3A Composites GmbH

Acrylic glass is the perfect choice when it comes to looks because of its high transparency, resistance and UV stability. CRYLUX™ is one of the optically strongest plastic sheets in this group. Manufactured from cast polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), it is versatile and can be used for company signs, shop fittings, individual items of furniture and in the building industry. The product provides perfect transparency for displays and lively, intense colours for visual communication. It also encourages the attractive expression of form because it is easy to work with using most techniques.
The assortment of colours goes from gloss grade (CRYLUX™ Argenta) through glowing fluorescent colours (CRYLUX™ Neon) to matte, non-reflective surfaces (CRYLUX™ Design). A whole palette of colours in opaque, matte, transparent and translucent finishes is available. Customer-specific colour ideas can be manufactured on request.
There are also product variants suited to the requirements of particular applications: CRYLUX™ Beauté with enhanced resistance to chemicals, CRYLUX™ Anti-Bacteria with antimicrobial and fungicidal protection and CRYLUX™ Lumina, Optima and Vision, which are specially formulated to be used with LED lighting or as projection walls.

PERSPEX® acrylic sheet is a most useful material in the workshop because it can be used to make precision engineering components for both domestic and industrial products. Typical applications include signs, glazing, safety screening, roof-lighting, furniture, lighting fittings and a great many industrial parts. Perspex® is manufactured in two forms; cast and extruded sheet.

PERSPEX® cast sheet is available in a wide range of thicknesses and colours, including blocks, colours and surface patterns.

Some differences exist between PERSPEX® cast and PERSPEX® XT (extruded) properties arising from
their molecular structure and this can be reflected in their fabrication behaviour. These differences are highlighted where appropriate in the handbook. Otherwise, fabrication behaviour may be assumed to be very similar for both products.

Outstanding Properties of PERSPEX®

• Exceptional light transmission with virtually no colour bias - even in thick blocks.
• Excellent resistance to outdoor weathering.
• A high gloss, hard surface
• High tensile strength and rigidity
• Lightweight
• Good resistance to impact
• Easy to clean
• Easily thermoformable
• Excellent environmental credentials

CRYLON® are large-format acrylic glass sheets with brilliant clarity and very good optical characteristics and outstanding colour reproduction which comes in various transparencies. CRYLON® can be shaped and is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

• Very good weather and age resistance
• Resistant to foodstuffs and free from toxic substances or heavy metals
• Available in anti-reflective, opal, colored and opaque finish
• Easily recyclable
• The impact resistant CRYLON® 610, CRYLON® 620 and CRYLON® 630 variants are notable for their outstanding mechanical characteristics and excellent impact toughness.
• Manufactured in compliance with ISO 7823-2

AKRYLON® are large-format acrylic glass sheets with brilliant clarity and very good optical characteristics which come in various transparencies. AKRYLON® can be shaped and is extremely suited to both indoor and outdoor use.

• Good optical characteristics
• Brilliant transparency with excellent colour
• Qualitatively high-value surfaces
• Very good weather and age resistance
• High surface stability and resistance
• Can be used for contact with foodstuffs
• Good recyclability

POLYCASA® PS represents extruded crystal polystyrene sheets, offering solutions for many indoor applications. Thanks to the extrusion process numerous colours and designs are available apart from the transparent, non-reflective and opal-white standard product.

• Good optical characteristics and gloss surface
• High translucency (min 88% wavelength 500 nm, thickness 3 mm)
• Affordable price
• Low density (1,05 ρ)
• Good resistance to chemicals and high stability

POLYCASA® HIPS is a rubber modified polystyrene sheet that has improved impact strength and is easy to mould and cut to size. The product is available with either a matt finish on both sides or a matt finish on one side, and glossy surface on the other.

