Perspex is also referred to as engineer’s plastic due to its uses and can be used for different purposes including window glazing, POS, signs, architecture, furniture, acoustics, car and boat windows, visual communication, bathroom and kitchen splashbacks, and many more.
When compared to glass, clear acrylic is a lot better to frame pictures or use as a window. But at the same time, a lot more dust can easily get collected on Perspex as compared to glass. Like other plastics, Perspex is a good electrical insulator. While the glass can be easily wiped, rubbing another surface on the Perspex can produce high charges. It eventually leads to attracting the dust again and making it almost impossible to get it off by just wiping.
One of the ways to make it easy is by making the Perspex surface conduction enough to be able to make the charges flow away to earth. There are multiple anti-static agents available in the market to treat insulator surfaces. An ionically conductive stable layer is applied which helps preserve the optical and other such properties of the surfaces and yet, allows the charges to leak away.
We have a related article for you, you can read How To Make Anti Static Pad?
Different Tips To Reduce Static from Perspex and Plastic:
- Cutting the acrylic sheet before removing the paper coating or otherwise, it can agitate the plastic which can cause static build-up. Swarf can build up on the acrylic sheet if the paper coating is removed before cutting it.
- A rub from a damp rag can help reduce the static build-up while removing the paper coating. If the acrylic sheet is removed without wetting it a little first, it can again build up static charges.
- Before the acrylic sheet is applied in a window frame or a picture, it should be rubbed with an antistatic cleaner. This ending would help repel the dust for some time and you can use the products that don’t only clean the surface but polish it as well for a shiny surface.
- The static build-up can be avoided by cleaning the exposed surface every month with an anti-static cleaner.
Cleaning The Perspex:
Some of the cleaners or harsh solvents can also damage the acrylic sheeting and a mild soap or plastic cleaner can be used along with water to remove debris and dirt from the surface. While cleaning the surface, make sure the cloth is lint-free, non-abrasive, and preferably microfiber to avoid any scratching on the surface.
Commercial grade kerosene or hexane can be used to remove any tough stains like tar residue, grease, or oil. Once the surface has been cleaned, it has to be rinsed with fresh water and blotted dry to avoid any water stains or spots on the surface.
Cleaning the Perspex with gasoline, ammonia, acetone, or carbon tetrachloride can cause cracks in the surface and leave it with a frosted appearance.
Storing The Acrylic:
Acrylic sheets need to be stored in places with temperatures less than 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Storing it in front of direct sunlight might cause it to melt, expand, and reform.
How To Repair Acrylic Sheets?
Acrylic sheets can be easily repaired if they have been scratched, have small cracks or haziness. Microfiber cloth along with car polish, automobile wax, or plastic polish can be used to buff out and remove the scratches. There are chances that it might still be hazy after polishing the surface. In that case, sanding it carefully with acrylic and then applying more abrasive polish can help cover up the scratches and the small cracks.
Harsh environments or overexposure can cause major cracks in the acrylic. An easy way to repair the small cracks is to drill holes on both sides of the crack and fill the cracks with a silicone sealant. Let it dry first and use more if it is required. It would help restore the original integrity of the surface.
Anti-static Plastic Vs Anti-static Sprays:
Anti-static sprays are the alternative to an anti-static plastic surface. The surface is coated with anti-static sprays to remove the static. While some people like to purchase anti-static plastic as it is, others have to keep up with the maintenance of static plastic.
Anti-static plastic is used for several purposes, including food manufacturing, production, instruments, shields, keypads, windows, covers, and more. These products can be made according to the needs of the consumers by reducing the weight, and making changes to the material as the user wants. The products produced can be used to meet the specific niche needs or for regular everyday use.
Since antistatic plastic is used in food manufacturing and packaging, it has to meet certain criteria that have been approved by FDA. That is an easy example of how anti-static plastic can be made according to the needs of the consumers and meets the needs of everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
Can Paper Towels Help Clean The Acrylic Surfaces?
Cleaning the acrylic surfaces with paper towels is never suggested since it can build up charge on the surfaces and also produces the risk of scratching the surfaces.
What If I Don’t Have Antistatic Spray Or Cleaner Available?
If you don’t have an antistatic spray or an antistatic cleaner available, then you can use a damp cloth to clean the surfaces. Using a dry cloth would build up the charges on the surface the same way as rubbing your shoes on the carpet would create charge in you. This would, in turn, attract more dust on the surface.
How Often Should I Clean The Perspex Surfaces?
It is better to clean your Perspex exposed surfaces every month or so. It would clean the surface by giving it a fresh look and also reduce the risks of any static buildup.
Why Should I Go For Perspex Rather Than Glass?
Glasses are easy to clean but they have a lot of disadvantages as compared to the Perspex. They are heavier and harder to carry, their optical properties are often less than Perspex, easier to use and cheaper than glasses.
Conclusion:
Taking out the static from your Perspex will help you clean it better and not let it attract a lot of dust either. There are different ways to do it and different kinds of materials that can be used for it. As soon as you are done cleaning your Perspex and removing the static, you can put it all back for display to give the shinny new look.