SAR (Super Abrasion Resistant) acrylic sheets are produced by applying a hard, polysilicate coating to an acrylic substrate. This coating provides SAR with a surface that has 45 times the abrasion resistance of uncoated acrylic, making it an attractive material for applications that require the safety (e.g. windshields), optical (e.g. marine port holes) and aesthetic (e.g. sunroofs) qualities of acrylic along with a highly abrasion resistant surface coating. Super Abrasion Resistant acrylic sheets are available from Allplastics Engineering .
SAR offers clear advantages over standard acrylic sheet products. It consists of a high quality Perspex base product with a special coating, which provide abrasion resistance similar to the levels offered by glass. SAR also offers many advantages that are not offered by glass such as:
Cleanable: resists graffiti, chemicals and abrasion marking
5x impact resistance of glass
Safe: resists impact and shattering
Weatherable: retains properties long term
Lightweight: half the weight of glass
Available in clear; other colours and tints can be coated upon request
Significant chemical resistance
Better clarity (light transmission) than glass.
Can be fabricated and drilled on site using conventional woodworking tools such as routers and hole saws.
Light weight and fabrication flexibility cut installation costs: At half the weight of glass, SAR makes handling easier and safer, and installation is less costly and time consuming. It can be cut and fabricated at the installation site using power tools. SAR is suitable for replacement installations because it is readily fitted into existing frames.
Standard sheet size: 3.050m x 2.030m
Thickness: 3, 6, 8,10mm
Grades: Single sided exterior
Special thickness and sizes on request, including cut-to-size parts.
SAR is available in clear 3mm, 6mm, 8mm and 10mm. Translucent, tints and solid colours can be coated with SAR upon request.
Optical Clarity: SAR in 30mm thickness transmits 93% white light, compared to 66% for an all polycarbonate sheet and 55% for bullet-resistant glass. Its edges are clear, avoiding the massive appearance of thick glass with its greenish tinted edge. These features add up to the clear, open look that is appealing.
Chemical Resistance: SAR surface coating is resistant to many chemicals. However, the edges of SAR are not coated. When using SAR for an application that will expose it to chemicals, one needs to seal the uncoated edges to prevent contact with the chemicals.
Weatherability: SAR acrylic sheet can withstand continuous exposure to sun and ultraviolet radiation. It offers clarity, strength, and light transmittance in combination with long term outdoor performance.
Thermal Properties: SAR acrylic sheet is a better thermal insulator than glass. The rate of heat transfer through glass is four times greater than that through acrylic sheet.
Thermoformability: SAR has limited formability. Design parameters are available from Allplastics Engineering. Moderate contours are often desirable and can be easily obtained without heating SAR sheet. Sheets can be snapped into curved channel supports, provided the radius of curative is in excess of 180 times the thickness of the sheet.
Individuals should not attempt to cold form SAR on sheets smaller than 600mm x 400mm because localised curvature to a radius <180 times would craze the coating. Either handling or thermal change of larger sheets may result in localised excessive curvature and coating failure.
