Acrylic is manufactured in two versions cast and extruded.
Cast acrylic sheet vs extruded.
A digital luggage tag made of both cast and extruded acrylic.
According to their physical properties polymers are divided into three groups as thermosets thermoplastics and elastomers acrylic is a transparent thermoplastic material.
A round 2 mm deep milling makes room for an acrylic piece with a qr code can be inserted.
In brief they are manufactured by two different production processes.
The qr codes are printed inverted on 1 5 mm clear extruded acrylic sheets.
Softer with a lower melting temperature than in its cast form extruded acrylic is easier to laser cut rout and polishes more cost effectively.
The surface finish flatness and optical properties of cast acrylic sheets are all superior to those of extruded acrylic sheets.
Main difference cast vs extruded acrylic.
The term acrylic is used to name acrylic polymer compounds.
Both extruded and cast acrylic sheets comply with fda requirements for food contact which also makes it an ideal choice for restaurants retail stores grocery stores cafeterias and much more.
Essentially liquid monomer unreacted acrylic is poured between two panes of glass which are separated by a gasket.
The mould monomer.
The tag is laser cut from the sheet.
The cell cast process manufactures individual sheets of acrylic.
Cast sheet is manufactured using a process known as the cell cast process while extruded sheet is manufactured using a process known as continuously manufacturing.
Cast acrylic as the name suggests is manufactured by a process whereby mma methyl methacrylate monomer liquid is pumped into a mould made from two sheets of glass.
Both types of acrylic sheet offer outstanding surface hardness and durability excellent uv stability and are virtually shatter proof so whether you choose cast or extruded acrylic for your next project you will not.
Extruded acrylic costs less than cast and is more dimensionally stable meaning the thickness is more consistent across sheets.
Polyacrylates such as polymethyl methacrylate.
Extruded acrylic sheet is more economical and has a lower forming temperature while the cast acrylic sheet is more scratch resistant.