Question Is Optium Acrylic Really More Scratch Resistant?
- Thread starter dianne
- Start date
Yes, Optium products are more scratch-resistant than ordinary acrylic sheeting used as glazing. In any case, it's still acrylic and it can still be scratched or abraded, but it will easily withstand normal handling and proper cleaning.
Optium Acrylic and Museum Optium Acrylic both have the same Tru Vue optical coatings as AR Glass and Museum Glass. In order to receive the coatings properly, the acrylic has to be treated for abrasion-resistance. That is, the base acrylic sheeting for Optium Acrylic is FF-3-AR Acrylite, and the base acrylic sheet for Museum Optium Acrylic is OP-3-AR Acrylite.
The durability of Optium is about the same as Museum Glass, since it has the same coating, and that would be scratched first.
Optium Acrylic and Museum Optium Acrylic both have the same Tru Vue optical coatings as AR Glass and Museum Glass. In order to receive the coatings properly, the acrylic has to be treated for abrasion-resistance. That is, the base acrylic sheeting for Optium Acrylic is FF-3-AR Acrylite, and the base acrylic sheet for Museum Optium Acrylic is OP-3-AR Acrylite.
The durability of Optium is about the same as Museum Glass, since it has the same coating, and that would be scratched first.
In my experience, there's difficulty in finding anyone you can get the stuff from. My suppliers will sell a sheet that's huge, costing hundreds of dollars, uncut. But they won't cut and send a piece that's a certain size. Are there wholesalers who will?
about 3 years age the 'plastic' people(as opposed to the plastic'people') were handing out a neat little selling point 'kit' with pieces of regular AND AR in it along with a tuft of steel wool allowing you to whipout this packet, adjust the regular acrylic to a fresh/unblemished area and attack both pieces----the regular stuff, of course. always lost miserably and the AR stuf was hardlt marked.. I thought this was the greatest piece of advertising I'd every encountered!!!!!!!!! dont understand why it was abandoned.
I also dont understand why AR is so hard to find. worse yet most of the vendor's staff will insist on calling/thinking it anti-reflective NOT abrasion-resistant!!!!!!!!!!!!!make doubly sure what YOU are speaking of as they combo of habit--selling anti-reflecting and not know about abrasion-resistant--can bring you a big surprise!!!!!!!!! why, do you suppose, they didnt call it scratch-resistant(SR)???
I also dont understand why AR is so hard to find. worse yet most of the vendor's staff will insist on calling/thinking it anti-reflective NOT abrasion-resistant!!!!!!!!!!!!!make doubly sure what YOU are speaking of as they combo of habit--selling anti-reflecting and not know about abrasion-resistant--can bring you a big surprise!!!!!!!!! why, do you suppose, they didnt call it scratch-resistant(SR)???
AWG
SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
LJ stocks it - and we were able to find a supplier that would "chop" it - info at the shop, but I'll see if I can find it..
Tony
Tony
Paul N
SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
It is definitely scratch resistant. I sold it recently when framing large piece and where scratching that semi monster on the way home or during hanging might be an issue.
As as Bill Ward said, many people think the AR means Anti-Reflection, while in reality it means Anti Abrasion.
As as Bill Ward said, many people think the AR means Anti-Reflection, while in reality it means Anti Abrasion.
Baer Charlton
SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
Yes, but the scratches on Optimum are more expensive. 
Several Tru-Vue distributors will cut Optium products to size. Or, if you ask very nicely, maybe a framer on The Grumble would also send you a cut-to-size piece. Some of us actually stock the stuff.
AR in glass terminology means Anti-Reflection.
AR in acrylic terminology means Abrasion-Resistant.
Optium and Museum Optium are the only acrylic products that have both attributes -- abrasion resistant and anti-reflection. As if that were not enough, these optically coated acrylic products have less static charge than ordinary glass, half the weight, and 20 times the shatter-resistance.
Yes, it is more expensive than other glazing products. But there are times when its attributes are well worth the price, and in those cases customers buy Optium products without hesitation.
AR in glass terminology means Anti-Reflection.
AR in acrylic terminology means Abrasion-Resistant.
Optium and Museum Optium are the only acrylic products that have both attributes -- abrasion resistant and anti-reflection. As if that were not enough, these optically coated acrylic products have less static charge than ordinary glass, half the weight, and 20 times the shatter-resistance.
Yes, it is more expensive than other glazing products. But there are times when its attributes are well worth the price, and in those cases customers buy Optium products without hesitation.
TurnerAssociatesdy
CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
PGI a division of Turner Associates Inc sells this product and we do cut it to your size specifications. If you have any questions please contact Lisa at 1.800.336.3775 for pricing on this as well as other specialty acrylics.
Jeff Rodier
SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
Looks like only 10% more for Museum. Might as well go all the way. M&M Distributors lists all varieties.
preservator
SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Turner Associates, Maryland Glass and Mirror and Don Mar, Invisium Division all sell Optium in cut lites.
Hugh
Hugh
So, if I did stock this, is there a special cleaner to use on it? And secondly, does it have fumes so strong I'd feel like a butterfly trapped in a jar with a cotton ball or alcohol? To further torture my metaphors, I'm like the canary in the coal mine when it comes to fumes. Do fine cleaning Museum Glass with our regular cleaner, but back when we carried Image Perfect, I had to hold my breath to use it's cleaner. That stuff was nasty.
Optium acrylic products are a unique exception to the general rule of using glass cleaner on glass, and acrylic cleaner on acrylic. Optium has the same optical coatings as Museum Glass, so use the same glass cleaner. A microfiber cloth and non-ammonia liquid cleaner is recommended, such as Tru-Vue Premium Clean or Sparkle.
If you are concerned about fumes from cutting, score it and do not use a saw. Scoring makes no fumes or odor that I have ever detected. Sawing acrylic always produces acrid fumes from the heat generated by the high speed blade, and the airborne particulate sawdust can't be good for your lungs or eyes, either.
If you are concerned about fumes from cutting, score it and do not use a saw. Scoring makes no fumes or odor that I have ever detected. Sawing acrylic always produces acrid fumes from the heat generated by the high speed blade, and the airborne particulate sawdust can't be good for your lungs or eyes, either.