Acrylic Extrusion
Pexco is an expert extruder of acrylic material (PMMA) – primarily used for Lighting applications. Extruded UV resistant acrylic profile lenses come in a variety of formulations, ranging from custom blends for exceptional hiding power for LED applications to impact resistant specialty custom products.
This resin is a transparent thermoplastic extruded in a profile form as a lightweight or shatter-resistant alternative to glass, and have outstanding optical properties with excellent resistance to prolonged exposure to both sunlight and electric light sources. Pexco has been extruding this resin and more for over 50 years.
Acrylic
Acrylic Extrusion
TRANSPARENCY: Clear acrylic plastic is as transparent as the finest optical glass. It has a low haze level, superb optical clarity and is free from distortion. Impact resistant acrylic (which contains an impact modifier) shows a slight increase in haze at the extremes in service temperatures. The haze disappears when the temperature returns to normal. In most cases, where lens temperatures are below 120°F, haze should not present a problem. Durayl® (acrylic/impact resistant acrylic blends) feature a high acrylic content, low haze level, and therefore good optical clarity.
TRANSMITTANCE: 92% of the light perpendicular to the surface of acrylic parts is transmitted. The standard grade transmits some light in both the ultraviolet and infrared bands (both of which are outside the visible range of light). In applications such as museum and art gallery lighting where ultraviolet degradation is not acceptable, lenses of ultraviolet absorbing acrylic (UVA grade) will filter out most of the ultraviolet light. In applications such as lenses for long wavelength black light fixtures where ultraviolet light must be transmitted, ultraviolet transmitting acrylic (UVT grade) should be used.
DIFFUSION: There are a variety of white translucent acrylics that scatter light in all directions. It is easy to choose a diffusing medium to suit almost any application.
REFRACTION: Acrylic profile extrusions can be embossed to make prismatic lenses that will control the distribution of light for the most efficient illumination and to minimize glare.
Decades of actual use have proven acrylic plastic resists sunlight and the effects of weathering. Acrylic does not yellow significantly after prolonged exposure to sunlight or to various electric light sources including fluorescent lamps. This inherent exposure stability makes acrylic an ideal material for use in lighting fixture lenses.
Acrylic plastic is unaffected by many detergents and cleaning agents, thereby adding to its ease of maintenance.
Acrylic plastic is lightweight, tough, durable and rigid. Parts of standard grade acrylic are as impact resistant at -40°F as they are at room temperature. Parts of impact resistant acrylic have up to eight times the impact strength of standard grades of acrylic and are suitable for lighting fixture lenses subject to accidental or vandal-caused breakage. Parts made with impact resistant acrylic will lose some impact resistance at low temperatures. The impact resistance, however, is still sufficient for lighting lenses and diffusers, and will be higher than that of standard grade acrylic. Durayl® (Pexco’s acrylic/impact resistant blend) has a greater impact resistance than acrylic, but less than that of Impact resistant acrylic. The impact resistance of Durayl® depends on the proportion of the impact resistant acrylic in the specific blend. The higher the impact resistant content, the greater the impact resistance will be. (Note: For best impact strength, prisms should be on the outer surface of the lens.)
Depending on which grade acrylic is used, the maximum continuous service temperature varies from 140°F to 200°F
Where the operating temperature of a lighting fixture does not exceed 110°F, acrylic can generally be used without difficulty.
Contact our team of experts today to get started.