Does Hard Plastic Sheeting Mean Acrylic Sheets? (2024)

Does Hard Plastic Sheeting Mean Acrylic Sheets?

Posted by The Plastic Sheeting Gurus! on Tue, Jul 19, 2016 @ 10:41

Like any industry, when you work in that industry you come to understand what is mean by varying terminologies. Let's take a look at some common terms that are used in the plastic sheeting world to help clarify what is mean by each term.

Q: What is considered Hard Plastic Sheeting?

Does Hard Plastic Sheeting Mean Acrylic Sheets? (1)

A: Hard plastic sheeting is plastic that for the most part won't bend. For example, corrugated plastic sheets, polycarbonate plastic, Acrylic sheets, UHMW-PE plastic boards (Ultra High Molecular Weight- Polyethylene, PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) to name a few.

Q: Is 80 milHDPEhard plastic?

A: HDPE as it get thick seems hard, but a better term would be rigid. It is surprising just how rigid thick HDPE actually is when you get it in your hands.

Q: What is meant by "plastic panels"?

Does Hard Plastic Sheeting Mean Acrylic Sheets? (2)

A: Plastic panels are boards or panels made from plastic, and various types of plastic. Examples of plastic panels include- Plexiglassheets, polycarbonate sheets, corrugated panels, etc.

Q: What is 6 mil plastic sheeting?

A: 6 mil plastic sheeting is referring to the thickness of generally flexible polyethylene film. 6 mil plastic sheeting can come in a wide variety of colors- for example- 6 mil black plastic sheeting, 6 mil white plastic sheeting and so on. It someone wants a film that is thicker and a bit stronger than 6 mil, they would ask for 8 mil plastic sheeting or 10 mil and so on.

Q: When is plastic sheeting for greenhouses used?

A: Plastic sheeting for greenhouses is used most of the time. It is the most economical way to create a roof of a greenhouse. Alternatives to plastic film for a greenhouse is making a Plexiglasgreenhouse, or a glass greenhouse. While 6 mil plastic sheeting is used for greenhouses, today there are much stronger forms of plastic sheeting such as Solawrap greenhouse plastic. It too is a polyethylene film, but it has a layer of bubbles in the middle which vastly strengthen the film.

Q: What are acrylic sheets?

Does Hard Plastic Sheeting Mean Acrylic Sheets? (3)

A: Acrylic sheets are hard plastic sheets that are used for a variety of things. What is referred to as "Plexiglas" and "Perspex" are brands of acrylic sheets. The subtle differences between acrylic and Plexiglas is that Plexiglas is harder than normal acrylic. It is also more chemical resistant than traditional acrylic. There are colored acrylic sheets. acrylicsheets that are used in aquariums and so on.

Q; Where can you buy plastic sheeting and hard plastic sheeting?

A: Global Plastic Sheeting is a company that sells mostly flexible plastic sheeting- but they do have corrugated sheets which are hard plastic. What differentiates Global Plastic Sheeting from big box stores is that they carry a very wide range of plastic sheeting in different mil thicknesses and made from different forms of polyethylene (HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE, etc). Plastic Sheeting from Home Depot is usually the thinner generic type of plastic sheeting.

Q: White Plastic Sheeting is What?

A: What is meant by white plastic sheeting is a polyethylene film that is white in color. It is also referred to as white poly sheeting. It comes in various mil thicknesses such as 10 mil white plastic sheeting. White plastic sheeting comes in rolls but can also come in white plastic panels. White plastic sheeting is quite common. You can find it on line at Global Plastic Sheeting, or big box stores such as Lowes.

With so many types of plastic sheeting to chose from- thick, flexible, rigid, fire retardant, anti-static, string reinforced and more, ask lots of questions and get the best option for your project.

Does Hard Plastic Sheeting Mean Acrylic Sheets? (4)Does Hard Plastic Sheeting Mean Acrylic Sheets? (5)Does Hard Plastic Sheeting Mean Acrylic Sheets? (6)

Does Hard Plastic Sheeting Mean Acrylic Sheets? (7)

Does Hard Plastic Sheeting Mean Acrylic Sheets? (2024)

FAQs

Is acrylic a hard plastic? ›

Acrylic (also known as Plexiglas®) is a clear, strong, stiff plastic. It exhibits glass like qualities—clarity, brilliance, and transparency—but at half the weight and many times the impact resistance of glass.

