Variety of products
Products made from organic glass are different. Using such material, you can make any fantasy come true. Almost everything can be made of plexiglass, for example:
- transparent frames;
- advertising stands;
- shelves;
- souvenirs;
- cups;
- stands;
- voluminous pockets;
- crafts;
- PC cases;
- frames;
- figurines;
- watch;
- covers;
- tablets for watercolors and even medals.
If in some areas of activity this material has been used for a long time, in others it is just beginning to gain popularity. Plexiglas is most often used in several ways.
To create lighting structures
This group includes the following:
- acrylic lamp caps;
- illuminated signboards;
- front screens;
- various light diffusers.
In the field of architecture
There is where to show imagination, because using plexiglass, you can do the following:
- multi-colored or regular domes;
- cubes;
- partitions in the room;
- doors with glass inserts;
- dance floors and more.
In the plumbing
Since this material is not afraid of moisture, it is most often used in this area. You can make such elements from acrylic as:
- tubes of different sizes;
- shower box;
- swimming pools;
- various items for the bathroom.
To decorate the room
Many are trying to transform the interior of the room with the help of such moments as:
- furniture items such as tables or chairs;
- art installation;
- transparent panels;
- aquariums of different shapes and much more.
In the field of trade
Most often, organic glass is used to create elements such as:
- shop windows;
- signs above them;
- banners;
- house numbers and much more.
At home
Here you can find products made of this material at every step. These can be the most unusual items, for example:
- modern awards;
- key chains;
- board games such as backgammon or checkers;
- business card holder;
- coffee tables;
- bookshelves;
- glass on the table;
- flower stand (regular or in the form of a rod);
- sconces and much more.
In medicine
You should not bypass medicine, because here they do the following from plexiglass:
- regular contact lenses;
- glasses for glasses;
- artificial prostheses or orthodontic appliances.
In addition, windows in modern underwater vehicles are made of acrylic. And also the outer glass of headlights in cars is often made of polymethyl methacrylate. Plexiglas is usually used to protect spectators in stadiums or ice rinks. Looking out the airplane window, it is difficult to guess that it is made of this material.
Instruments
To process the material with your own hands, you will need to use certain tools, but buying them is not at all necessary. To create products at home, simple techniques and equipment will be enough. For example, using a strong thread, you can make products of the most complex shapes.
Therefore, you can prepare a similar set:
- table;
- ruler;
- sharp knife;
- spiral from nichrome wire. It can be taken from an old step-down transformer. How it looks can be seen in the photo.
A thermal cutter can be made by hand. It is a wood frame with nichrome wire in it. The device operates under a voltage of 6-12 volts.
To bend a sheet of plexiglass in a straight line, heat the place along the axis of the bend.
To cut the sheets, you can use an impromptu cutter made from an old blade from a hacksaw for metal.For ease of use, one end of the canvas should be wrapped with electrical tape. You need to cut the sheet on a flat surface. The canvas can be sharpened with a stone. We put a ruler on the sheet, draw it several times with a cutter, then remove the ruler and cut it off. As a rule, the edges after cutting do not need post-processing.
Advantages and disadvantages
Plexiglas can have several names: in some cases it is called acrylic, in others it is called transparent plastic. Its main component is thermoplastic resin. But in order to slightly improve the quality of the product and make it more durable and light-transmitting, other accompanying components are added to the structure of the plexiglass during manufacture. For this reason, Plexiglas products are distinguished by their lightness and strength. The scope of application is quite diverse. It can be used not only in the construction or industrial industry, but also in the furniture or private industry. To understand why the popularity of plexiglass is so huge, it is worth familiarizing yourself with some of its important features.
This material has more pluses than minuses.
It is worth paying attention to the following advantages:
- first of all, it is worth noting the small weight of this material; if you compare it with quartz glass, then acrylic is almost three times lighter than it; this is good for those who decide to make their own repairs and use plexiglass materials;
- however, the main and main advantage of transparent plastic is its strength; such material is almost impossible to break, therefore it is most often used to make very fragile things, for example, aquariums or doors;
- plexiglass products are easy to process; this material can take any desired shape;
- organic glass is not afraid of the sun's rays, moisture, or exposure to harmful elements, therefore, products made of such material can be found in the bathroom and in the kitchen;
- acrylic is not susceptible to ultraviolet rays, so finished products do not turn yellow in the sun and remain as strong;
- transparent glass is considered the most environmentally friendly; even when heated, plexiglass does not emit absolutely any harmful substances;
- if you follow all the storage rules, products from this material will be able to serve their owners for many years;
- it is worth noting also the resistance of polymethyl methacrylate to very low and high temperatures.
In addition to a large number of advantages, organic glass still has some disadvantages, namely:
- polymethyl methacrylate has a very weak resistance to mechanical scratches;
- organic glass does not have protection against fire, therefore, all products made from such material should be kept as far as possible from any of the sources of fire; if this is not done, then it can even lead to the destruction of the object;
- Plexiglas products require special care.