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INTRODUCTION

Plexiglas® is the acrylic plastic sheet produced by Altuglas International. In its natural form, Plexiglas acrylic sheet is a crystal clear (with a transparency equal to optical glass), lightweight material having outstanding weatherability, high impact resistance, good chemical resistance, and excellent thermoformability and machinability.

Plexiglas Sheet Grades
Altuglas International supplies various grades of Plexiglas sheet, each manufactured by a distinct proprietary process, and yielding acrylic sheet of exceptionally high quality.

Plexiglas® G acrylic sheet is made by a cell cast process. The hallmarks of Plexiglas G sheet are high performance and the availability of a broad range of colors, patterns, sizes and thicknesses. Plexiglas G sheet conforms to ASTM D-4802-02, Category A-1, Finish 1 and is supplied as an unshrunk sheet. This means that when heated to forming temperatures, it will shrink about 2% in length and width, and will increase in thickness by about 4%.

Plexiglas® MC acrylic sheet is made by a proprietary continuous process known as melt calendering. It offers many of the same high-quality features as Plexiglas G sheet, and also has exceptional thickness tolerance and can be thermoformed to greater detail. Plexiglas MC sheet conforms to ASTM D-4802-02, Category B-1, Finish 1. Plexiglas MC acrylic sheet is well suited to nearly all the conventional uses for which acrylic sheet has long been noted.

Plexiglas® Q is made by the same proprietary continuous process used to make original Plexiglas MC sheet. This process ensures exceptional surface finish, optical quality and thickness uniformity. Plexiglas Q has all these attributes of original Plexiglas MC in addition to enhanced solvent craze resistance. Plexiglas Q is available as standard sheet, and reel stock, in thicknesses from 0.110" to 0.177". You can gain additional information on Plexiglas Q in PLA-72.

Plexiglas® T combines the beauty of Plexiglas MC with additional toughness gained from the use of our advanced impact acrylic chemistry. This union produces the aesthetics desired with increased toughness. Plexiglas T is more than fifty percent tougher than standard acrylic sheet. It is available in colorless, white and black, in thicknesses from 0.080" to 0.354". You can gain additional information on Plexiglas T in PLA-75.

Forms of Plexiglas Sheet
Aside from colorless sheet, the various grades can come in a variety of transparent, translucent, and opaque colors, as well as in several different surface patterns.

• White translucent sheet—A series of standard white translucent colors in a broad density range provides a wide selection of sheet with varying percentages of light transmittance, diffusion, and lamp hiding power. Light transmission also varies with the thickness of the sheet. This product serves well in lighting and sign applications.
• Translucent colors—A wide range of standard, brilliant-to-subdued colors that transmit and diffuse light is available. Objects behind the sheet cannot be clearly distinguished. Light transmittance does not depend on sheet thickness. Translucent color sheet is ideal for most sign applications.
• Transparent colors—A selection of standard colors that provide see-through, color filtering, and solar heat and glare control is available. Light transmittance varies from color to color, but for the same color remains at about the same value regardless of sheet thickness. Typical applications include glazing, displays, and fixtures.
• Opaque colors—Standard opaque low--chroma colors for non-illuminated decorative panels are available.
• Solar control colors—These sheets solve solar heat and glare control problems. Available in bronze and gray tints, they provide a high level of protection for architectural and transportation glazing, enclosures, and sunscreens. As with other transparent, colored sheet, the tight transmittance varies from color to color, but sheet of the same color transmits light at the same intensity regardless of its thickness.
• Patterned sheets—The surface texture of patterned Plexiglas sheet refracts or bends transmitted light. Adding special textures provides decorative effects, diffuses annoying reflections, and permits privacy. Certain surface texture patterns come on one or both sheet sides, and in transparent, translucent, and opaque colors.

• Infrared transmitting—Colorless Plexiglas® sheet transmits most of the invisible near-infrared energy; however, Plexiglas G sheet color 2711, blocks visible light and selectively transmits infrared light. Applications include remote control devices, laser lenses, and heat sensors.
• Ultraviolet light filtering—The Plexiglas® G. UF-3 and UF-4, and the Plexiglas® MC UF-S sheet formulations block ultraviolet (UV) light, with UF-5 providing maximum UV absorbance. Standard Plexiglas sheet grades only absorb the short UV wavelength energy; however, the UF formulations have the same physical properties as their corresponding sheet grades, and are often used for displaying documents and artifacts to neutralize the harmful effects of ultraviolet light.

• point-of-purchase displays
• trade show exhibits
• architectural glazing
• map/photo covers
• art/document preservation
• vehicle glazing
• framing medium
• electronic equipment panels
• machine glazing
• infrared windows
• safety glazing
• brochure/ad holders
• Retail display fixtures and cases
• lenses
• noise shields
• splash guards
• industrial safety guards
• transparent tanks
• lighting fixture diffusers
• transparent lids
• outdoor luminous signs
• transparent equipment
• street lighting shields
• models
• restaurant sneeze guards
• demonstration windows and housings
• food containers
• restaurant trays
• tabletop covers
• pediatric incubators

The statements, technical information and recommendations obtained herein are believed to be accurate as of the date hereof. Since the conditions and methods of use of the product and of the information referred to herein are beyond our control, Arkema expressly disclaims any and all liability. NO WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE, WARRANTY OR MERCHANTABILITY, OR ANY OTHER WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IS MADE CONCERNING THE GOODS DESCRIBED OR THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HEREIN. The information provided herein relates only to the specific product designated and may not be applicable when such product is used in combination with other materials or in any process. The user should thoroughly test any application before commercialization. Nothing contained herein should be construed as an inducement to infringe any patent, and the user is advised to take appropriate steps to be sure that any proposed use of the product will not result in patent infringement.

See MSDS for Health and Safety Considerations.

© 2006 Arkema