*Plastic* beads?

Acrylic and resin can be used synonomously - as in something is made of an "acrylic resin" - or not.

acrylic: a glassy thermoplastic; can be cast and molded or used in coatings and adhesives [syn: acrylic resin, acrylate resin]

resin: Any of numerous physically similar polymerized synthetics or chemically modified natural resins including thermoplastic materials such as polyvinyl, polystyrene, and polyethylene and thermosetting materials such as polyesters, epoxies, and silicones that are used with fillers, stabilizers, pigments, and other components to form plastics

(definitions found on

Ain't language grand?

Val

I believe that acrylic plastic usually starts out as solid pellets which are heated for pouring, and is, therefor, more sensitive to heat. Don't leave your acrylic jewelry on the stove.

Resins start out as two liquids which are combined. Mixing the two parts together causes a chemical reaction that make the mixture harden, like epoxy glue. The thermosetting-type material is less likely to be melted or deformed by heat. And, because mixing the two parts together is a "cold" process, other materials, such as powdered marble, can be mixed in. Think those "cold-cast porcelain" figurines; they're molded from dry porcelain powder mixed with a resin. The material is considerably less subject to breakage than real, fired porcelain -- and a lot less expensive to manufacture.

Yep!

Arondelle

Thanks! This is very helpful in figuring out the difference :o)