[TR] Forming plexi

[Brian Induni]

In my experience, the UV stabilized component is a coating on the exterior
of the plastic. But it's possible it could also be in the form of
impregnated sunscreen... Always best to use un coated material for this.

Brian

-----Original Message-----
From: Karl Vacek [mailto:kvacek at ameritech.net] 
Sent: Thursday, July 16, 2009 12:05 PM
To: 308gtsi at roadrunner.com; triumphs at autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [TR] Forming plexi


I've carried this nugget of possibly-bogus information for neary 40 years. 
I made a replacement windshield for my race car out of Lexan and tried to 
bend it as I had the original Plexi one.  However, I got a diffusion of tiny

bubbles throughout the plastic in the area I heated.

At the time, the glass guy who'd given me the Lexan told me that it was 
because that was UV-stabilized Lexan.  He said the UV stabilizer was just 
water and when heated it turned to steam, making the bubbles.

Truth or BS ???

Karl


> During my years in aerospace R&D I used a lot of plexi and lexan for
> prototypes, and used a heat gun (hair dryer couldn't get hot enough) to 
> make
> all sorts of smooth shapes.