[Shop-talk] Source of special plexiglass

[John Miller]

On 4/25/2016 5:57 AM, Pat Horne wrote:
>   Check into polycarbonate. It's tough stuff. McMaster-Carr has it.
> Don't know how thick you need.

Plexiglas is the original Rohm & Haas (IIRC) trademark for what is 
generically called acrylic.

Polycarbonate is the generic term for what was originally sold by GE as 
Lexan.

'Vandal proof' clear plastic is usually polycarbonate.  It is tougher 
and far more shatter-resistant (acrylic cracks quite easily particularly 
in < 1/4in thicknesses) though it can still be scratched and will melt 
if enough heat is applied.

Acrylic is commonly found in all kinds of colors and opacities. 
Polycarbonate is commonly found only as clear.  If you look at the edge 
of a sheet of clear acrylic it looks clear; the edge of a sheet of 
polycarbonate will look black.   Polycarbonate filters/absorbs different 
parts of the light spectrum than acrylic.

John.