Acrylic Thickness

[Angelphish]

I recently came across a 6'x4'x1" piece of acrylic from a bank for free, and I also found a couple pieces of 8'x3'x7/8" acrylic on cl, so I was considering building an 8'x5'x3' acrylic plywood hybrid tank. My first question is, is an acrylic/plywood "hybird" possible? I was thinking the front and back would be acrylic, as well as one side, and the bottom and the other side would be plywood, with acrylic supports on top. My second question is, would 7/8" acrylic be thick enough for a tank of that height?

 

[Phantom_Storm]

That's a lot of water. I would shoot for a shorter depth but it may be possible with the right bracing. I would personally feel more comfortable with thicker glass at that depth. I am sure others with more experience with acrylic can chime in with greater insight.

 

[Angelphish]

That's a lot of water. I would shoot for a shorter depth but it may be possible with the right bracing. I would personally feel more comfortable with thicker glass at that depth. I am sure others with more experience with acrylic can chime in with greater insight.

That would probably be more ideal, but the acrylic is just what I have at hand.

 

[Phantom_Storm]

That would probably be more ideal, but the acrylic is just what I have at hand.

I understand. If you decide to proceed just make sure you overdo it on bracing and do an extended water test somewhere you don't mind a leak springing. What will you be using to waterproof your tank?

 

[esoxlucius]

Just curious, where abouts in the bank was this sheet from? If it was from a display type thing out the front of the cashier bit then i'd say it was indeed acrylic. However, if it was part of the protective panelling to protect cashiers from would be robbers then the chances are it won't be acrylic, it'll be bullet proof polycarbonate, or at least an acrylic, polycarbonate laminate. It's pretty much bog standard issue material now to use in banks.

Polycarbonate and acrylic have several different properties which may or may not affect your build.

 

[Angelphish]

Just curious, where abouts in the bank was this sheet from? If it was from a display type thing out the front of the cashier bit then i'd say it was indeed acrylic. However, if it was part of the protective panelling to protect cashiers from would be robbers then the chances are it won't be acrylic, it'll be bullet proof polycarbonate, or at least an acrylic, polycarbonate laminate. It's pretty much bog standard issue material now to use in banks.

Polycarbonate and acrylic have several different properties which may or may not affect your build.

I'm not sure. I know it isn't a laminate though.

Are there any physical properties I can use to tell the difference?

 

[Angelphish]

I understand. If you decide to proceed just make sure you overdo it on bracing and do an extended water test somewhere you don't mind a leak springing. What will you be using to waterproof your tank?

I haven't thought that much through actually. That was partially why I came here.

 

[CarpCharacin]

Angelphish how have you been?

 

[esoxlucius]

I'm not sure. I know it isn't a laminate though.

Are there any physical properties I can use to tell the difference?

Unfortunately clear acrylic and polycarbonate look pretty much the same. I'm in the plastics recycling industry and due to the tons and tons of scrap we receive on a daily basis, including sheet polycarbonate and acrylic, sometimes mixed within a skip, it is important to be able to identify different types of plastics and quick. We have infra red spectrometers to analyse the ones we're not sure of but by and large the best method that I use out in the yard when skips turn up is to burn a piece, just a corner of a piece with a cigarette lighter tells me exactly what it is.

This is the test that truly gives the game away because they burn totally different.

Acrylic will burn with a faint flame. When you take the lighter away the flame will self extinguish and the surface of the burnt area will bubble. The smell is very sweet.

Polycarbonate on the other hand, the flame will flicker. It too will self extinguish when you take the lighter away and the smell is acrid. Also you will see a black crust appear where the plastic was burning.

You don't need to go mad with the lighter, just a tiny corner area will suffice.

 

[Angelphish]

Unfortunately clear acrylic and polycarbonate look pretty much the same. I'm in the plastics recycling industry and due to the tons and tons of scrap we receive on a daily basis, including sheet polycarbonate and acrylic, sometimes mixed within a skip, it is important to be able to identify different types of plastics and quick. We have infra red spectrometers to analyse the ones we're not sure of but by and large the best method that I use out in the yard when skips turn up is to burn a piece, just a corner of a piece with a cigarette lighter tells me exactly what it is.

This is the test that truly gives the game away because they burn totally different.

Acrylic will burn with a faint flame. When you take the lighter away the flame will self extinguish and the surface of the burnt area will bubble. The smell is very sweet.

Polycarbonate on the other hand, the flame will flicker. It too will self extinguish when you take the lighter away and the smell is acrid. Also you will see a black crust appear where the plastic was burning.

You don't need to go mad with the lighter, just a tiny corner area will suffice.

Thank you. Based on that, I think it's acrylic. There was crackling, but the flame was constant, and there were bubbles.


Does anyone know if bonding a sheet of plywood to a sheet of acrylic is possible? I was planning to have the front, back, and (probably) right side of the tank be acrylic, and the bottom and left side be plywood.