Prisms

Although prisms are commonly known as light reflecting and refracting glass pieces, a prism technically constitutes any three-dimensional shape with two faces of the same size and shape and parallelogram sides. There are a bevy of uses for prisms, though the use of light reflecting and refracting prisms relate almost exclusively to optical concerns. In a general sense, prisms are involved in various fields, including scientific experiments, photography and architecture.

Glass Prisms

Glass Prism, Equilateral

GPRISM25

GPRISM25 Face Length

3329-01 25 25

3329-02 25 50

3329-03 25 75

3329-04 25 100

3329-05 25 150

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Glass Prism, Hollow

LC1020

5cm each side

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Acrylic Prisms

Acrylic is a useful, clear plastic that resembles glass, but has properties that make it superior to glass in many ways. Common brands of high-grade acrylic include Polycast, Lucite and Plexiglass.

There are two basic types of acrylic: extruded and cell cast. Extruded or "continuous cast" acrylic is made by a less expensive process, is softer, can scratch easier and may contain impurities. Cell cast acrylic is a higher quality acrylic and U.S. domestic cell cast is a good choice for applications that require the best. Imported cell cast acrylic is often manufactured to lesser standards.

Acrylic is used to make various products, such as shower doors, bath enclosures, windows and skylights. It is chosen over glass for many reasons. It is many times stronger than glass, making it much more impact resistant and therefore safer. Falling against an acrylic shower door will not likely break it. Baseballs that crash through glass windows will, in most cases, bounce off acrylic windows. Acrylic also insulates better than glass, potentially saving on heating bills.

Another great advantage of acrylic is that it is only half as heavy as glass. This makes working with acrylic much easier. It can also be sawed, whereas glass must be scored.

Adding to this favorable array of properties, a transparency rate of 93% makes acrylic the clearest material known. Very thick glass will have a green tint, while acrylic remains clear.

A unique property of plastic is its ability to be shaped. Bow-front aquariums are beautiful examples of acrylic's wonderful properties. There are also no seams in acrylic structures, as chemical welding at the molecular level actually "melts" seams into one piece of solid material. Seams that are welded and polished are invisible.

For all of its advantages, there are two disadvantages of acrylic: it is more expensive than glass, and if exposed to a direct flame it will melt and eventually burn.

Acrylic Prism, Equilateral

APRISM25

APRISM25 Face Length

3329-01 25 25

3329-02 25 50

3329-03 25 75

3329-04 25 100

3329-06 25 150

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Glass Prism, Acrylic

RAPRISM

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Acrylic Prism, Hollow

LC1022