What Works

The beauty of Lucite is its ability to preserve real-world artifacts inside a solid, crystal-clear block. But Lucite casting involves high heat and pressure — and not every material can handle it.

At Polaris, we help clients navigate these technical constraints while still achieving their creative vision. Here’s a practical guide to what works (and what doesn’t) when embedding objects in Lucite.

✅ Works Well in Lucite Embedments

Coins and Metal Objects
Thin metal inserts like coins, badges, pins, or laser-cut logos typically embed beautifully. We avoid thick or highly polished metals to reduce the risk of cracking or reflective voids.

Printed Film
We often use high-resolution digital prints on clear film embedded just below the surface of the Lucite — usually 1/8" to 1/4" in. This creates the illusion of floating text or imagery without surface printing.

Pharmaceutical Vials and Medical Items
These are some of the most common embedments for our life sciences clients, often to mark the development of an Investigative New Drug or FDA Approval. As long as the medical vials are sealed and properly positioned, they cast cleanly.

Oil Drops and Liquids (Encased)
Oil drops for energy-sector awards are popular — often to mark a First Strike or another milestone. We embed them inside small glass or acrylic capsules before casting them in Lucite to prevent leakage or reaction.

Paper and Synthetic Documents
Most paper will darken or discolor in embedment. That’s why when we print on media that looks like paper, it’s actually white film. Some paper will work, but we have to test it. Along those same lines, some inks will hold, while others will fade or dissolve. This is why you come to us, the experts, to determine what works and what doesn’t.

⚠️ Use With Caution

Thick Metals or Polished Finishes
Heavy metals expand unevenly and can create stress cracks. Mirror-polished surfaces may cause air pockets. We may roughen surfaces or use adhesion coatings to improve results.

Plastics
Most plastics (like PVC or ABS) will melt, deform, or react with the monomer. We generally recommend substituting high-temp-stable plastics.

Painted or Lacquered Items
Paints may blister or discolor. Epoxy coatings and heat-resistant finishes fare better, but testing is essential.

❌ Generally Not Recommended

Rubber and Silicone
These tend to leach oils or discolor during the high-temperature cure. Even silicone may not bond well and can leave ghost lines.

Fresh Organic Material
Leaves, flowers, food items, and anything with moisture will brown, rot, or create bubbles. If you want to include something organic, it must be thoroughly dried and treated. Most organic material will not embed well.

Electronics
Gadgets, batteries, LCDs, or LED displays will almost always warp or fail. A good workaround is to embed shells or replicas instead. Alternatively, we can make a sandwich-style piece that displays an object that would not survive embedment — we’ll make a recess for the object and cover it with a clear panel. We’re experts and finding solutions like this.

Glass
Most glass isn’t compatible due to internal stress and expansion during curing. Only certain borosilicate forms can survive the pressure — medical vials, for example, or custom-made glass droplets we can fill with liquid.

The Polaris Difference: We Test and Advise

We don’t guess. When in doubt, we’ll test your item in a sample cast before full production. If it’s not viable, we’ll help you simulate the effect or find a safer alternative.

Some clients choose to laser-etch a 3D image, use a photograph, or embed a printed mock-up in place of the real thing. In other cases, we’ve designed acrylic recesses or magnetic enclosures to showcase delicate items without risking exposure to the casting process.

Have an Idea? Let's Talk It Through

There’s almost always a way to bring your vision to life — you just need a partner who knows the chemistry and the craftsmanship. That’s us.