What is the difference between plastic sheet and acrylic sheet? ›

Plastic, after all, is a generic term for a large family of synthetic or semi-synthetic materials. Acrylic is kinds of thermoplastics that are petroleum based and created from the derivation of natural glass. It is also known as polyacrylate.

Is acrylic and plastic the same thing? ›

While acrylic is a plastic, not all plastic is acrylic. The term “acrylic” represents a family of petroleum-based thermoplastics made from the derivation of natural gas. Another common name for acrylic is “polyacrylate” which is one of the most common types.

What is the equivalent of acrylic sheets? ›

Some alternatives for PMMA (acrylic) sheets are: Polycarbonate (PC) sheets. Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) sheets. Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETG) sheets.

What is hard plastic sheet called? ›

A: Hard plastic sheeting is plastic that for the most part won't bend. For example, corrugated plastic sheets, polycarbonate plastic, Acrylic sheets, UHMW-PE plastic boards (Ultra High Molecular Weight- Polyethylene, PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) to name a few.

What is the hard plastic called? ›

Polycarbonate (PC)

Tough, stable, and transparent, polycarbonate is an excellent engineering plastic that is as clear as glass and two hundred and fifty times stronger.

Which is better acrylic or plastic? ›

Polycarbonate offers much more resilience than acrylic, making it ideal for highly demanding applications like bullet-resistant windows. Acrylic has a high gloss finish and is more transparent, making it ideal for display cases. Acrylic is also easier to crack, while polycarbonate is easier to scratch.

What is the strongest plastic sheet? ›

Polycarbonate (PC)

Polycarbonate is the toughest plastic out there, at more than 20 times stronger than acrylic and 200 times stronger than glass. It has great clarity, so it's frequently used in the types of plastic equipment that require see-through applications.

What is acrylic sheeting not good for? ›

Disadvantage: Acrylic is not resistant to heat

Acrylic sheet should never be used for safety applications such as windows in trains and buses.

How can you tell acrylic from plastic? ›

Ease to drill

Acrylic tends to crack when being drilled near the edge or using a drill bit that is not designed for Plastic. Polycarbonate does not break even if drilled close to the border with a standard drill bit.

What is the proper name for acrylic plastic? ›

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is also known as acrylic, acrylic glass, and by the trade names and brands Crylux, Plexiglas, Acrylite, Perclax, Astariglas, Lucite, and Perspex, among others.

Is acrylic more expensive than plastic? ›

Polycarbonate Plastic

Polycarbonate sheets can cost on average about 35% more than acrylic.

What is the hardness of acrylic sheets? ›

What's the hardness of it? Generally speaking, it is expressed with H value, generally refers to its surface resistance to scratch, the surface of the ordinary acrylic plate can only reach about HB~1H, through the surface hardening of the acrylic plate can be promoted to 4H~6H.

What are the names of acrylic sheets? ›

Acrylic - which also goes by the brand names of Plexiglas, Lucite, Acrylite and Perspex - is known throughout the world of plastics for its dazzling glossiness and its remarkable scratch and impact resistance.

What is the full name of acrylic sheets? ›

PMMA is also known as acrylic, acrylic glass, as well as by the trade names and brands Crylux, Hesalite, Plexiglas, Acrylite, Lucite, and Perspex, among several others (see below). This plastic is often used in sheet form as a lightweight or shatter-resistant alternative to glass.

Is acrylic soft or hard plastic? ›

For instance, cast acrylic is classified as a hard plastic, while extruded plastic falls on the softer side. They require different tooling considerations because of the way they machine in the routing process. The point is, all plastics are not the same and ignoring this fact can create problems from the beginning.

Is acrylic material soft or hard? ›

It is a material that has a hard and smooth texture. It is easily shapedby molding or machining, allowing manufacturers to create intricately shaped jewelry components. It comes in a wide variety of colors and finishes. Acrylic can also be colored with pigments or dyes.

Is acrylic hard and strong? ›

Acrylic is also a polymer with a monomer molecular formula of C3 H3 OOH. It is stronger than non-tempered glass but weaker than polycarbonate; however, it's more clear than polycarbonate and doesn't scratch.

Does acrylic plastic break easily? ›

Acrylic plastic is a lightweight, shatter resistant, transparent plastic that is often used as an alternative to glass.

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