R E D C O™ A C R Y L I C
C A R E & M A I N T E N A N C E
This brief gives advice for:
- Storage
- Marking on Masking
- Removing Masking
- Caring for Redco Acrylic Sheet
- Additional Information
Storage
Skids and cases of Redco Acrylic sheet are shipped with polyethylene film overwrap which protects the sheet from dirt and moisture. The overwrap should be left intact during storage to minimize warpage. Sheets should be stored vertically or in special racks where the sheets can lean at an angle of approximately 10º. These angled racks should have plywood panels, which give full support to the material.
If Redco Acrylic sheets are stored horizontally, they must not be allowed to sag. Care must be taken to prevent chips or dirt from becoming lodged between the sheets as the weight of the material can force these chips through the protective masking and damage the sheets. If various sizes are stacked horizontally, the larger sheets should be at the bottom to avoid unsupported overhang.
Redco Acrylic sheet should not be stored near heat sources, as heat tends to soften and deform acrylic sheet. Do not store sheets near spray painting booths or expose them to other solvent vapors which.
Marking on Masking
Redco Acrylic sheet is manufactured with a masking on both surfaces to protect the sheet from scratching during storage and handling.
Both latex paper and polyethylene film maskings are available
Paper masking can be marked with almost any writing tool including pencils, ballpoint pens, and felt tip pens. Marking on polyethylene masking may be done with grease pencils and certain felt tip markers.
Removing Masking
The sheet masking should be left in place during most fabrication operations to protect the sheet surface. The masking may be removed for intricate detail work on the sheet if necessary. Certain heat sources used in line bending and thermoforming operations may also require removal of the masking.
Unmasked sheet should be stored in the original shipping cartons. Avoid handling unmasked sheet unnecessarily.
You can remove the paper masking with a cardboard tube by rolling the masking around it. If the adhesive has hardened, moistening it with aliphatic naphtha, hexane or kerosene will help to soften it. Do not use gasoline or sharp-edged objects such as razor blades. Any oily film left behind by solvents should be removed immediately by washing.
CARING FOR REDCO ACRYLIC SHEET
Washing
Wash Redco Acrylic sheet with a solution of mild soap or detergent and lukewarm water. Use a clean soft cloth, applying only light pressure. Rinse with clean water and dry by blotting with a damp cloth or chamois.
Grease, oil, or tar may be removed with a good grade of hexane, aliphatic naphtha, or kerosene.
DO NOT USE: Window cleaning sprays, kitchen scouring compounds or solvents such as acetone, gasoline, benzene, alcohol, carbon tetrachloride, or lacquer thinner. These can scratch the sheet’s surface and/or weaken the sheet causing small surface cracks called, “crazing.”
Dusting
Dust with a soft, damp cloth or chamois. Dry or gritty cloths may cause surface scratches and create a static electric charge on the surface
Polishing
Protect Redco Acrylic sheet and maintain its surface gloss by occasional polishing with a good plastic cleaner and polish. Apply a thin, even coat with a soft clean cloth and polish lightly with cotton flannel. Then wipe with a damp cloth to help eliminate electrostatic charges that can attract dust particles.
Neutralizing Static Electricity
A static electrical charge can develop on Redco Acrylic sheet during handling and processing.
When the paper or film masking is stripped off the acrylic sheet, a static charge is created on the sheet surface. Static electricity attracts dust, chips, etc. floating in the air or on nearby work surfaces and holds these contaminants tightly to the surface. A compressed air gun will remove some of this surface dirt, but much of it continues to cling to the sheet. Because the sheet must be dirt-free before bending, painting, or thermoforming operations, a separate step is required.
To temporarily eliminate the electrical charge on all plastic surfaces, ionizing air guns can be used. These guns effectively neutralize static charges that hold dirt to the surface. By using ionized air to clean Redco Acrylic sheet after the masking has been removed, the sheet can be directly heated, painted, or otherwise processed. The appearance of painted and/or silk-screened sheet is greatly improved by the elimination of static charges.
Several anti-static cleaners for plastics are also available which will reduce static electricity and dust attraction. Wiping with a soft damp cloth or chamois is all that is necessary to keep ACRYLITE sheet dust-free between applications of these cleaners.
Removing Scratches
Fine scratches can be removed by hand polishing. Apply a plastic scratch remover to a soft flannel pad and rub. When the scratches have disappeared, remove all residue and polish. For deeper scratches, first sand lightly with a 400-grit “wet or dry” sandpaper, using plenty of water and rinsing the sandpaper frequently. Follow by buffing with a clean muslin wheel and a good polishing compound. For the highest gloss, use a clean-up wheel made of soft cotton or flannel sections and on which no compound is used. An electric drill with a buffing wheel is ideal.
Contact us for information on available scratch removal kits.
ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Fire Precautions
Redco Acrylic sheet is a combustible thermoplastic. Precautions should be taken to protect this material from flames and high heat sources. Redco Acrylic sheet usually burns rapidly to completion if not extinguished. The products of combustion, if sufficient air is present, are carbon dioxide and water. However, in many fires sufficient air will not be available and toxic carbon monoxide will be formed, as it will when other common combustible materials are burned. We urge good judgment in the use of this versatile material and recommend that building codes be followed carefully to assure it is used properly.
Compatibility
Like other plastic materials, Redco Acrylic sheet is subject to crazing, cracking, or discoloration if brought into contact with incompatible materials. These materials may include cleaners, polishes, adhesives, sealants, gasketing or packaging materials, cutting emulsions, etc.