Cast Acrylic Sheet Vs Extruded

The cell cast process manufactures individual sheets of acrylic.

Cast acrylic sheet vs extruded.

On the cast acrylic there is almost no burrs. Furthermore when hot wire line bending drape or vacuum forming cast acrylic sheets are more malleable pliable than extruded acrylic sheet. Softer with a lower melting temperature than in its cast form extruded acrylic is easier to laser cut rout and polishes more cost effectively. Extruded acrylic costs less than cast and is more dimensionally stable meaning the thickness is more consistent across sheets.

The main difference between cast acrylic and extruded acrylic is that cast acrylic is produced by mixing the acrylic liquid ingredients in molds whereas extruded acrylic is produced by an extrusion method. For each sheet made a gasketed glass cell must be assembled. 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. Cast acrylic is made by pouring the hot liquid acrylic ingredients between two sheets of glass which are separated by rubber gaskets the thickness of the gasket determines the thickness of the acrylic sheet being made.

Extruded acrylic sheet is more economical and has a lower forming temperature while the cast acrylic sheet is more scratch resistant. When laser cutting extruded acrylic there will come a burr on one side of the part. The edges on extruded acrylic parts can look a bit different depending on the direction of the acrylic extrusion. Acrylic is manufactured in two versions cast and extruded.

Essentially liquid monomer unreacted acrylic is poured between two panes of glass which are separated by a gasket to control the thickness of the sheet. With a slightly harder surface than extruded cast acrylic has a less consistent sheet thickness with up to a 10 variation possible across the sheet. Cast acrylic is more resistant to the same solvents. It is thermo formable and can be reworked hot which is not always possible with extruded sheets.