Acrylic and PETG are both common plastic materials widely used around the world. If you are switching from glass or metal materials to plastic, you may not be quite sure which is the right item to choose.

Because there are so many options for plastics, it can sometimes be difficult to choose the right one for your project. If you follow Kunxin New Material Technology, you have already learned more about acrylic materials. Therefore, we will not cover it again. Today in this guide, you will learn a true comparison of acrylic and PETG, two of the most commonly used plastics in any industry.

What is PETG?

PETG (polyethylene terephthalate) is a thermoplastic polyester that has excellent toughness and chemical resistance. One of the main features of this material is that it is easy to thermoform.

PETG is a highly impact resistant material, but will not produce good results in outdoor applications. In other words, you could say it is not suitable for outdoor use.

If you want to learn more about molding and cutting this material, then you've come to the right place. Because, today, we're going to compare PETG plastic head-to-head with acrylic plastic. In the end, you'll know which one is best for your project.

Acrylic vs. PETG: Head to Head Comparison

Applications

Acrylic and PETG are used in a variety of applications, such as machine guards, covers, displays and applications that require transparency. A key feature of both materials is their transparency and clarity.

Acrylic: It is available in both extruded and cast forms. The extruded form of acrylic is the most common and cost effective use. Cast acrylic is much more expensive due to the delicate manufacturing process.

Taking advantage of the natural clarity of extruded acrylic, it is used for displays, lenses, acrylic nails, security barriers, medical devices, and LCD lenses. Because of its excellent clarity and durability, this material can be used as windows, tanks and enclosures around exhibits.

Typically, acrylic material can be made into Plexiglas sheets, acrylic rods and acrylic tubes.

PETG: It is an excellent choice for machine protection, especially for medical equipment. PETG material has good chemical resistance, making it suitable for edible oil containers, drinking bottles and FDA-compliant food products. PETG plastic is widely used as a packaging material.

The rigid structure of PETG ensures that it can undergo hard or sterile processes. As a result, they can be used to package medical and pharmaceutical instruments. And because of its durability, it can often be used as machine guards as well.

Strength

Before we talk about strength, you need to know that PETG plastics are extremely rigid and tough. Acrylic plastics, on the other hand, are flexible, so you can use them smoothly in bending applications.

PETG is 5 to 7 times stronger than acrylic, but this cannot be used for outdoor applications. Acrylic plastics, on the other hand, are flexible and can be used for both indoor and outdoor applications. Otherwise, polycarbonate sheet is 25 times stronger than acrylic.

It can withstand extreme weather and even resist if you live in an area with hail. It doesn't have any scratches, so there's nothing to worry about if you use them for rough applications.

Colors

Acrylic plastics are available in standard colors or can be colored upon request. PETG plastics can be colored depending on cost and production runs.

Costs

PETG plastics are somewhat expensive and their cost depends on the application of the material. Compared to PETG plastic, acrylic is more efficient, flexible and affordable. The price of acrylic plastics depends on the thickness of the material.

Production issues

There are no production problems when producing acrylic plastics. Acrylic is easier to bond than PETG plastic, which cannot be polished. If an incorrect laser is used, this can turn yellow around the edges. In addition, the bonding of this plastic requires special reagents.

Scratches

Acrylic plastic is more scratch resistant than PETG and does not catch scratches easily. PETG, on the other hand, has a higher risk of scratches.

Stability

Acrylic is more prone to breakage than PETG, but it is a flexible plastic. In contrast, PETG is more impact resistant and stronger. This is less prone to breakage than acrylic plastic.

Cleaning

We recommend that acrylic and PETG plastics are not cleaned vigorously. The use of alcohol-based cleaners is not recommended. If it is applied to either of these materials, cracks will become more visible. Clean them gently with soap and water, then rub with soap and wash with water.

POS Appearance

Acrylic is more scratch-resistant than PETG plastic, and has shiny and crisper edges. However, in the case of acrylic, you need to be careful about cracking. PETG plastic is strong but scratches easily and is not as shiny as acrylic.

Durability

Acrylic is flexible, but if enough pressure is applied, it may break. PETG plastic, on the other hand, is not easily broken, but has some problems with placement.

However, if you use acrylic plastic for windows, skylights, and POS displays, there is nothing to worry about. This plastic can also withstand harsh weather and very strong impacts. The durability and strength is much superior, especially when compared to glass. The only problem is that it's not the strongest plastic on the market, but if you use it for less extreme purposes, it will serve you well.

Workability

Both materials are easy to work with as they are easy to cut with any tool such as a vertical saw, circular saw or CNC cutting. However, you should make sure that the blade is sharp enough to make the cut, as a dull blade will generate heat and distort the material due to heat.

For laser cutting acrylic, you need to set the power to a fixed level. Cutting PETG material requires a low power laser cutter. The sharp edges of acrylic are a unique feature that is not common.

Such clear edges can be obtained by laser cutting acrylic in the correct manner. it is also possible to obtain clear edges with PETG, but these materials run the risk of coloration when cut with a laser.

With acrylic, you can use any standard glue for bonding and it works well. In PETG you can only use strong glue and some other adhesives. However, we recommend bonding this material by mechanical fixing. In thermoforming, both materials are suitable and both can be thermoformed. However, there is one difference. PETG does not lose its strength during thermoforming, but from experience we have seen that sometimes acrylic loses its strength and becomes weak during thermoforming.

DIY applications

If you are a DIY enthusiast, you will enjoy using acrylic plastic. It is one of the most commonly used plastic materials for DIY on the planet. They are very easy to use because they are lightweight, strong and most importantly, flexible.

In addition, you can easily cut and glue acrylic sheets without a lot of knowledge or expertise. All of this makes acrylic the best choice for DIY projects.

Conclusion

Now that you have learned everything you need to know about PETG and acrylic, it's time to make the right decision. Take into account the facts I mentioned above and make the right decision. Remember that acrylic plastic is flexible and can be used for bending purposes. If you are looking for an acrylic manufacturer, Kunxin New Material Technology would be the ideal choice.

PETG is harder and stronger than acrylic plastic, but it scratches easily. Last but not least, remember that PETG is not recommended for outdoor use. You can, however, use acrylic plastic for both indoor and outdoor applications.