Size availability
Monolithic sheets are available up to 8.4 m by 3 m upttp 368 mm thick. Acrylic panels are often chemically bonded to achieve even larger dimensions. A panel recently installed in Valencia, Spain is 16.8 m long, by 5 m tall, 330 mm thick and weighs nearly 35 tons.

Acrylic panels can be safely formed into many shapes
Using a very large radius, one can design a gentle floor to ceiling meandering wall of water. Designers have used tighter radii and sweep angles over 180° to create spectacular transparent underwater tunnels. Shapes and sizes are nearly limitless.

Acrylic can be used structurally to take edge support, where glass cannot
This is the feature that allows the acrylic to be used as a tunnel section, where the thrust from the water pushing the panel down into the concrete is absorbed by the acrylic panel. The feature can also be used to in designs where adjacent panels can support one another. This structural use has allowed customers to save money and gain view by eliminating unsightly mullions.

Phenomenal clarity at any thickness
Ultimately, it is the transparency and lack of color that is coveted most about using acrylic for large aquarium viewing panels. As clear or clearer than the water, the acrylic does not distort the color of the exhibit, especially critical for colorful coral reef tanks. Also, with a refractive index close to that of water, the acrylic panel virtually disappears. Looking at an exhibit through acrylic, it is not possible to determine the thickness of the panel.


Acrylic panels - engineers prefer the safety of the material, architects and designers like the possibilities, owners like the durability and end use affect, and the public reaps the benefits of a great experience.