Masked sheets of Vical acrylic sheet are covered on both sides with a tough Kraft paper coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive that does not attack the surface of the acrylic. The masking paper helps prevent accidental scratching during normal handling and fabrication operations, and should be kept in place for most cutting and machining procedures. If the sheet is thermoformed, however, or if it is installed outdoors, the masking paper must be removed from both sides. The masking paper will protect the acrylic sheet during normal handling, but sheets should not be slid against one another or across rough or dirty surfaces.

Masked sheets of Vical acrylic are best stored on edge in "A" frame storage racks. These racks give full support to the sheets yet permit easy removal of individual sheets from any rack.

If masked sheets must be stored flat, care should be taken to avoid trapping chips and dirt between the sheets. Such chips and dirt may scratch or press into the surface of the material. Piles of Vical sheet should not be over 18 inches high. 

It is good practice to store sheets of similar formulation, color, and thickness together.

Storage rooms should be well ventilated. Air should circulate freely and should be relatively moist and cool. The temperature should not exceed 125 degrees F. Storing Vical acrylic sheet in a hot, dry environment may eventually cause the adhesive used on the masking paper to dry out, making it difficult to remove from the Vical Acrylic. Excessive moisture may cause the paper to deteriorate and reduce its effectiveness for protecting the Vical Acrylic.

Masked Vical acrylic sheet should never be stored outdoors. Exposure to sunlight and weathering longer than a few days makes removal of masking paper very difficult. If it is absolutely necessary to store Vical acrylic outdoors, the masking paper should be removed and the sheets should be covered with 3M Company #344 Nomar black protective tape. This tape gives satisfactory protection for three to six months outdoors without becoming difficult to remove.

The masking paper used on Vical acrylic is not water repellent. If masked Vical acrylic is soaked with water, a white residue may be left on the sheet when the masking paper is removed. To avoid this, masked sheet should be stored where it cannot come into contact with water. If a residue is deposited on the Vical Acrylic, it may be removed by wiping the surface gently with a clean, soft, demo cloth and drying with a soft flannel cloth.

Acrylic Sheet General Information