3mm Clear Recycled Acrylic

3mm Recycled Acrylic has properties nearly identical to virgin acrylic, including durability, UV resistance, and excellent clarity. It is lightweight, strong, and chemical-resistant, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications. It is also fully recyclable, fully transparent, and can be fabricated using the same methods as standard acrylic.

Recycled acrylic is classified under the plastic recycling code 7, requiring specialized facilities for processing, which is a primary reason it may not be accepted in standard household recycling streams.

Key properties 

• Optical clarity: Offers the same high optical transparency as virgin acrylic.
• Durability: The material is highly durable, impact-resistant, and significantly stronger than traditional glass.
• Weather and UV resistant: Recycled acrylic is UV stable and resistant to weathering, including sun and salt spray, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications.
• Chemical resistance: It has good chemical resistance compared to most other plastics.
• Lightweight: Half the weight of glass.
• Food safe: Suitable for applications involving food and drink.
• Fabrication: Easy and cost-effective to fabricate using the same tools and techniques as standard acrylic.
• Sustainability: Fully recyclable and made from post-consumer acrylic waste.

Fabrication and Sustainability

• Workability: Recycled acrylic is easy to machine, laser cut, engrave, thermoform (heat and shape), glue, and mill, making it highly versatile for a wide range of projects.
• Recyclability: One of its main benefits is that it can be recycled repeatedly back into raw material (methyl methacrylate monomer) without losing its original properties, creating a closed-loop system and reducing reliance on virgin fossil fuels.
• Environmental Impact: Choosing recycled acrylic reduces landfill waste and lowers the carbon footprint compared to producing new acrylic.

Architectural & Glazing

• Windowpanes and Secondary Glazing: Used as a strong, impact-resistant alternative to glass in shed windows, safety glazing in homes with children or pets, and secondary glazing to improve insulation.
• Skylights and Roof Panels: Its UV and weather resistance make it ideal for skylights and greenhouse panels, where it transmits up to 92% of visible light.
• Protective Barriers: Common for safety applications like machine guards in factories, sneeze guards/protective screens in retail and public spaces, and security barriers.

Retail & Display

• Display Cases and Fixtures: The high optical clarity and ease of fabrication make it ideal for retail display cases, shelves, and brochure holders that show off products without obstructing visibility.
• Signage and Menu Boards: Used for both indoor and outdoor signs, menu boards, and decorative plaques due to its durability and ability to be cut into custom shapes.

Home & Furniture

• Aquariums and Fish Tanks: The combination of strength, light weight, and formability makes clear acrylic the preferred material for aquariums of all sizes, from small home tanks to large public features.
• Furniture and Shelving: Used to create modern furniture, wall shelves, and protective covers for valuable tabletops (e.g. coffee tables), as it’s lighter and more durable than glass.

Specialized & Industrial Applications

• Transportation: Utilized in automotive lighting, instrument panels, boat windows, aircraft cabin windows, and motorcycle windscreens due to its impact resistance and light weight.
• Optical Devices: Used in lenses and magnifying glasses, as it is cheaper and clearer than glass in some applications.