Extruded Acrylic Sheet IM
Grade
ISO 7823-2
IM = impact-modified (high-impact) extruded acrylic
Pick the acrylate-rubber impact-modified grade for machine covers and guards that are drilled and bolted; impact toughness rises 3–5×, but tensile drops to 50 MPa at 40 % elongation.
Values for the IM condition
Other Extruded Acrylic Sheet grades and fills
Extruded Acrylic Sheet is listed in 6 conditions; see the grade overview at Extruded Acrylic Sheet.
Compare all 6 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IMThis page Impact-modified (high-impact) extruded acrylic | Pick the acrylate-rubber impact-modified grade for machine covers and guards that are drilled and bolted; impact toughness rises 3–5×, but tensile drops to 50 MPa at 40 % elongation. | 46 | 50 | 40 | 60 HRM |
Flame-retardant extruded acrylic | Use the flame-retardant grade where UL 94 V-0 or DIN 4102 B1 must be met in rail vehicles, building interiors and luminaires; tensile falls to 58 MPa and service temperature to 68 °C. | 56 | 58 | 3.5 | 89 Shore D |
Antistatic / static-dissipative extruded acrylic | Use for electronics cleanroom windows, component trays and dust covers that need permanent static dissipation at 10^9-10^11 ohm surface resistance, with tensile strength held at 64 MPa. | 62 | 64 | 4 | 88 Shore D |
Light-diffusing / opal white extruded sheet | Choose the opal white sheet with diffusing particles for LED panel lights and evenly lit boxes; select the specific grade to set light transmission between 30 % and 75 %. | 64 | 66 | 4 | 90 Shore D |
Transparent tinted / opaque coloured extruded sheet | Pick masterbatch-coloured tinted or opaque stock for signage, lamp covers and decorative panels, including infrared-transmitting windows such as remote-control lenses. | 64 | 66 | 4.2 | 90 Shore D |
Abrasion-resistant hard-coated extruded sheet | Use the siloxane hard-coated version for machine windows, touch panels and frequently cleaned display faces needing scratch and chemical resistance; machining (55) and forming (45) get harder. | 66 | 68 | 4 | 91 Shore D |
What is Extruded Acrylic Sheet IM?
Extruded Acrylic Sheet IM is Extruded Acrylic Sheet in the IM grade — pick the acrylate-rubber impact-modified grade for machine covers and guards that are drilled and bolted; impact toughness rises 3–5×, but tensile drops to 50 MPa at 40 % elongation. Extruded Acrylic Sheet IM has a yield strength of 46 MPa (6.67 ksi) and a tensile strength of 50 MPa (7.25 ksi) — weaker than 55% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 40% and the elastic modulus is 2.2 GPa (0.319 Msi). Extruded Acrylic Sheet IM has a density of 1.17 g/cm³ (0.0423 lb/in³), lighter than 54% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 100°C (212 °F).
Advantages
- Good UV / weathering resistance — 92/100, better than 93% of polymer grades
- Forms and bends easily — 90/100, better than 91% of polymer grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 80/100, better than 89% of polymer grades
- Low, predictable mold shrinkage — 0.4%, better than 82% of polymer grades
- Easy to machine — 75/100, better than 78% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Low fracture toughness — 1.1 MPa·√m (1 ksi·√in), worse than 82% of polymer grades
- Limited service temperature — 72°C (162 °F), worse than 75% of polymer grades
Extruded Acrylic Sheet IM properties
Typical room-temperature values for Extruded Acrylic Sheet IM; 14 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Extruded Acrylic Sheet reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical6
Extruded Acrylic Sheet IM has a density of 1.17 g/cm³ (0.0423 lb/in³), lighter than 54% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 100°C (212 °F).
Mechanical17
Extruded Acrylic Sheet IM has a yield strength of 46 MPa (6.67 ksi) and a tensile strength of 50 MPa (7.25 ksi) — weaker than 55% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 40% and the elastic modulus is 2.2 GPa (0.319 Msi).
Thermal11
Extruded Acrylic Sheet IM is rated for continuous service to 72°C (162 °F). It conducts heat at 0.19 W/m·K (0.11 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 68% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 72 µm/m·K (40 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
Extruded Acrylic Sheet IM is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 25 kV/mm (635 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹³ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (80/100), worse than 52% of polymer grades. UV resistance is excellent.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Extruded Acrylic Sheet IM takes about 105 MJ of energy and emits 6.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 54% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 3%.
