

Nearly every material will expand or contract to a certain degree as a result of changes in temperature or humidity, so yes, you’ll need to make some allowances for that. Acrylic sheets can be subject to some greater expansion and contraction than some other materials.

For more information about the various benefits associated with the use of acrylic tubes in Utah, or if you have any questions about their usage, contact D&D Plastics today and we’ll be happy to help. We look forward to working with you soon!

Categorised in: Acrylic Tubing

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