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Transparent resins’ features: material introduction

Transparent resins belong to the synthetic resins family and can be easily distinguished for their ability to lower light reflection and absorption, allowing light to pass through their surface.

As meviy has introduced these materials in its portfolio for custom mechanical parts to meet its customers’ demand, let’s dive deep into the different transparent resins’ features, types and main use.

Transparent resins’ features: advantages and applications

Since the first introduction in the 1930s, transparent resins’ features have gained popularity quite quickly. Depending on the type of resin the main property might change, but we can say that all transparent resins share the below characteristics; they are usually highly transparent, lightweight and impact-resistant, and easier to mould than glass.

Because of its incredible properties, it was first used in the aircraft industry to build more performant wind shields, and subsequently its use expanded to cover other applications among different industries. Transparent resins are, for example, used as including containers for liquids such as water tanks and plastic bottles, lighting fixtures in the automotive industry or optical components such as glasses.

Transparent resins: disadvantages

However, all that glitters is not gold. Despite their advantageous properties, transparent resins present some flows, that make them less performative in specific fields. These disadvantages are:

1. Less heat-resistant (depending on the resin, it might be also flammable)
2. Sensitive to friction and scratches

To give an example,. acrylic resins, which are considered to perform particularly well in many industries, are easily flammable. Therefore, their use has be thought about carefully.

Processes commonly used with transparent resins

Transparent resins can be processed in various manufacturing ways to change their main features and make the final product meet the needs of the customers. Below here are some examples.

Injection moulding

Injection moulding is mainly used for acrylic and polycarbonate resins, which are considered as thermoplastic resins among transparent resins. Basically, the same as commodity plastics and engineering plastics, but care must be taken as the mould wears faster and the transparency of the resin may be lost due to galling and welding.

Cutting

Transparent resins are often machined from resins. Precision parts such as optical components and horizontal hole shapes that are difficult to produce by injection moulding are often machined this way. Transparent resin is also cut and polished as a finish when making transparent or visualized models of machine parts.

Polishing

Polishing may be used to improve the transparency of transparent resins. In some cases, such as plastic lenses and parts that require a glossy finish, the cutting is followed by a polishing process. Polishing is a process that is not often performed on other resins, so it can be said to be a process unique to transparent resins.

Typical transparent resins and their characteristics

There are many different types of transparent resins in the market, but here are 5 that are particularly commonly used in the major industries.

Acrylic Resins (PMMA)

Acrylic resins are the most transparent of all transparent resins. It has a higher transparency than glass. It is also highly durable and impact resistant and is often used in places where both transparency and strength are required, such as aircraft wind shields and aquarium tanks. It has excellent machinability and can be used as a material for transparent models of machine parts. Bending and gluing are also possible. On the other hand, they are chemicals or scratches resistant.

Polycarbonate (PC)

Polycarbonate is one of the most impact-resistant transparent resins. Its transparency is second only to acrylic resins, and it is also resistant to heat and cold and even fire. It is used in shields used by the police, as well as in spectacle lenses and optical fibers. The disadvantages are that the resin flows less smoothly when heated or melted, which shortens the life of the mould and requires specialized design. It is also weak against alkalis and may crack when detergents are used.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)

Polyethylene terephthalate is a well-known material in PET bottles. Less transparent, but still lighter and more impact-resistant than acrylic resins. It is also used for food trays and liquid bottles, as well as for machine covers and films. Toxic fumes are less likely to occur when burning, and more environmentally friendly in resin materials. But it’s not as strong as the heat.

Polyvinylchloride (PVC)

Polyvinylchloride, also known as salt bismuth, is available in 2 variants: soft and hard. Soft polyvinyl chloride is also known as soft vinyl. It has very good processability and is very widely used in our daily lives as a type of general-purpose resin. Compared to other transparent resins, the price of the material is lower, making it suitable for cost reduction. On the other hand, it is susceptible to cold and light, cracking and deformation. It is also weak in organic solvents and can dissolve.

Polystyrene (PS)

Polystyrene is also used in styrofoam and food trays but may be injection moulded without the addition of a blowing agent. There are 2 types of polystyrene used in injection moulding: general purpose polystyrene (GPPS) and impact resistant polystyrene (HIPS). Polystyrene is characterized by its high transparency, low cost of materials and very good formability. Used for packing materials such as CD-cases. However, the impact resistance and strength are not very high and the chemicals are not very strong.

Transparent resins by meviy

With meviy by MISUMI you can have access to transparent resins with short sides ranging from 10mm to 1,000mm, long sides ranging from 10mm to 2,000mm, and plate thicknesses of 3mm and 5mm.