Manufacturability8
Extruded Acrylic Sheet IM's machinability is very good (75/100, better than 78% of polymer grades); weldability very good (70/100); formability excellent (90/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Extruded Acrylic Sheet IM
Is Extruded Acrylic Sheet easy to machine?
Use sharp single-flute or O-flute cutters at high spindle speed and low feed with air cooling to prevent melting and re-welding of chips; drill with 0° rake acrylic-point drills to stop grab and edge break-out. Anneal at 80 °C for 1–2 h per mm of thickness after machining to release stress.
Can Extruded Acrylic Sheet be welded?
Solvent cementing with dichloromethane/chloroform-type cements or acrylic adhesives (UV-cure or two-part) is the first choice; extruded sheet cements quickly but crazes more easily than cast. Hot-gas and ultrasonic welding are possible, but do not load a fusion-welded joint immediately.
Can Extruded Acrylic Sheet be formed, bent or molded?
Thermoforming window is 150–175 °C after pre-drying 2–4 h at 70–80 °C. Extruded sheet reproduces mould detail well and forms at lower temperature than cast, but shrinkage is anisotropic — longitudinal (extrusion-direction) shrinkage is clearly greater than transverse.
What surface finishes work on Extruded Acrylic Sheet?
Edges can be flame-polished (fast, but it raises internal stress and cracking risk, so anneal afterwards) or sanded and buffed with polishing compound. The sheet accepts screen printing, UV printing, vacuum aluminising and film lamination; do not wipe repeatedly with ammonia- or alcohol-based cleaners.
Extruded Acrylic Sheet chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| methyl/ethyl acrylate comonomercomonomer, improves thermal stability and extrudability | 1 – 8 | 4 |
| lubricant / processing aidstearate-type release and lubricating agent | 0.05 – 0.5 | 0.2 |
| UV absorber0.2–0.5% in UV-stabilized grades | 0 – 0.5 | 0.1 |
| methyl methacrylate (MMA)backbone monomer unit | ≥ 92 (balance) | — |
Extruded Acrylic Sheet IM — frequently asked
What is Extruded Acrylic Sheet IM used for?
Extruded Acrylic Sheet IM is typically used for thermoformed light covers, retail fixtures, vacuum-formed parts and glazing panels. In short: lowest-cost acrylic sheet; tightest thickness tolerance; easiest thermoforming acrylic.
What is the yield strength of Extruded Acrylic Sheet IM?
Extruded Acrylic Sheet IM has a typical yield strength of 46 MPa (6.67 ksi) and a tensile strength of 50 MPa (7.25 ksi) — weaker than 55% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is Extruded Acrylic Sheet IM easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (75/100, better than 78% of polymer grades). Use sharp single-flute or O-flute cutters at high spindle speed and low feed with air cooling to prevent melting and re-welding of chips; drill with 0° rake acrylic-point drills to stop grab and edge break-out. Anneal at 80 °C for 1–2 h per mm of thickness after machining to release stress.
Can Extruded Acrylic Sheet IM be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (70/100). Solvent cementing with dichloromethane/chloroform-type cements or acrylic adhesives (UV-cure or two-part) is the first choice; extruded sheet cements quickly but crazes more easily than cast. Hot-gas and ultrasonic welding are possible, but do not load a fusion-welded joint immediately.
What surface finishes work on Extruded Acrylic Sheet IM?
Edges can be flame-polished (fast, but it raises internal stress and cracking risk, so anneal afterwards) or sanded and buffed with polishing compound. The sheet accepts screen printing, UV printing, vacuum aluminising and film lamination; do not wipe repeatedly with ammonia- or alcohol-based cleaners.
Can Extruded Acrylic Sheet IM be formed, bent or molded?
Thermoforming window is 150–175 °C after pre-drying 2–4 h at 70–80 °C. Extruded sheet reproduces mould detail well and forms at lower temperature than cast, but shrinkage is anisotropic — longitudinal (extrusion-direction) shrinkage is clearly greater than transverse.
What is the maximum service temperature of Extruded Acrylic Sheet IM?
Extruded Acrylic Sheet IM is rated for continuous use to about 72°C (162 °F), and briefly to 90°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- ASTM D4802 Standard Specification for Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) Acrylic Plastic Sheet — ASTM International (2021)
- ISO 7823-2 Plastics — Poly(methyl methacrylate) sheets — Part 2: Extruded sheets — ISO (2003)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol.2: Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
- Extruded acrylic (XT) sheet technical datasheets — Röhm / Trinseo / Polycasa / (CHIMEI) (2023)
- CAMPUS plastics — PMMA extrusion grades (ISO 527/178/75/306 data) — CWFG / CAMPUS consortium (2024)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.