explain the difference from polycarbonate acrylic plastic

[g mccool]

Can someone explain the difference from polycarbonate & acrylic plastic? I have a need for some clear plastic & need to choose the correct one. Thanks GERALD

 

[skyharborcowboy]

What are you going to use it for? You need to be more specific with your question!

I would say that if you are going to use it in a non-moving vehicle application either would work. If you are going to use it for a moving vehicle (Cab Window etc.) only use Lexan (Polycarbonate)!

I used to manufacture Lexan Arm Guards for sprint cars and Midget race cars.

 

[Anonymous-0]

G, I work for (used to be GE) in plastics.
The acrylic will not take the abuse that polycarb will. acrylic is just a cheap plastic for (soft) aplications.
I suggest getting lexan marguard (coated) it has the coating to help with scracthes and weathering.
There are other companies that make ploy sheet and probably as good as ours but dont know.
Home depot did carry lexan and probably still do

 

[Davis In SC]

OK, Polycarbonate is much tougher than acrylic, but PC is much easier to scratch, and cannot be exposed to any oils or other hydrocarbons. Just an oily fingerprint will cause PC to stress crack.

Acrylic is much harder, and does not scratch easily. But on the flip side, it WILL shatter on impact.

 

[skyharborcowboy]

(quoted from post at 05:16:11 01/08/08) OK, Polycarbonate is much tougher than acrylic, but PC is much easier to scratch, and cannot be exposed to any oils or other hydrocarbons. Just an oily fingerprint will cause PC to stress crack.

Acrylic is much harder, and does not scratch easily. But on the flip side, it WILL shatter on impact.

I dont know about the fingerprint deal as my arm guards were used on sprint cars and they held up to all kinds of oils etc. I will say that I did use GE product only but things like Acetone etc will absolutely destroy Lexan! Like I said, we need to know your application to determine which is best.

I had a few that cracked on my products but most of them broke due to improper installation. Only use a UNIBIT to drill holes in them. A regular bit will leave stress risers etc. and lead to cracking. I had another come apart 1/16th inch thick when 1/2 a brake rotor smashed into it at 100+mph. I was scared to death the driver got injured really bad but when I got to the pits he thanked me like crazy! He thought he was going to get killed by the rotor coming at him but the Lexan absorbed the blow and saved at a minimum a broken arm. He said that his normal fiberglass one would have just let the rotor through will little loss of energy and would have probably put him in the hospital!

Lexan is TOUGH stuff!

Joe

PS. You can flame polish Lexan by using a propane torch and lightly heating up the lexan. Practice on a piece you dont need until you get the technique down. Just scuff up some scrap pieces and place the flame near the lexan without actually touching it and keep the flame moving. You will see the scuff marks disappear. If you see it bubble you got the lexan too hot!

 

[MarkB_MI]

Acrylic is commonly known as Plexiglas. Same stuff as used in aircraft windshields, canopies and windows.

Polycarbonate is also known as Lexan. Used in motorcycle helmets, most motorcycle windshields and safety glasses.

Polycarbonate is much tougher than acrylic, but it is nearly impossible to remove scratches from polycarbonate.

With regards to polycarbonate's chemical resistance, I had a crack develop in one of the lenses of my PC eyeglasses. When I was getting new glasses, the optician looked at my old glasses and asked "did you use Loctite on your screws?". It turns out that one drop of loctite on PC will cause it to crack.

You can get sheets of acrylic that have a layer of some sort of plastic sandwiched in the middle. This stuff doesn't break as easy as regular acrylic, but it's much cheaper than Lexan.

 

[Bus Driver]

Many glass cleaners contain ammonia. Ammonia will cause many plastics to be come cloudly. So choose plastic cleaners carefully.