All you need to know about versatile Lexan sheet?

Plastics have been used for ages for a multitude of purposes. Plastic is a highly versatile material due to its flexibility and other features.

There are different varieties of plastics, and each of these has different features, here we will be talking about Lexan. It is highly versatile and finds many applications.

You can consider this sheet to be replacing glass in the times to come. It is a trademarked term for polycarbonate sheeting, one of the most used plastics globally.

General Electrical introduced Lexan to the world in 1960, and Bayer began its production under the names of Merlon and Makrolon in 1958.

What makes Lexan so popular?

It is widely used, and this is because of the major properties that it has. Owing to this, It finds many applications. To put it in simple words, Lexan is a polycarbonate resin thermoplastic.

1. Due to its superior impact resistance properties, these find a multitude of applications.
2. In many ways, It is better than acrylic; the impact resistance property of it makes it more versatile than acrylic.
3. In fact, it is 200 times stronger than glass. Thus making Lexan be flexible.
4. Also, you can easily drill out through it without creating any marks or cracks on the sheet.
5. In addition to impact resistance properties, it is also known to have a high-temperature bearing capacity. It can withstand up to 240 degrees Fahrenheit.
6. This material is also highly resistant to acid or hard chemicals, thus making it suitable to be used under corrosive conditions. And it also has lower flammability.
7. Another feature that makes Lexan so popular is that it can be easily compressed into sheets, and this multiplies its strength, thus making it more suitable for preparing bulletproof products. Thus adding to the wider usability of this sheet. 

Downside of Lexan

Although this sheet has many properties and useful features, there is a downside to it. Scratches develop very easily on Lexan, and cost factors also add to the downside of the sheet.

Moreover, you cannot get the same transparency as that of acrylic. If this sheet is continuously exposed to UV lights, then this sheet can develop yellowish tint on t.

Since it is highly flexible, and so it can easily get dented. Cleaning these sheets can sometimes be difficult because it can easily develop scratches. 

Applications of Lexan

It is very much similar to the acrylic material and hence has similar application areas. There are plenty of applications of Lexan, these include:

• Race Car windows
• Windshields
• Reusable drinking bottles
• Phone cases
• Computers
• Sports helmets
• Bulletproof glasses
• Blu-ray discs
• CDs and DVDs 

Lexan vs. Acrylic

Lexan and acrylic are used for almost the same purpose if you have noticed carefully. If you are emphasizing aesthetic appeal, then you should consider using acrylic. However, when we are focusing on strength and durability, then Lexan is the preferred choice.

Acrylic is shiners and stiffer, and it also easily develops cracks, but in the case of Lexan sheet, you will not experience any such downsides. So in case someone wants a more durable surface they must opt for the Lexan sheets.

Nevertheless, despite having some downfall, this sheet is gaining popularity in its application. When it comes to ground reality, then at many places, people still prefer using the acrylic sheet compared to Lexan.

One of the major reasons for this is the limited transparency of this sheet and its cost. It is costly when compared to acrylic, and hence when it comes to mass production while ensuring cost-effectiveness, acrylic is used.