• Outstanding surface quality
• Excellent impact resistance at low temperatures
• Suitable for hot line bending
• Level surface, with optional matte or gloss structure
• Outstanding printability
• Excellent electrical insulating properties
• Suitable for use with food products (excluding UV version)
• Fulfils fire safety requirement UL Standard 94HB

Also available:

• Sheets for special applications, e.g.
• UV-treated versions: improved colour stability and impact resistance
• Environmental stress cracking resistant (ESCR) versions
• Freon-resistant versions for the refrigeration industry
• Corona-treated versions (process for increasing surface tension)

IMPEX® stands for a wide range of large-format, virtually unbreakable extruded polycarbonate sheets with very good optical and mechanical properties. The product range comprises a variety of different surfaces, variants and structures. The high quality sheets have a very good weathering resistance as well as an excellent impact strength. IMPEX® provides solutions for a large number of indoor and outdoor applications.

• Excellent optical properties
• Easy to fabricate
• Exceptional performance at both low and high temperatures (from -40 °C to +135 °C)
• Virtually unbreakable in normal use
• IMPEX® UVP with a both-sides co-extruded UV protective layer, especially suitable for outdoor

IMPEX® HC
UV-protected polycarbonate sheets with a one- or both sides abrasion resistant coating, which makes them especially suitable for flat indoor and outdoor applications. Thanks to this special hard coating, the sheets are less sensitive against scratches and have a higher resistance to many chemicals and solvents. Typically used for machine glazing, safety glazing, safety screens and partition walls – wherever the classical properties of a polycarbonate sheet is required in combination with additional abrasion- and chemical resistance. In terms of processing, IMPEX® HC can be used mostly in the same way as IMPEX® in its standard version. Due to the special surface coating, however, IMPEX® HC is not suitable for hot and cold bending.

IMPEX® MULTIWALL is a range of polycarbonate sheets - as clear as glass but stronger and more resistant to impact.

• In fact IMPEX® MULTIWALL is virtually unbreakable.
• Light, strong, weatherproof, and insulating against heat and cold, this material has a long working life and carries a 10 year warranty against yellowing.
• So, it's no wonder IMPEX® MULTIWALL is seen as an attractive sheet for use as roofing, cladding and glazing in construction, agriculture, industry and DIY.

ABS is an engineering thermoplastic material with excellent impact strength used in areas where toughness and durability are of key importance.  Produced in an infinite range of colours, finishes and textures. Excellent processability with a wide thermoforming temperature window. There are a very wide range of grades available to suit a multitude of applications.

• Superior impact strength
• Toughness
• Easy processability
• Improved chemical resistance
• Infinite colours
• Complete range of matt levels
• Low MOQ’s

PMMA/ABS is a multi-layer, combination of PMMA co-extruded on high impact ABS. The benefits of this construction include an excellent A-face finish in a range of matt levels. Properties included within the range include superior scratch resistance, improved chemical resistance and excellent UV stability. These grades are all offered in an extremely wide variety of colours including metallics, pearlescent colours and a “FX” range. Easy processing during thermoforming and fabrication in all grades except the furniture products.

• High impact strength
• Extremely good UV stability
• Improved scratch resistance
• Good chemical resistance
• Easy processability
• Infinite colours and effects
• Wide array of textures and finishes

HIPS is a versatile, economic, solid thermoplastic characterised by its ease of processing in flat sheet and thermoforming applications. It is available in an infinite range of opaque colours including special effects such as pearlescent, metallic and FX and can be extruded in gloss or matt, the latter in a variety of surface textures.

• Economical
• Versatile
• Easy processing
• Infinite colours
• Small MOQ’s
• Easily recycled

Talc-filled PP is an extremely high impact alternative to traditional styrenic engineering plastics, such as ABS & PC/ABS. The specific formula used by Athlone Extrusions is designed to offer similar vacuum-forming characteristics to styrenic materials, with fast cycle times, a relatively wide moulding temperature window and low post mould shrinkage rates in comparison to alternative polyolefins. It is often possible to use existing tooling designed for styrenic materials to mould these grades.

