Need plastics help

Hello,

The material on its own has poor UV resistance according to various sites (see for example:

trile-copolymer.html . You may know the material has some relation to ABS and PS.

mentions that it yellows faster then PS. So it depends on the additives whether the material you want to use can be used outdoor. Best is to contact your (potential) supplier.

With kind regards,

Wim PA3DJS

without abc, PM will reach me very likely.

For others who might view this thread in the future...

After much research: If you want a clear plastic for longterm outdoor use, UV rated that won't yellow, crack, craze, deform, etc... your choices are:

1) Acrylic 2) Polycarbonate

Acrylic is generally cheaper than polycarbonate, if you just consider raw material costs, and not the method of manufacturing your widget (injection molding, machineing, casting, etc...)

Hello MPM,

As far as I know standard Acrylic (PMMA, brand name Perspex) has excellent UV resistance. Polycarbonate (PC, brand name Lexan) needs additives or special coatings to have good UV resistance, otherwise it yellows (also under for example HID lamps). Of course impact strength of PC is factors better then standard PMMA.

With kind regards,

Wim PA3DJS

Us left-pondians call it "plexiglass." ;-)

But maybe we shouldn't. Plexiglas is a trademarked name. Like Xerox, though, it may now be in the public domain.

I support Wim's reference to it as Acrylic.

Cheers, John

Yeah, and also Kleenex, Windex, Drano, and Variac. ;-)

Cheers! Rich