Technical Resources

Polycarbonate and acrylic selection questions, PC guide links and order-specific evidence inputs.

Use this resource hub to define a polycarbonate sheet requirement and find the right guide or product page. Material choice, thickness and suitability depend on the offered grade and the complete assembly; this overview does not certify a product for an application.

Start with the decision, not a headline property

State the intended use, span and supports, expected loads or impacts, indoor or outdoor exposure, appearance, fabrication, cleaning environment and any named fire or other compliance requirement. A buyer comparing PC with acrylic should use the same conditions and test method for both proposed grades.

Swipe the table sideways to see all columns →

Decision to make	Input to collect	Evidence to ask for
Impact or guarding	Hazard, energy, panel size, fixings and required standard	Grade and assembly-specific test or engineering review
Roof or glazing	Span, support layout, loading, weather exposure and panel construction	System drawing, load basis and applicable grade data
LED lighting	LED pitch, cavity depth, target appearance and brightness	Quoted grade and sample tested in the intended fixture
Processing and care	Drawing, edge requirement, chemicals and cleaning procedure	Grade-specific fabrication and compatibility guidance

Capture the full material-selection requirements, then use the linked PC construction, fire or optical worksheets below. Product pages identify grades to discuss with sales; a worksheet is not a test result.

Names and sheet constructions

PMMA is the polymer name for acrylic. Perspex and Plexiglas are trade names used for acrylic products; a brand name alone does not specify cast or extruded grade, thickness or tested performance. Polycarbonate is PC, but solid and multiwall PC are different constructions. Record the actual material, grade and construction in the RFQ rather than treating trade names as interchangeable specifications.

Thickness, installation and care: questions to resolve

For thickness, provide panel dimensions, support and fixing details, loads and the applicable code or test requirement. A generic thickness-by-application table cannot approve a safety guard or roof panel.
For exterior or multiwall use, confirm which face is UV protected, the channel orientation, drainage and the system’s thermal-movement allowance for the quoted grade.
For sealants, coolants and cleaners, obtain grade-specific compatibility and maintenance guidance; avoid assuming a product is safe from its generic chemical name alone.
For a reported failure, preserve the batch identity, installation photographs, service conditions and cleaning history before drawing a cause conclusion.

From a guide to an order-specific enquiry

Send the grade or candidate construction, drawing, quantity, destination, target date and evidence requirement. Published MOQ and production windows are planning references; the written quotation confirms the applicable minimum, price and schedule for the selected PC specification. See MOQ, lead time and shipping for the commercial inputs.

Questions buyers ask

Is Perspex stronger than acrylic?

Perspex is a brand name used for acrylic products, so the name alone does not identify a stronger material. Compare specified grades, construction, thickness and a relevant test before making a strength or safety decision.

Which is cheaper, acrylic or polycarbonate?

Price depends on the proposed grade, thickness, quantity, processing and delivery term. Request like-for-like quotations and the evidence required for the application rather than choosing from a generic material price claim.

Can I glue polycarbonate the way I bond acrylic?

Do not transfer an acrylic bonding method to PC without checking the exact grade, adhesive, joint geometry and service conditions. Request the adhesive maker’s compatibility guidance and approve a trial joint when the bond is critical.

Do you provide test data and material certificates?

SinoPlastix holds original reports for commonly requested tests, and sales can provide applicable originals on request. Name the quoted grade, thickness, standard, revision and required batch document; confirm that each record covers the product and claim you need.

Request a quote MOQ & shipping

Request documents for the grade you will buy

This page links to material-selection and fabrication guidance; it is not a dated public certificate library. If your approval needs a TDS, SDS, batch COA, test report or certificate, name the product, grade, standard and edition, language and required revision in the enquiry.

Ask which documents can be supplied before ordering and which records can accompany the shipment. A general method reference does not establish a certified result for a particular grade or batch. See quality control for the inspection route, then request the documents with your specification.

Polycarbonate and material-selection worksheets

Use these worksheets to define a requirement or compare options. Product pages cover the sheet grades available to quote; the worksheets do not certify a grade for a particular application.

Material selection requirements worksheet — capture application requirements before shortlisting PC or acrylic families.
Solid versus multiwall PC — compare panel structure, weight, insulation and support questions.
Standard versus flame-retardant PC — define the required fire test and product scope before requesting evidence.
LED diffuser optical trial worksheet — plan a sample test around LED pitch, cavity depth and acceptance criteria.

Polycarbonate engineering and comparison guides

From the factory