Acrylic Cups Injection Molding Manufacturing

When choosing an alternative to glass, two thermoplastic materials are often prioritized: acrylic and polycarbonate (PC). They are two common transparent plastics. PC has excellent impact resistance, high heat resistance and chemical resistance, making it suitable for manufacturing durable parts. Acrylic, on the other hand, has high transparency and surface gloss. It is relatively fragile compared to PC and is more suitable for decoration and display applications. If your product pays more attention to appearance and transparency, such as cups, decorations, display boxes and other products that require high visual effect, acrylic may be your best choice.

What Is Polycarbonate(PC)?

Applications of Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate, with its exceptional combination of strength, transparency, and versatility, finds applications in various industries:

• • Automotive: Headlights, Taillights, Windshields and Interior components
  • Construction: Roofing, Skylights and Glazing
  • Electronics: DVDs, CDs and Optical lenses
  • Sports Equipment: Helmets, Face shields and Goggles
  • Greenhouses: Greenhouse construction
  • Consumer Goods: Eyewear lenses, Phone screens and Food containers
  • Security: Bulletproof windows and Protective barriers
  • Lighting: LED light covers and Diffusers

What Is Acrylic?

Much like its counterpart, polycarbonate, acrylic offers the advantage of being easily shaped and molded through processes like thermoforming and injection molding. This adaptability allows for the creation of intricate and customized designs, making it a preferred choice across various industries.

Applications of Acrylic

Acrylic is widely used in various industries due to its versatile properties. Some applications of acrylic include:

• • Windows and Glazing: Acrylic sheets are commonly used as a substitute for glass in windows, skylights, and greenhouse panels.
  • Signage and Displays: Acrylic is a popular choice for creating signs, advertising displays, and point-of-purchase displays.
  • Lighting: Acrylic is used as a light diffuser in LED lighting fixtures.
  • Automotive: Acrylic is utilized in various automotive components, such as headlamp lenses, taillight covers, and instrument panel covers.
  • Medical Devices: Acrylic is employed in the manufacture of medical devices, including dental products, orthopedic implants, and medical instruments.
  • Aquariums: Acrylic aquariums provide a clear view of aquatic life and are more impact-resistant than glass aquariums.
  • Furniture: Acrylic furniture, such as acrylic cups, tables, chairs, and shelves, adds a modern and sleek aesthetic to interior design.
  • Sound Barriers: Acrylic panels can be used as sound barriers along highways and industrial areas.
  • Sports Equipment: Acrylic is used to make backboards for basketball hoops and protective shields for sports facilities.

Polycarbonate VS. Acrylic:

Both polycarbonate and acrylic share common characteristics such as being lightweight, offering enhanced impact resistance compared to glass, and being more cost-effective alternatives to glass. However, let’s delve into a side-by-side comparison of these two polymers across various attributes to help you make an informed choice for your next product.

Impact Resistance:

• • Acrylic has approximately 10 times greater impact resistance than glass.
  • Polycarbonate, on the other hand, boasts a remarkable 250 times the impact resistance of glass, making it a popular choice for applications like riot gear and helmets.

Scratch Resistance:

• • While polycarbonate surpasses acrylic in strength, acrylic is notably more resistant to scratches and scuff marks.
  • Polycarbonate eyeglass lenses often feature anti-scratch coatings to enhance their durability and scratch resistance.

Temperature and Heat Resistance:

• • Both acrylic and polycarbonate exhibit thermal expansion and contraction properties, making them suitable for sub-zero temperature environments.
  • Acrylic remains stable up to 190° but starts to soften or bend beyond that point, whereas polycarbonate demonstrates heat resistance up to 240°.

Clarity:

• • Both materials provide excellent clarity and allow light to pass through.
  • Acrylic boasts slightly superior light transmittance at 92 percent compared to polycarbonate’s 88 percent. They are commonly used for transparent applications, with the choice often driven by specific needs such as impact resistance or scratch resistance.
  • Acrylic tends to maintain its light transmittance, can be polished to restore clarity, and is resistant to yellowing over time. In contrast, polycarbonate may lose clarity or turn yellow when exposed to UV light and cannot be polished.

Fabrication & Customization:

• • Both acrylic and polycarbonate can be shaped, fabricated, and customized in various ways.
  • Acrylic requires heating to be bent, while polycarbonate is more flexible and can be bent without heating.
  • When it comes to cutting the polymers for custom shapes, both materials can be used, but acrylic tends to cut more easily with tools like saws or routers. Polycarbonate, however, can be drilled to create holes or accommodate mounting pieces, while acrylic may be prone to chipping or cracking.

Cost:

• • While polymer prices can fluctuate with availability, acrylic typically tends to be more cost-effective than polycarbonate, making it a budget-friendly choice for many applications.

Customized Transparent Plastic Products for You

From the introduction above, we learned that polycarbonate and acrylic both have similar properties and are cost-effective alternatives to glass. When it comes to specifically selecting plastic materials, the best practice is to consult with an experienced plastic materials expert to help you make the right decision.

Sungplastic is a well-regarded and experienced injection molding company. We provide personalized transparent plastic product customization services. Whether you need acrylic cups, furniture or electronic products, we can meet your needs. Sungplastic’s team of engineers will select the most suitable plastic material for you based on the characteristics of your product to ensure that the final product perfectly meets your expectations. In addition, we provide on-time delivery, professional packaging and efficient transportation services to provide you with a comprehensive solution. Please contact us today for an instant quote.