Acrylic bath. How not to make a mistake in the choice?

During the modern repair in the bathroom, everyone tries to use only modern and practical materials in their work, as well as, if possible, update the plumbing equipment. One of the elements of modern plumbing is an acrylic bath. In this article, we will tell you what acrylic is, what types it is, what types of acrylic bathtubs are on the market today, and we will also provide photo materials for clarity.

A modern acrylic bathroom has a huge number of shapes and colors, which allows you to choose a product for every taste and color. While going to the store to select the right product, we can observe how at first glance almost the same models can have a huge difference in cost. It is this indicator that can sometimes confuse the buyer, and in pursuit of savings, you can buy the wrong product that you originally wanted. An acrylic bathroom can be made from different acrylics and using different technologies, this indicator affects its cost. Before buying the model you like, you need to understand this issue in order not to unknowingly buy a low-quality product that will not last you a long time and will soon require repair or a complete replacement.

For your information. When studying the description of the model you like, you may not come across the word "acrylic", but instead the name "polymethyl methacrylate" or the abbreviation PMMA can be used. This is the official technical name for acrylic, which is used to make plumbing fixtures. It is recommended to remember this name, since there can be many varieties of acrylic and not everyone can be used when making plastic bathtubs.

The main types of acrylic for plumbing

So, we answer the question of what an acrylic bath is made of, which arises from almost everyone who wants to purchase this plumbing. The modern composition of acrylic bathtubs, in the vast majority of cases, contains exactly sanitary acrylic. But the price of the product depends not so much on the type of acrylic, but on the manufacturing technology of the product itself. Today's production technologies divide sanitary acrylic into three main types according to the method of manufacturing products:

• block;
• extruded;
• cast.

The list is formed in sequence according to the level of popularity of products that were created using the listed technology. This conclusion was made based on numerous reviews of the owners of acrylic bathtubs.

Block products

A plastic bathtub made of block acrylic is a rather strong and wear-resistant product. Such acrylic is made by polymerization at high temperatures. Before making the desired product, first a special glass mold is created, which consists of two parts. Then the form is tightly connected and a powdered compound is poured into the gap between the glasses, which fills all the voids. After that, the form is placed in a special oven, where, under the influence of temperature, the powdered substance is fused into a single product. After holding in the furnace until complete fusion, the mold is cooled and as a result, a ready-made plastic bath is obtained, which, after some refinement, is sent for completion and sale.

extruded product

Extruded are called such acrylic baths that have a multi-layer coating. In this case, the base is created from high-strength ABS plastic, then its top layer is melted and a liquid acrylic mass is applied to it. As a result, both materials are fused together to form a single product. It should be noted that the base of the acrylic bath made of ABS plastic makes it resistant to mechanical damage and deformation. Such bathtubs are expensive and are considered elite models due to their strength and durability with proper maintenance and operation.

Cast products

A simple cast-type acrylic bathtub is the most common option, as it has a relatively low cost compared to the analogues listed above. It is worth noting that these models are also inferior to analogues in strength and durability. The production process is as simple and fast as possible. Liquid acrylic is poured onto a polished metal sheet, forming a solid sheet of the desired thickness. Then this canvas is placed under a press, which has a pre-made metal shape of the future product, and a copy of the metal sample is squeezed out of the sheet.

For your information. Cast acrylic bathtubs occupy a large part of the modern market and many negligent sellers can sell them at inflated prices, passing them off as extruded plastic. Features of cast-type acrylic baths are that they need a reinforced metal frame that will support the body in the desired position and prevent its deformation.

Varieties of acrylic bathtubs

Modern acrylic bowls can also be divided into four main types according to their geometric shape. The most common are:

• rectangular;
• corner;
• asymmetric;
• oval;

A rectangular plastic bathroom rightfully occupies a leading position, since such models occupy almost 50% of the market. This is due to the fact that more than half of the bathrooms in houses have a rectangular or square shape, into which it is easy to fit such a product. These models have a wide range of sizes, allowing you to choose a product that is most suitable for standard Soviet-style rooms.

Corner bathrooms have two sides that are in relation to each other at an even angle. Corner acrylic bath in the interior can have only three sides, one of which is made in the form of a semicircle. Such products are often installed in the built-in version and can significantly save space in small rooms.

Asymmetrical bathtubs can have three or four sides of different sizes. They are often made with rounded corners and bevels. Such an acrylic bathtub successfully complements almost any style of interior design and becomes its highlight. Among the shortcomings of this type of model, one can note the high complexity of the lining, if you decide to make the font built-in. But this issue can be solved with special decorative PVC panels or screens.

Oval bathtubs are rightfully classified by designers as a separate subcategory, since the products are smooth in shape and have practically no sharp corners. This type of font allows you to harmoniously fit it into any interior, but it is very difficult to decorate them in the built-in version.

Advantages and disadvantages of acrylic bathtubs

Like any other product, acrylic has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantages include:

• Poor tolerance to high temperatures. Real acrylic bathtubs are able to withstand temperatures up to 100 degrees without loss of strength characteristics, and the melting point of acrylic is 140 degrees and above. Models made of low-quality acrylic can begin to deform at a temperature of 70-80 degrees.
• Low mechanical resistance. The vast majority of mid-range cast acrylic models can even buckle under the weight of a large person. Also, if you accidentally drop a heavy object into the bathroom, it can lead to a split in the font. Sharp objects can scratch the surface. A font made of reinforced or extruded acrylic, as well as expensive bathtubs made of acrylic stone, can be especially durable.

It is important to remember that it is necessary to wash such a product only with special cleaning products that do not contain abrasive particles. Otherwise, you can scratch the surface and the gloss will disappear. Also, when choosing a product, pay attention to the thickness of the side. Enlighten it with an ordinary flashlight and if you see light from the back, then it is better not to buy such a product, but to look for a model with a thicker material that is not enlightened.

Of the clear advantages, the following indicators can be noted:

• a high degree of water heat retention in modern acrylic baths, but lower than in cast iron;
• the right acrylic bath with proper care and careful handling can last a very long time;
• ease of care;
• ease of installation;
• a large selection of shapes, sizes and colors.

Many people often ask the question, are acrylic bathtubs harmful? If the product is made of sanitary acrylic in compliance with the technology, then they do not bring any harm to the body. You can safely use the material presented in this article when buying an acrylic bathtub, and to consolidate the material, we suggest watching a video on the production of acrylic bathtubs.