 |
|
|
ACRYLITE ® GP acrylic sheet is a cell-cast acrylic sheet made to exacting standards. It offers excellent optical characteristics, thickness tolerances, light stability, and low internal stress levels for consistent performance. Colorless ACRYLITE GP sheet carries an exclusive 10-year limited warranty on light transmission, your assurance of a quality product. A printed copy of the warranty is available from CYRO Industries or wherever ACRYLITE® acrylic sheet is sold. In addition to colorless sheet, a wide range of transparent, translucent and opaque colors are also available.
|
 ACRYLITE GP
sheet is a lightweight, rigid thermoplastic material that has many times the
breakage resistance of standard window pane glass. It is highly resistant to
weather conditions. ACRYLITE GP sheet can be easily sawed, machined,
thermoformed, and cemented. It is suitable for most commercial applications
and is ultraviolet light absorbing up to approximately 360 nanometers.
For greater ultraviolet light transmission, ACRYLITE®
OP-1 or ACRYLITE®
OP-4 acrylic sheet may be used. For
greater ultraviolet light absorption, ACRYLITE®
OP-2 acrylic sheet filters out more
of the UV radiation than regular ACRYLITE GP sheet grades. For
security applications, ACRYLITE GP 1.25" sheet may be used. Because of
its unique properties, ACRYLITE GP acrylic sheet is ideal for a wide range
of applications, such as:
• Merchandising Displays • Security Glazing • Industrial and School Glazing • Lighting Fixture Diffusers • Aquariums • Shower Enclosures • Decorative Paneling • Hockey Rinks • Skylights • Signs
|
 ACRYLITE GP
sheet is available in thicknesses from .060" to 2" (1.5 mm to 50 mm) and in
more than 40 standard sizes from 36" x 48" to 72" x 120" (1.83 m x 3.05 m).
Sheets can be furnished masked with paper or polyethylene film, or
half-masked. Colorless sheets and over 50 standard colors are
available from distributors across the country. Custom colors can be made to
order. ACRYLITE GP sheet is also available with a non-glare, matte
surface as ACRYLITE®
GP P-95 and ACRYLITE®
GP DP-9 acrylic sheet. Both retain
the same physical properties of standard ACRYLITE GP sheet with the addition
of the matte surface. ACRYLITE GP P-95 sheet offers a one-sided
textured non-glare surface, while ACRYLITE GP DP-9 sheet offers the same
surface on two sides.
|
 ACRYLITE GP
sheet is more impact-resistant than glass. If subjected to impact beyond the
limit of its resistance, it does not shatter into small slivers but breaks
into comparatively large pieces. ACRYLITE GP sheet meets the requirements of
ANSI Z 97.1 for use as a Safety Glazing material in Buildings (for
thicknesses 0.080" [2.0 mm] to 0.500" [ 1 2.7mm]).
|
 Acrylic offers
better weather resistance than other types of transparent plastics.
ACRYLITE GP sheet will withstand exposure to blazing sun, extreme cold,
sudden temperature changes, salt water spray and other harsh conditions. It
will not deteriorate after many years of service because of the inherent
stability of acrylic. ACRYLITE GP sheet has been widely
accepted for use in skylights, school buildings, industrial plants, aircraft
glazing and outdoor signs.
|
 Although ACRYLITE
GP sheet will expand and contract due to changes in temperature and
humidity, it will not shrink with age. Some shrinkage occurs when ACRYLITE
GP sheet is heated to forming temperature.
|
 ACRYLITE GP
sheet is less than half the weight of glass, and 43% the weight of aluminum.
One square foot of 1/8" (3.0 mm) thick ACRYLITE GP sheet weighs less than
3/4 pound (1/3 kilogram).
|
 ACRYLITE
GP sheet is not as rigid as glass or metals. However, it is more rigid
than many other plastics such as acetates, polycarbonates, or vinyls. Under
wind load, a sheet will bow and foreshorten as a result of deflection. For
glazing installations, the maximum wind load and the size of the window must
be considered when the thickness of the panel and the depth and width of the
glazing channels are to be determined.
|
 If
ACRYLITE GP sheet is formed into corrugated or domed shapes, rigidity
is increased and deflection minimized. Large, flat ACRYLITE GP sheet
may deform due to continuous loads such as snow, or even from its own weight
if not sufficiently supported. Increased rigidity obtained by forming will
minimize cold flow.
|
 Although
the tensile strength of ACRYLITE GP sheet is 10,000 psi (69 MPa) at room
temperature (ASTM D638), stress crazing can be caused by continuous loads
below this value. For most applications, continuously imposed design loads
should not exceed 1,500 psi (10.4 MPa).
Localized, concentrated stresses must be avoided. For this reason, and because of thermal expansion and contraction, large sheets should never be fastened with bolts, but should always be installed in frames. All thermoplastic materials-including ACRYLITE GP sheet-will gradually lose tensile strength as the temperature approaches the maximum recommended for continuous service. For ACRYLITE GP sheet, the maximum is 180°F (82°C). |
 Like
most other plastics, ACRYLITE GP sheet will expand 3 times as much as
metals, and 8 times as much as glass. The designer should be aware of this
rather large coefficient of expansion. A 48" panel will expand and contract
approximately .002" for each degree fahrenheit change in temperature. In
outdoor use, where summer and winter temperatures differ as much as 100°F, a
48" sheet will expand and contract approximately 3/16". Glazing channels
must be of sufficient depth to allow for expansion as well as for
contraction. ACRYLITE GP sheet also absorbs water when exposed to high
relative humidities, resulting in expansion of the sheet. At relative
humidities of 100%, 80%, and 60%, the dimensional changes are 0.6%, 0.4% and
0.2%, respectively.
|
 ACRYLITE
GP sheet can be used at temperatures from -40°F (-40°C) up to +200°F
(93°C), depending on the application. It is recommended that temperatures
not exceed 180°F for continuous service, or 200°F for short, intermittent
use. Components made of ACRYLITE GP sheet should not be exposed to high heat
sources such as high wattage incandescent lamps, unless the finished product
is ventilated to permit the dissipation of heat.
|
 Clear,
colorless ACRYLITE GP sheet has a light transmittance of 92%. It is
warranted not to lose more than 3% of its light-transmitting ability in a
10-year period. Contact CYRO Industries for the complete warranty.
ACRYLITE OP-1 and ACRYLITE OP-4 sheet (ultraviolet transmitting) transmit
more ultraviolet light in the range from 240 to 380 nanometers than regular
ACRYLITE GP sheet grades. ACRYLITE OP-2 sheet (ultraviolet filtering)
absorbs more radiation in the ultraviolet range below 400 nanometers than
regular ACRYLITE GP sheet grades. It is used to protect art objects and
documents from the damaging effects of ultraviolet light.
|
 Transparent
colored ACRYLITE GP sheet can be used to reduce glare and solar energy
transmittance. Sheets are available in a wide range of colors with light
transmittance values from approximately 6% to 79%. This broad selection
enables the designer to choose a color which provides adequate daylight
while, at the same time, controls glare and solar heat buildup.
Translucent white and translucent colored ACRYLITE GP sheet diffuses light.
Colorless, textured sheet also diffuses light to some extent.
|
 ACRYLITE
GP sheet has excellent resistance to many chemicals including:
• solutions of inorganic alkalies such as ammonia • dilute acids such as sulfuric acid up to a concentration of 30% • aliphatic hydrocarbons such as hexane |