Summary for etch into lucite Discussion
etch into lucite/plexiglass was the core question: Lucy Barker wanted a clean way to put text 2–3 mm into fluorescent perspex for a public art project, ideally with an acid-resist screen-print style process instead of messy engraving or drilling. Freeman Newton replied that a solvent such as methyl ethyl ketone will attack perspex, but it tends to dissolve the polymer into a viscous goo and leave a tacky surface, so it is unlikely to give the crisp effect desired. He suggested persevering with engraving, preferably using a CNC milling machine, because a machined edge would look neater and might preserve the light-catching effect better than solvent etching. He also warned that solvent treatment could reduce the internal reflection that makes fluorescent perspex glow. A later note in the thread shifts to sourcing fluorescent perspex in Ireland, with an editor mentioning distributors listed by Lucite-Perspex.
On my current project at college, I am putting text into public places. One of the ideas I had was to use clear, fluorescent perspex as the edges of it kind of ‘light up’ – this sounds a bit weird, but if you’ve seen this color of perspex you would know what I mean! Anyway, I was wondering if there was some sort of way of etching maybe 2 or 3mm into the surface using some sort of acid? I have tried engraving and drilling, but this is very untidy. I was hoping to use a screen printing kind of method in a similar way to etching onto copper where black ink forms the barrier and acid etches through the bare parts. Is this possible? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Lucy Barker
Student – Leeds, Yorkshire, United Kingdom
2004
A. One solvent for perspex is
methyl ethyl ketone ⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil link]
, but as with most polymer/solvent reactions, the polymer will dissolve and form an increasingly viscous goo and leave a tacky surface underneath it. I would suggest you persevere with the engraving, but perhaps try a CNC milling machine. Not only will you then get engineering experience, but also machine programming! I have never done what you want to do, but I suspect if you use the solvent approach you may lose the effect due to internal reflection. In any case, a machined edge will give you a much better effect and look much neater.
Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
A. Lucy,
You may not know it, but acrylics are very corrosion resistant materials INDEED … and I doubt that in a million years you’ll find an acid that will deep etch into it without any problems. Yes, nitric (full strength) will slowly attack it but SLOWLY.
May I suggest you go to the Gurus … namely I.C.I. … who might have more useful suggestions than mine. After all, they invented Perspex. The other thing is to go to any local acrylic fabricators…. but you’ve probably already done this…. and see if they can have some ideas.
Of course solvents will attack it …some, like the mega aromatic hydrocarbons … but again it’s a SLOW process and the delineation would be lousy as, unlike acids hitting a circuit board, they will ‘soften’ in all directions.
Have you thought of heat? A ‘branding iron’ so to speak … but that will displace the sides, hence also nbg. Anyhow, you’d have to ‘polish’ off the displaced areas.
P.S. You spelt color wrongly, it should surely be COLOUR in the UK or was it the fin.com’s (stupid) spell check?
Freeman Newton [deceased]
R.I.P. old friend (It is our sad duty to
advise that Freeman passed away 4/21/12)
2004
Ed. note: That’s MISTER fin.com’s (stupid) spell check to you, Freeman.
I am currently doing a project (I’m in Metal design) and I’m wanting to use fluorescent perspex however I’m having great difficulty sourcing some. No companies in Ireland make it and I can’t find any that are willing to supply it even off cuts. If you could let me know of somebody who could send me some by way of small sheet or off cuts Please let me know!
Aoife Greene
– Beaulieu Cross, Drogheda, Co.Louth, Ireland
2004
—-
Ed. note: The following page from Lucite-Perspex shows four distributors in Ireland:
https://www.lucitesolutions.com/contactus.cfm?pageMode=partners-country&ptc=3&cid=104
If that doesn’t work out, and you want to try making your own fluorescent tinted clear castings, you could try
Transparent Dyes
[affil link]
by Environmental Technology
I want to know if Tetrahydrofuran (THF) can be stored in a perspex container. i.e., will THF eat Perspex? You see, I want to conduct an experiment with THF and I want to see the reaction process and I don’t want to use Glass vessels.
Mohamed Iqbal Pallipurath
– Kharagpur, W. Bengal, India
2006