Acrylic sheets also called plexiglass sheets boast numerous advantages such as high transparency and good weather resistance. Below are the instructions for their storage processing and usage:
Temperature: Acrylic sheets should be stored in an environment with stable temperature. The ideal storage temperature ranges from 18℃ to 25℃. Excessively high temperatures e.g. long-term exposure to over 40℃ may cause the sheets to soften and deform affecting dimensional accuracy and appearance; excessively low temperatures below 5℃ will make the material brittle leading to easy cracking during handling or other operations.
Humidity: The relative humidity should be maintained between 40% and 60%. Too high humidity may result in water mist moisture marks or even mildew on the sheet surface which not only affects appearance but also may reduce the sheet’s performance; too low humidity excessively dry air tends to generate static electricity causing dust to adhere to the sheet surface and increasing cleaning difficulty.
Lighting: Prolonged direct exposure to strong light especially ultraviolet rays should be avoided. UV rays can cause acrylic sheets to age yellow and crack on the surface reducing their transparency and mechanical strength. Therefore the storage area should either use UV-free lighting or take sun-shading measures e.g. installing curtains using light shields.
Ventilation: Ensure good ventilation in the storage space. Poor ventilation will increase the concentration of accumulated volatile gases which may cause fogging on the sheet surface and is not conducive to humidity adjustment. If harmful gases are present they will also accelerate the deterioration of the sheets.
Placement: Acrylic sheets should be stored flat not vertically or at an angle. Vertical or angled placement may cause deformation due to the sheet’s own weight—this is more obvious for large-area and thin sheets. When stacking multiple layers place cushioning materials e.g. foam boards cardboard between each layer to prevent surface scratches and damage. The stacking height should not be too high generally no more than 1.5 meters to avoid excessive pressure damaging the bottom sheets.
Cutting Tools: For mechanical cutting electric saws laser cutting machines etc. can be used. Electric saws are suitable for thick sheets ensuring straight cutting but leaving relatively rough cut surfaces that require subsequent sanding; laser cutting machines offer extremely high precision and smooth cut surfaces suitable for fine processing but with high equipment costs. For manual cutting hook knives can be used—they are suitable for cutting thin acrylic sheets and allow flexible operation.
Drilling Tools: Twist drills should be used. Select the appropriate drill bit size according to the hole diameter and control the drilling speed to prevent the sheet from cracking due to overheating. Add an appropriate amount of cutting fluid to reduce frictional heat.
Sanding Tools: Sandpapers of increasing fineness e.g. 80-grit 120-grit 240-grit are used to sand cut surfaces and edges until smooth and flat. Additionally polishing wheels and polishing pastes can be prepared for polishing parts requiring high gloss.
Operators must wear work clothes safety glasses and gloves. Work clothes prevent clothing from being caught in machines; safety glasses protect against debris splashing into the eyes during cutting and sanding; gloves provide anti-slip protection and prevent hand scratches or burns e.g. when touching hot cut surfaces.
For mechanical cutting: Ensure the electric saw blade is sharp and perpendicular to the sheet to keep the cut surface flat. Do not cut too fast as this will generate a large amount of heat causing the sheet to melt and deform and affecting cutting quality. For laser cutting set appropriate parameters e.g. power cutting speed in advance and optimize them according to the sheet thickness to ensure accurate and efficient cutting.
For manual cutting with a hook knife: First make a moderately deep scratch generally about 1/3 of the sheet thickness on the sheet surface then gently break the sheet along the scratch. Apply even force to avoid uneven fracture edges.
Before drilling accurately mark the drilling position on the sheet and use a center punch to gently make a positioning dimple to prevent drill bit deviation during drilling.
During drilling keep the drill bit perpendicular to the sheet and rotate at a stable low speed e.g. 500-1000 revolutions per minute. Inject cutting fluid at the same time to reduce temperature and lower the risk of sheet cracking.
Follow the order from coarse sandpaper to fine sandpaper: First use coarse sandpaper to quickly remove major defects e.g. burrs unevenness left by cutting or drilling then gradually switch to fine sandpaper to make the surface increasingly smooth.
For manual sanding maintain a consistent sanding direction to avoid messy scratches. When using a polishing wheel and polishing paste control the polishing force and time to prevent excessive polishing from causing surface deformation or uneven gloss.
When acrylic sheets are used as partitions decorative panels etc. select appropriate installation accessories e.g. plastic expansion bolts stainless steel screws. Avoid using ordinary iron nails which are prone to rust to prevent rust from contaminating the sheets.
Ensure the sheets are firmly fixed during installation to avoid wobbling. Unstable installation may cause the sheets to fall off or be damaged when impacted by external forces during use.
For daily cleaning use mild detergents e.g. neutral dish soap. Dip a soft cloth in a small amount of detergent and gently wipe the sheet surface to remove dust and stains. Do not use detergents containing strong acids or alkalis—these chemicals will corrode the sheet surface causing it to lose luster and develop pits.
For stubborn stains dip a soft cloth in a small amount of alcohol or white vinegar and wipe but control the wiping force and range to avoid damaging the sheet.
Although acrylic sheets have a certain degree of strength their impact resistance is still limited compared to materials such as glass and metal. In usage scenarios avoid collisions with heavy objects and punctures by sharp objects e.g. when used in shopping mall display cabinets prevent customers from accidentally hitting the sheets with hard objects like handbags or umbrellas. If cracks or damage are found on the sheets replace them promptly to avoid affecting usability and safety.
厦门九逵科技有限公司
扫一扫，关注我们最新消息 