What Are The Differences Between Glass and Acrylic?

1. Composition and Structure:

Glass is an inorganic, non-metallic, amorphous solid material mainly composed of silicates, usually containing sodium, calcium, magnesium, and other elements.

Acrylic is an organic synthetic material made of acrylonitrile (Acrylonitrile), butadiene (Butadiene), and styrene (Styrene), which are three monomers copolymerized. The chemical name is polymethyl methacrylate, a polymer.

2. Transparency:

Glass usually has high transparency but may contain tiny air bubbles or other impurities. Glass usually has good light transmission through the most visible light.

Acrylic also provides high transparency and is sometimes even purer than ordinary glass. Its excellent light transmission allows more than 92% of sunlight to pass through.

 

3. Weight:

The density of glass is about 2.5 grams per cubic centimeter, and the density of acrylic is about 1.18 grams per cubic centimeter. Glass is heavier than acrylic, the same volume and the weight of the glass is about twice the weight of acrylic.

4. Hardness and brittleness

The hardness of glass is high but fragile and less resistant to scratches. Glass easily breaks when impacted, belonging to the brittle material.

Acrylic's hardness is lower, but the impact resistance is better, and it is not easy to break like glass.

5. Weather resistance:

Glass is less resistant to ultraviolet light, and long-term exposure to sunlight may gradually darken.

Acrylic is more resistance to ultraviolet light (up to 73.5%), but prolonged exposure can make it difficult to change the color.

6. Thermal stability:

Glass is very heat resistant. It can be used at high temperatures and is not easily deformed.

Acrylic has good thermal stability within a certain temperature range, but its thermal deformation temperature will be softened and deformed more than its thermal deformation.

7. Chemical stability:

Glass has good stability to most chemicals and does not easily corrode.

Acrylic is stable in most chemicals but not as well as glass. Some chemicals may react with it, and it is not easily corroded.

8. Plasticity:

After cooling, glass can be molded and hardened at high temperatures into a fixed shape.

Acrylic can be shaped by thermoforming, machining, or casting. It softens when heated and regains its hardness when cooled, making it ideal for various shapes and designs.

9. Recyclability:

Both Glass and acrylic materials are recyclable, reducing the environmental impact.

10. Cost:

Regular glass is relatively cheap, but specialty glass (such as borosilicate glass) is more expensive.

The cost of acrylic is usually between ordinary glass and specialty glass.

11. Applications:

Glass is widely used in architecture, automobiles, electronics, food containers, etc.

Acrylic is commonly used in billboards, lighting fixtures, airplane windows, aquariums, and valve bodies have more uses.