glass windows shatter in a crash right? how do lexan windows behave?

They shatter too. But instead of little 1/4" bits like tempered automotive glass, they shatter into sharp, long shards.

That said, they can flex a lot more than glass before breaking.

[This message has been edited by ryan.hess (edited 11-30-2008).]

ya, i figured they would break, i was wondering about the shard size. Thinner lexan should just bend shouldn't it?

quote Originally posted by kawana: ya, i figured they would break, i was wondering about the shard size. Thinner lexan should just bend shouldn't it?

It'll bend...then snap...! if you score the outer surface, it'll crack at that/those spot(s). Lexan's not THAT expensive, you can buy a few sheets or varying thickness and test it out...

Lexan tends to hate UV rays, right? clouds it and weakens it... Might wanna keep that in mind.

edit: Safety glass shatters into tiny cubes...different then regular glass...

[This message has been edited by FieroRumor (edited 11-30-2008).]

what you might want to look at is not lexan but polycarbonate stronger than lexan and they make car rims out of it it is so strong

FWIW, they use a coated polycarbonate plastic for OEM motorcycle windshields. Lexan is a brand name of polycarbonate.

Theres so many types of lexan out there its not even funny. I sell and install lexan hurricane shutters that are made by GE called lexan XL-10. Its guaranteed by GE not to yellow or crack for 10 years. So far Ive had no problems with any panels, though Im only at year 4 now. We also sell polycarbonate panels, they are cheaper and actually more clear. None of the panels we sell will really "shatter" because of their pliability. They are not flat panels, they are corrugated which gives them strength. I would research different types of lexan that are available, or polycarbonate for your application.

-Joe

PS Polycarbonate is what they use for windshields in aviation.

Some of you guys have it wrong. Lexan does not shatter into little bitty shards. Sorry, but I worked with "Lexan" and other types of 'plastics' for years. Here's the straight scoop.

There are 2 major types of plastic sheeting. Acylic--and polycarbonate.
Lexan is the trade name for polycarbonate, (GE) as it was the very 1st polycarbonate, and Lexan is now what everyone calls all polycarbonate, no matter what manufactorer makes it. GE plastics made the 1st polycarbonate in the US and gave it the trade name Lexan.

Plexiglas was the original trade name for acrylic, (Rohm and Haas) and what everyone now calls plexi is any acrylic made by any of a number of manufactorers.

Acrylic will shatter easily and badly.
polycarbonate (Lexan) will not. Poly gives, bends, is moldable, can easily be machined, bored, sawed, threaded etc, without cracking or shattering.(Acrylic is far less forgiving) It is softer than acrylic, therefore scratches easier than acrylic.
Polycarbonate is more expensive than acrylic, but, it can be bent with just a little heat. On a warm day, I can bend a sheet of 4' X 4' poly, to 90 degrees and beyond without it cracking--up to a sheet thickness of 1/4". Do NOT attempt this with acrylic.

An easy way to find out if you are working with acrylic or poly, is to take a sharp knife, and attempt to whittle off a sliver from one ede of the material. If you can, without the knife skipping along, and chipping the material, it is polycarbonate.

[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 12-01-2008).]