6mm acrylic expansion and contraction

ClearGear · Post by **ClearGear** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 5:49 pm

Hello,
I would like to build a display case 8' high by 2' wide with shelves, all using 6mm, .236” clear acrylic. All joints would be glued together,acrylic to acrylic. I understand that acrylic expands and contracts, would a unit of this construction expand/contract to a point that it would fracture apart? The unit would be at room temperature, but slightly colder during transport to the installation site.
Thanks in advance….

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 6:18 pm

I doubt if it would expand that much that it will fracture apart, especially as all the acrylic will expand/contract at the same rate.

You will have to watch out for it bowing though with it being so long.

ClearGear · Post by **ClearGear** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:01 pm

By having 7 shelves one foot apart inside the frame, wouldn’t this prevent the unit from bowing?

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:14 pm

ClearGear wrote:By having 7 shelves one foot apart inside the frame, wouldn’t this prevent the unit from bowing?

Yes, sorry my fault.

I was thinking of 8' feet long and 2' feet high.

ClearGear · Post by **ClearGear** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:39 pm

Great! good to hear, thanks!

Stoday · Post by **Stoday** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 11:29 pm

6mm sounds a bit on the thin side.

ClearGear · Post by **ClearGear** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 12:40 am

Why would you say?