Can lexan look like glass?? Looking to get Harwood back hatch glass but people tell me it gets yellow and scratches plus does not look like glass? Any comments?

 

If I'm not mistaken,most motorcycle helmet visors are made from lexan,and they don't turn yellow.

 

I've heard that there is a limited life span to lexan in an outside environment ... like 10 years ... thats why all of us with lexan t-tops have spider cracks & such.

 

i put lexan windows in my drag car, they look EXACTLY like glass, everyone i showed them couldnt tell untill they tapped it, agian this is for a race only car, you can NOT use your windshield wipers ever, also the lexan scratches VERY easily and onces it scratches, thats it, new window time. also after a while they will start to fog up real bad, i've been told they usally last 1-5 years depending on how much you drive it and take care of it. one sheet to make both my front and back windows cost about 90$ and i saved about 50-60 lbs, not important on a street car

 

Brand new, lexan would look almost like glass, except for the ripples from extrusion, & the fact most of the clear has a light gray tint rather than a green tint, most people would never notice.

The lexan is VERY soft, and will in-fact become hazy within a short amount of time. (1-5 years) or less depending on how they are treated.

The plastic WILL begin to break down from UV rays in approx 10 years, that causes those little cracks called "crazing" and lexan can turn that yellowish cast over some time.

Another downside to lexan is after it has aged, it becomes more brittle. And is not as protective as it used to be. I would figure when you start seeing those little cracks it will become more "breakable"

The GREAT thing about lexan is it is Unbreakable, when it is new. You can tear it, but you can take a screw(without drilling it) and screw it right to something.

I work with Lexan & plexiglas every day, since I make Windshields for airplanes.

just a note: Lexan is a trade name of GE (yes General Electric). The material is Polycarbonate.

Plexiglas too is a trade name, it is now owned by Autofina, it once was owned by Rhom & Haas. The material name is Acrylic.

See, you can learn alot on this board...

John

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G O D BLESS AMERICA

http://www.3rdgenformula.com
87 Formula 5.1 TPI Auto Modified (Yellow/Black)

87 Formula TPI (5 Speed) Yellow/Gray STOCK

14.8sec 1967 Buick Riviera
1990 Buick Riviera (driver)
83 Camaro
83 T/A

 

Thanks guys. That was informative.

 

yeah plexiglass sucks, i tryed to make a windshield out of that first but would shatter from anything, but lexan is some strong ****! mine is only 1/8" thick but you cant break it! twist it, bent it in half, smash it with a hammer, nothing

 

Plexiglass is VERY strong material, BUT it is NOTCH sencitive & will crack anywhere the edge is not smooth. You should NOT use a sabre saw or any kind of recpricating saw to cut it.

But were talking about lexan...

 

I just perchased a new lexan rear window for my 87.It actually has a scratch resistant surface to it (may be something new there doing) but im very happy with it.I had it tinted to 5% and installed it.Cant even tell its not original glass,other than its to smooth and clean to be original.Its a street car that gets out on weekends and is garage kept so i think mine will last quite a long time.