[bolger] Windows/Lexan/UV/Scratches & Sledgehammers
Fellow Bolgerites,
We recently purchased more marine "glazing" than I care to think
about....here's the result of our pre-purchase research.
I'm too onery to type in all the data, but if you do some basic
comparisons, based on either equal thickness or equal weight, both
acrylic (Plexiglas) and glass (pick any commonly used type) take very,
VERY distant second and third place to polycarbonate (Lexan) in the
categories of strength and impact resistance. Yes, yes, polycarbonate
takes third in $/ft2.....every form of refuge has its price!
G.E. offers several options to standard (9034 type) Lexan which provide
UV protection and/or scratch resistance. Their MR10 is one variant.
Many of those large "downtown" buildings with huge "plate glass"
windows are actually MR10. These windows demonstrate the scratch
resistance of MR10 as they are regularily cleaned by commerical window
cleaning services using the same equipment and techniques as used on
true glass.
We only intend to buy/install our marine "windows" once, so we shelled
out the extra bucks for both the UV and Scratch Resistance
coatings.....final cost was almost exactly double that of standard,
unprotected, garden variety polycarbonate.
Browse the General Electric Plastics website for detailed technical
data on polycarbonate and acrylic.....plus in-depth comparisons of both
with various types of glass.
If number don't do it for ya, get 12" X 12" samples of 1/2" glass (try
several types....this is fun!), 1/2" acrylic, and 1/2" polycarbonate.
Get the biggest sledge hammer you can lift and flail away !!!!
Polycarbonate was the only sample I didn't have to sweep up....that
stuff defies description-----and sledgehammers!
By the way, check with your plastics dealer on the type of sealant you
use....many "silicone" sealants react unfavorably with polycarbonate.
"Here's looking at you kid" -- through a pile of clear polycarbonate,
John R. McDaniel
We recently purchased more marine "glazing" than I care to think
about....here's the result of our pre-purchase research.
I'm too onery to type in all the data, but if you do some basic
comparisons, based on either equal thickness or equal weight, both
acrylic (Plexiglas) and glass (pick any commonly used type) take very,
VERY distant second and third place to polycarbonate (Lexan) in the
categories of strength and impact resistance. Yes, yes, polycarbonate
takes third in $/ft2.....every form of refuge has its price!
G.E. offers several options to standard (9034 type) Lexan which provide
UV protection and/or scratch resistance. Their MR10 is one variant.
Many of those large "downtown" buildings with huge "plate glass"
windows are actually MR10. These windows demonstrate the scratch
resistance of MR10 as they are regularily cleaned by commerical window
cleaning services using the same equipment and techniques as used on
true glass.
We only intend to buy/install our marine "windows" once, so we shelled
out the extra bucks for both the UV and Scratch Resistance
coatings.....final cost was almost exactly double that of standard,
unprotected, garden variety polycarbonate.
Browse the General Electric Plastics website for detailed technical
data on polycarbonate and acrylic.....plus in-depth comparisons of both
with various types of glass.
If number don't do it for ya, get 12" X 12" samples of 1/2" glass (try
several types....this is fun!), 1/2" acrylic, and 1/2" polycarbonate.
Get the biggest sledge hammer you can lift and flail away !!!!
Polycarbonate was the only sample I didn't have to sweep up....that
stuff defies description-----and sledgehammers!
By the way, check with your plastics dealer on the type of sealant you
use....many "silicone" sealants react unfavorably with polycarbonate.
"Here's looking at you kid" -- through a pile of clear polycarbonate,
John R. McDaniel