Can’t Touch This – Museum Display Cases – Acrylic or Glass (4)

March 26, 2012 by museumexhibition 0 Comments

So its time to answer the question you have wanted to know since (part 3) Invisible display cases or may be you have been trawling the internet in the mean time for the definitive answer to “what is the best materials to make museum display showcases from”?

Well the answer is both; it just depends on your own individual set of circumstances that will determine what’s right for your museum, exhibition or display project.

For example if you have a travelling exhibition, then you will have a completely different shopping list of requirements to a permanent museum or gallery installation.

Possibly we should make a basic pro and cons table for each that way you can see my point, however this actually can still make it a little ambiguous. For example weight might be an advantage for one project but a disadvantage to another?

Glass Advantages

Longevity
Security
Structural strength
Flexibility
Weight
Non- Reflective (optional at additional cost)
Accessibility
Durability (doesn’t scratch or mar easily)
Unlimited Options
Unlimited design possibilities
Conservation Options
Lighting Options

Glass Disadvantages

Weight – specialist equipment required
Production / Installation Costs
Clarity
Colour
Breakages (especially in transit)
Long lead times
Manufacturing time
Transport costs
Installation time
Storage (when not in service)

Obviously I can’t list them all but it gives you some of the most useful comparisons and now for acrylic.

Acrylic Advantages

Low cost
Impact strength
Flexibility
Approx 50% lighter than glass
Non- Reflective (optional at additional cost)
Clarity
Short Lead times
Less Breakages than glass
Safer handling than glass
Short Manufacturing time
Installation time
Storage (when not in service demountable)
No specialist equipment required
Reduced Transport costs
Unlimited Options / Shapes
Unlimited design possibilities

Acrylic Disadvantages

Reduced Weight – (can make for security issues)
Security
Reduced security options
Options for interiors
Lighting options
Scratching / marring
Static build-up problems
Higher maintenance
Shorter life expectancy
Joint deterioration
Physical size possible in one piece

Of course these vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and also various companies might have one of their display cases which won’t have these issues but in the main they are a good standard to compare the two materials by.

Now you will see that acrylic provides more advantages than glass if you look at the list but some times the small disadvantages of acrylic really make them a none-starter for some projects.

For me I have always seen glass as the permanent museum solution if you have a large enough budget and the acrylic variants as the perfect temporary or travelling exhibition.

You might think differently but again it just comes down to your own projects requirements and can the budget support your wish list?

Next time we will be looking at a different subject not sure what exactly but something to do with museum design, so if you have any suggestions leave us a comment and we will see what we can do?

E-L.T