5 Advantages of Using Plexiglass Windows

Plexiglass windows are made of a clear acrylic petroleum-based product. This transparent material has thermoplastic properties that allow it to be bent and shaped into a variety of forms when it is warmed to a specific temperature. It is used to manufacture a variety of products, including windows, bath enclosures, aquariums, car lights, and furniture. There are many reasons it is the chosen material over glass. Plexiglass is strong, shatterproof, safe, durable, flexible, simple to cut, and easy to handle and use.

This guide expands on some of the best reasons to choose plexiglass for your project.

1. Shatter Resistant

Plexiglass requires far more pressure to crack than a pane of glass of the same thickness. This durability quality makes plexiglass shatterproof. It does not shatter into many dangerous pieces like glass. Plexiglass is also a strong material that can withstand a softball, making it an excellent product for areas where children play. It is also used in products such as police shields and basketball backboards.

2. Transparency

The clarity of plexiglass enables a great deal of light to pass through it. More than ninety percent of sunlight and about eighty percent of shaded light can pass through plexiglass, making it the clearest material available. Glass reflects more light than plexiglass, causing a great deal of reflection and glare. Thicker glass tends to have a green tint to it, but plexiglass is clear no matter how thick it is.

3. Ease of Use

Much easier to cut than glass, plexiglass requires no scoring for cutting like glass does. It can be easily sawed into any size needed for a project. Plexiglass is also lighter than glass. The weight of plexiglass is fifty percent that of glass. Thick panes of plexiglass are not as heavy as glass and require less effort to move. Plexiglass is less costly to ship because it is lighter and easier to handle. The polymers in plexiglass make it more flexible than glass and prevent any accidental cracks from accidental mishandling of the material.

4. Artistic Creativity

Since the 1960s artists have been using plexiglass because of its flexibility and lightweight qualities as well as its ability to refract and filter light. The composition of plexiglass allows for more advanced geometric designs in architectural planning. The brittle rigidity of glass makes it almost impossible to use in many architectural pieces without a great deal of customization. Cutting glass requires a great deal of time, and one small mishandling of a piece could destroy an entire design. Plexiglass is much easier to cut and has much more flexibility when positioning it. It can be shaped and joined seamlessly.

5. Coatings

Plexiglass can be treated with UV coatings for protection. Plexiglass can also be tinted to any color by applying a thin, even amount of transparent paint. Once the paint has dried a layer of clear coat needs to be applied over the tint in order to protect it.