Our different plastics have different surfaces. Learn about the differences so that your laser-cut plastic stays looking good with use.
All of our plastics can be cleaned with water, all-purpose cleaner or glass cleaner. Alcohol-based cleaners (such as isopropyl) are also safe to use.
Note: Never use acetone to clean plastics, as it will dissolve them!
Glossy
Glossy steals the show so is particularly intended for aesthetic applications. But beware; glossy plastics are prone to scratching. Care should be taken when cleaning: use a soft microfiber cloth. You can usually repair any scratches with polish. Glossy plastics always come with a protective film so they arrive at your door perfectly.
Glossy plastics at Snijlab:
- Acrylic clear
- Acrylic glossy
- Acrylic transparent colored
- Acrylic opal
- Acrylic fluor
- Extruded acrylic
- Precision acrylic
- Mirror acrylic
- PETG (polyester/vivac)
- Acetate film
matte
A matte surface has microscopic bumps that cause light to refract in all directions. matte gives a calm image because you don't see reflections in it. Moreover, it is somewhat more robust than glossy because grease stains and small scratches are much less noticeable. Therefore, a matte surface often stays looking nice longer. However, deep scratches can be made on it, so caution is advised. You can clean matte plastics with a damp cloth with detergent or glass cleaner. Our matte acrylics come with protective film so they arrive at your door perfectly.
Matt plastics at Snijlab:
Structure
A textured surface has small bumps on purpose, small but just visible. It often feels a little smoother because you make less contact with the surface. A textured looks neat and is even less prone to scratches and stains than a matte surface. Think about a car dashboard, which is also often textured so that it stays looking good even if you don't clean it for a change. So textured is ideal for surfaces that are often touched and used.
Structured plastics at Snijlab:
Technical
Sometimes appearance is of less importance. For example, for mechanical and structural application. This surface has some glossy, but is already supplied by the factory without protective film. As a result, it may contain small scratches.
Engineering plastics at Snijlab:
Whatever plastic you are having laser cut, now you know which surface to choose for your next project.
