Karl,
Way back in the 60's when I was making plexiglass windscreens for Spitfires and
other race cars, we would bend them after heating in a washtub of
boiling water. This method does not expose the material to direct heat and
might work on Lexan without causing the air bubbles.
Joe
Karl Vacek wrote:
>
> Regarding UV stabilized Lexan - just in case you want to curve the wind
> deflector.
>
> First off, this was 1971 and the material may not be the same today. However,
> I ran into a problem when I was given a nice sheet of Lexan to make a
> windshield for my EP Healey race car. I had previously made my windshields
> from Plexiglass and had curved them by heating a burner on the electric stove
> and gently warming the Plexi just above the burner till it became soft enough
> to curve as desired. Worked great.
>
> When I tried that trick with the Lexan, the windshield developed hundreds of
> tiny bubbles within the plastic. Given that it was strictly to pass tech and
> I looked over it rather than through it anyway,it was merely a cosmetic issue,
> but for a look-through windshield (or rear wind deflector) it would've been
> scrap.
>
> I was told at that time that the UV stabilization in Lexan consists of water
> bound into the matrix of the plastic. When heated, the water turns to steam
> and makes bubbles. I have no idea if the explanation is correct, but the
> bubbles appeared every time I tried to bend the stuff.
>
> Karl Vacek
> '66 TR4A
> '68 TR250
> '64 Amphicar
> '16 Ford Model T
> '46 Piper J-3 Cub
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