Glazing comparison

Description

Any optically transparent thermoplastic sheet that may be used as a replacement for window glass. In general, the polymers are stronger than glass and block more UV light. Most plastic brands have numerous options to provide optimum strength, impact resistance, high transparency. These options are produced with various additives or or coatings. The current commonly used polymer types include acrylics, polycarbonates, and polyesters.

Some more recent developments in transparent polymers include the following materials (not included in the tables below). For more information see Omnexus list of transparent polymers

• Liquid silicone rubber (LSR): a thermoset elastomer with high clarity
• Cyclic Olefin Copolymers (COC): has the best properties of polyethylene and polypropylene
• Ionomer resin: an ethylene polymer that high clarity, scratch resistance and chemical resistance
• Fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP): chemically inert with high transmission of UV, visible and infrared radiation
• Styrene methyl methacrylate (SMMA): a high clarity, glossy copolymer with excellent processing and mechanical properties
• Styrene-acrylonitrile resin (SAN): a clear rigid polymer with better impact strength
• Polystyrene (general purpose - GPPS): a crystal clear polymer that is inexpensive and easy to process; commonly used for plastic cups.

Polymer	Advantages/Strengths	Limitations	Applications	Brand names
Acrylic (PMMA)	Optically clear; lightweight; good dimensional stability; available in many sizes and shapes; forming does not affect clarity; resistant to UV light and weathering; good moldability; not recyclable (symbol #7)	Shelves can sag/crack under weight; can be broken, scratched, shattered; not resistant to aromatic HCs	Display cases, light fixtures, transparent shelves for lightweight materials, indoor and outdoor signage; UV grades available	Acrylite; Altuglas; Duraplex; Lucite; Optium; Optix; Plexiglas; PMMA Brands
Polycarbonate (PC)	High strength and stiffness; lightweight; easy to machine; impact resistant; heat resistant to 135C; flame retardant; abrasion resistant; can accept printing temps to 260-300C; not recyclable (symbol #7)	Attacked by hydrocarbons, oil and bases; hot water immersion reduces physical properties; UV stabilizers needed to minimize UV degradation has poor stress cracking performance	Bullet proof windows and doors, windshields; headlamps; safety helmets; , visors in sporting gear, signage; UV grade signs for outdoor use	Lexan; Tuffak (formerly Makrolon); Palsun; Sunlite; Trizod; PC brands
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)	Low gas permeability; strong; lightweight; doesn’t break or fracture; safe for foods and beverages; excellent resistance to alcohols, oils, and acids; most often used for 3D printing; fire resistant; recyclable (symbol #1)	Low impact strength, low moldability; easily degrades in UV light	Films and sheets; fibers; food and beverage containers; geotextiles, electronics	Mylar; Melinex; PET Brands
Polyethylene (LDPE)	Very lightweight; flexible; good transparency; high impact strength; resistant to acids and bases; good weathering resistance; very low water absorption; special recycle (symbol #4)	Low strength, stiffness; susceptible to stress cracking; high gas permeability; highly flammable; cannot be welded using high frequency	Films, bags, bottles, tubing, laminates, extrusion molding	Volara; Tyvek; Tupperware; Plastazote; Correx; Polythene; PE brands
Polyethylene (HDPE)	Excellent chemical resistance; high tensile strength; semi-flexible; good weathering resistance, low water absorption; excellent moisture barrier; recyclable (symbol #2)	Translucent to opaque; susceptible to stress cracking; high mold shrinkage; cannot be welded using high frequency	Hollow plastic products, pipes; crates; ice boxes, trash cans, wiring and cables ; ropes and nets	Volara; Tyvek; Tupperware; Plastazote; Correx; Polythene; Sanalite; PE brands
Transparent Polypropylene (PP)	Inexpensive but difficult to obtain transparent sheets unless clarifying additives are used; good stiffness and barrier properties; durable; resistant to stress cracking; recyclable (symbol #5)	Highly flammable; sensitive to UV and microbes; poor resistance to impact and scratches; poor paint adhesion; adversely affected by contact with metals	Packaging, storage boxes; textiles, pipes, automobiles;	PP Brands
Rigid PVC (Clear), unplasticized	Lightweight; 'water clear' clarity; optional high-impact and UV resistance with additives; formable; abrasion resistant; high fire rating; not recyclable (symbol #3)	Not easy to recycle; only flexible when plasticized; poor heat stability; releases chlorine with degradation; difficult to melt	Window frames, house siding; pipes, laminates car seate backs credit cards, traffic signs	Geon; Dural; Komacel; Komatex; Forex; sintra; PALIGHT; PVC brands
Transparent ABS (MABS)	High rigidity and dimensional stability; good weldability; high impact and abrasion resistance; good insulating properties; often used in 3d printing; special recycle (symbol #9)	Poor weathering resistant; burns easily; poor solvent resistance; low continuous service temperature; often blended with other polymers	Usually reinforced with fibers or minerals or blended with other polymers; used in autos, appliances, household goods, and electronics	Abson; Cycolac; Primeco; ABS brands

Physical and Chemical Properties

Polymer	Melt Temperature C	Extrusion Temperature C	Density g/ml	RI	Visible light transmission (%)	Haze (%)	Shrinkage %	Water absorption %	Hardness Shore D	Flex. Mod. Gpa (Bending stiffness)	Tensile strength Mpa	Izod impact J/m	Coeffiient of Linear Thermal Expansion X105/C	Fire Resistance (LOI) %	Link
Acrylic (PMMA)	200-250	180-250	1.17	1.49	80-93	0.1-2.6	0.2-0.8	0.29-0.42	90-99	2.5-3.5	38-70	10-25	5-9	19-20	PMMA Properties
Polycarbonate (PC)	230-260	260-300	1.2	1.585	86-91	0.2-2.7	0.7-1.0	0.1-0.2	90-95	2.2-2.5	55-77	80-650	7-9	24-25	PC Properties
Polyester Terephalate (PET)	280-310	279-290	1.3-1.4	1.575	70-92	0.20-5.1	0.2-3.0	0.1-0.2	85-95	2.8-3.5	45-70	140	6-8	23-25	PET Properties
Polyethylene (LDPE)	105-115		0.92-0.94	1.476	4.4-94	1.3-27.5	2-4	0.005-0.015	40-50	0.245-0.335	10-20	no break	10-20	17-18	PE Properties
Polyethylene (HDPE)	120-140		0.94-0.97		80	6	1.5-4	0.005-0.01	60-70	0.75-1.575	25-45	20-220	6-11	17-18	PE Properties
Tr.Polyprop (PP)	160-165	200-300	0.9	1.347	85-90	11	1-3	0.01-0.1	70-83	1.2-1.6	20-40	27-107	6-17	17-18	PP Properties
Rigid PVC (Clear), unplasticized	170-210		1.35-1.5	1.381	80-87	2.5	0.1-0.6	0.03-0.4	65-90	2.1-3.5	35-60	20-110	5-18	40-45	PVC Properties
Tr. ABS (MABS)	210-270	210-240	1.02-1.21	1.52	86	3	0.7-1.6	0.5-1.8	100	1.6-2.4	30-48	20-160	7-15	19	ABS Properties

Resources and Citations

• Omnexus Materials Selection: List of Transparent Polymers