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Guide to Distinguishing High-Quality Acrylic from Low-Quality Products

Friday, 08/08/2025, 15:38

Guide to Distinguishing High-Quality Acrylic from Low-Quality Products

Mica is a versatile material widely used in advertising, interior design, and decoration. However, the current market offers many types of mica with varying quality — from high-quality virgin cast mica to recycled mica and cheap products that easily yellow and scratch, affecting aesthetics and lifespan. This article guides you on how to distinguish high-quality mica from low-quality mica in a detailed and easy-to-follow way.

1. Identifying the Origin and Type of Acrylic

Virgin cast acrylic usually has higher quality, superior clarity, and durability compared to extruded acrylic or recycled acrylic.
Acrylic from Taiwan (FS, SH, Cho Chen…) offers stable quality, high transparency (~90-92%), good color retention, and strong impact resistance. Japanese acrylic also has excellent UV resistance and long-lasting color. In contrast, Chinese acrylic or unverified domestic products often yellow easily, become brittle, and lose their color quickly.

Visual Observation Criteria

A glossy, crystal-clear surface without cloudy streaks or impurities indicates high-quality acrylic. Low-quality acrylic often appears dull, uneven in color, or with faint streaks.
The color of the edges and smoothness of the cut: new, high-quality acrylic has smooth, even, transparent edges; recycled acrylic often shows a slight yellow or green tint at the edges.

Light Transmission Test
Shine white light through the acrylic sheet: if the transmitted light remains bright white with strong intensity, it is high-quality virgin acrylic. If the light appears yellowish or bluish with weak transmission, it is likely low-quality or recycled acrylic.

Burn Test
Burn a small sample: high-quality acrylic burns slowly, producing no black smoke or strong odor. Recycled or low-quality acrylic burns quickly, producing black smoke and a harsh smell.

Heat or Bonding Test

When heated, virgin acrylic does not form bubbles or deform; recycled acrylic often produces bubbles and has poor elasticity during bonding or heat welding.
Try “baking” two small acrylic pieces: high-quality acrylic separates easily after heat bonding, while low-quality acrylic may stick firmly and be hard to separate.

Thickness and Consistency Check
High-quality acrylic maintains precise and consistent thickness across the sheet. Cheap acrylic often has uneven thickness, leading to waste or affecting fabrication quality.

Certification and Label Verification
Quality acrylic sheets usually come with labels, product codes, or certifications such as ISO, UL94, or RoHS, ensuring manufacturing standards. Unverified acrylic products often lack such certifications.

Quality Mica Comparison Table

Criteria	High-Quality Mica	Low-Quality / Recycled Mica
Origin / Type	Cast acrylic, Taiwan, Japan	Extruded, China, unclear origin
Surface	Transparent, glossy, no impurities	Dull, uneven color, streaks or defects
Light Transmission	White, bright, diffused light	Yellowish or bluish light, dimmer
Burn Test	Burns slowly, low smoke and odor	Burns quickly, black smoke, unpleasant odor
Heat Test / Hot Adhesion	No bubbles, lightly sticky, easy to separate	Bubbles appear, sticky, hard to separate
Thickness & Uniformity	Accurate thickness, uniform	Incorrect thickness, uneven across the sheet
Labels & Certification	Has label, code, ISO / RoHS certificates	No label, unclear origin

Distinguishing high-quality mica from low-quality mica not only helps you avoid waste but also ensures the finished product has durability, aesthetics, and professionalism. Choose virgin cast acrylic from reputable brands—especially Taiwanese or Japanese types—with high transparency, good colorfastness, and UV resistance for outdoor use. Before purchasing, carefully check the surface, light transmission, perform a burn test, and request clear certification of origin.