Acrylic Sheet

Acrylic sheet, chemically polymethyl methacrylate and known by trade names such as Plexiglas and Perspex, is a transparent thermoplastic developed in the 1930s that architects and engineers use as a lighter, more impact-resistant alternative to glass for skylights, glazing, signage and protective barriers. It transmits light with a clarity comparable to glass while weighing roughly half as much and resisting shattering into sharp fragments, though it scratches more easily than glass and softens at lower temperatures, which limits its use in high-fire-risk locations. Its ability to be thermoformed into curved and molded shapes has made it popular for domed skylights and sculptural building elements that flat glass cannot easily achieve.