We may be called AcryFab, short for Acrylic Fabrication, but we use other plastics as well.
The words acrylic and plastic are used to describe material that is made from synthetic or semi- synthetic organic solids that are moldable. The plastic industry developed from the petrochemical industry. There was a large development period in the plastics industry after WW1 due to improvements in chemical technology.
Today the range of plastics available is vast. Plastics have been developed for many specific applications- such as wear resistance, resistance to chemicals, suitability for food applications and engineering plastics.
There is also Bioplastics. These plastics are made from Starch or Cellulose and have been developed as an alternative to plastics made from the petrochemical industry. These plastics are generally regarded as environmentally friendly as they break down. Common uses are in the food and packaging industries.
We can supply and manufacture from a variety of materials including:
PVC (Polyvinylchloride)
The oldest plastic and third most widely produced plastic. Roughly half the worlds production of PVC is used in pipes. It is rigid with high resistance to many chemicals including acids, alkalis and alcohols. It has excellent mechanical strength, ease of machining and good electrical insulating properties.
It can be solvent bonded and bonded to other materials using epoxy resin. It is available in either grey or white
Benefits
- Ease of machining
- Low cost plastic
- Good chemical resistance
- Excellent electrical insulation
Applications
- Handles
- Insulators
- Construction industry
- Industrial components
- Records
Availability
- Rod
- Sheet
- Tube
Pet G (Polyethylene terephthalate glycol)
In its natural state is colourless but not as clear as other plastics, was first patented in 1941. Is light and flexible. Has high mechanical strength and is solvent bondable and is impact resistance- point of sale displays made from Pet G do not tend to break or damage when dropped
Benefits
- Excellent barrier material
- Impact resistance
- Flexibility
- Ease of thermoforming
Applications
- Drink bottles
- Displays
- Packaging
- Machine guards
Availability
- Sheets only, either clear or matt finish
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate is a hard and dimensionally rigid plastic transparent with high light permeability . It is extremely resistant to impact, flexible, flame resistant and its mechanical properties are only slightly influenced by temperature fluctuation.
It can be solvent bonded and be bent at room temperature. Service temperature are -60oC to 120oC.
It is readily available in rod and sheet form. It comes in clear and several tints.
Benefits
- Virtually unbreakable
- High impact strength
- High insulating properties
- Very translucent
Applications
- Containers
- Machine guaqrds
- Safety glazing
- Electrical insulators
- Observation covers
Availability
- Sheet
- Rod
Acrylic pmma (polymethylmeth-acrylate)
A rigid plastic generally known as acrylic but also known by trade names Perspex ® and Plexiglass®. Its transparency is comparable to glass. It is half the weight of glass and several times stronger than glass. Acrylic has good weather and scratch resistance. Acrylic has been further developed into several other acrylic products, as listed-
General Purpose Cast Acrylic- the most common acrylic available in a wide variety of thicknesses. A range of colours and tints are available in 3 mm, 4.5 mm and 6 mm thick and mirror.
Sign Opal – a white looking acrylic that lets light shine through. Mainly used for illuminated signs
High impact acrylic- available in clear and opal. Used as displays and machine guards. Similar to Polycarbonate but unlike polycarbonate can be polished
Satin Ice. Acrylic colours with a satin finish. Used in store displays, joinery and as feature panels
Plexiglass Gauranteed Acrylic Sheet. Clear acrylic with a 30 year guarantee against UV damage.
Plexiglass Truled This acrylic is designed for use with LEDS in lighting display and light boxes. It has been engineered to emit the maximum amount of light.
Prismatic Used primarily as a diffuser for fluorescent lights
Benefits
- High optical transparency
- Good weather resistance
- Solvent cementable
- High scratch resistance
Applications
- Signage
- Displays
- Machine guards
- Decorative pieces
Availability
- Rod
- Sheet
- Tube
Polypropylene
Polypropylene was first discovered in 1957 and has gone on to be the 2nd most produced plastic. Polyethylene is the most common plastic mainly because it is used to make plastic films, packaging and plastic bags. Polypropylene is very versatile, appearing as clothing (polyprops), banknotes and furniture amongst other uses. Polypropylene is fatigue resistant so is used for living hinges- plastic boxes where the plastic is the hinge for the lid, e.g. tool boxes.
Benefits
- Very good chemical and corrosion resistance
- Non toxic for food contact
- Fatigue resistance
Applications
- Clothing
- Furniture
- Stationery
- Moulding