• Extremely high impact strength
• Low temperature high impact strength
• Excellent chemical resistance
• Supremely ductile
• UV stable (upon request)
• Easy processing
• Infinite number of colours
• Durable
• High heat deflection temperature
• Lower density providing improved economy

LUMEX® are flawlessly extruded APET and PET-G thermoplastic polyester sheets. They stand out particularly in the transparent plastics sector because they are fire rated "difficult – to – ignite".
LUMEX® A is ideally suited to flat and arched applications. The sheets have very good printability with UV-resistant inks, are very flame-retardant and are suitable for use in the food industry. LUMEX® A is also extremely impact resistant even at sub-zero temperatures and shows good weather-resistance in the variant with UV protection.
LUMEX® G is the best choice for thermoforming and hot line bending applications. The sheets have the fire rating "low flammability", are suitable for use in the food industry and show good impact resistance. They are also outstandingly printable using UV-resistant inks and easy to work with.

HIPEX® sheets are flawlessly extruded APET and PETG thermoplastic polyester sheets. They stand out particularly in the transparent plastics sector because they are fire rated "difficult-to-ignite".
HIPEX® A is ideally suited to flat and arched applications. The sheets have very good printability with UV-resistant inks, are very flame-retardant and are suitable for use in the food industry. HIPEX® A is also extremely impact resistant even at sub-zero temperatures and shows good weather-resistance in the variant with UV protection.
HIPEX® G is the best choice for thermoforming and hot line bending applications. The sheets are suitable for use in the food industry and show good impact resistance. The Prismatic, Haircell and Impala structures are further options.

FOREX® is synonymous for fine, white rigid PVC foam sheets. The FOREX® product range offers a wide choice of light, high-quality sheet materials for indoor and outdoor use in a wide-ranging portfolio. Individuality is also welcome: Special colours, special packaging and even customer- specified production are all part of the FOREX® service.

• High quality rigid foam sheets – made in Switzerland
• Excellent surface characteristics
• Our cooperation with leading dealers guarantees the widespread availability of FOREX® products throughout Europe
• The highest quality of the product and the maintenance of appropriate quality standards are constants which we offer our customers long-term.
• Simple mechanical processing with standard tools for working with wood and plastic
• FOREX® products are free from dangerous substances and fulfil the requirements of all RoHS / WEEE- directives and the EU chemical ordinance (REACH)

FOAMALITE® PVC sheets represent a reliable selection of plastic sheets for a variety of applications in the field of visual communication. In structural applications such as substrate printing or used as creative, coloured or co-extruded robust sheets, FOAMALITE® does what it promises.

• High-quality rigid foam sheets with excellent surface characteristics
• Large selection of sheet sizes and thicknesses, special sizes available on request.
• Simple mechanical processing with standard tools for working with wood and plastic
• FOAMALITE® products are free from dangerous substances and fulfil the requirements of all RoHS / WEEE- directives and the EU chemical ordinance (REACH)

SMART-X® is the distinctive and unique lightweight foam board for sophisticated applications in the field of visual communication. SMART-X® is a lightweight, all-plastic sheet material with surfaces of UV and weather resistant solid polystyrene (HIPS) and a core of expanded polystyrene that is completely moisture-resistant. These characteristics make it the world's only lightweight foam board for external applications without any significant change in colour for a period of up to two years.

• Very good weather-resistance – UV stability and moisture-resistance; no warping
• High degree of stiffness for its extremely light weight
• Fine, even surface structure
• Outstanding printability for direct-to-substrate digital printing
• Fresh print colour
• Also available in large format up to 2 metres wide
• Heat resistance of -10 °C to +70 °C
• SMART-X® is made from 100 % polystyrene (no adhesive between core and cover layers)
• Very good recycling properties thanks to homogeneous material composite - 100 % recyclable
• Over 95 % of the production waste resulting from the manufacture of SMART-X® is collected locally on the production site and sent for reprocessing