SusanG
SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
What's "polycarbonate glazing?"
Sorry I must have missed that one on the test....
Susan
Sorry I must have missed that one on the test....
Susan
Polycarbonate Glazing
- Thread starter SusanG
- Start date
Rob Markoff
PFG, Picture Framing God
The biggest problem with Polycarbonate in Picture Framing is that it SCRATCHES EASILY
Wikipedia:
Polycarbonates are a particular group of thermoplastic polymers. They are easily worked, moulded, and thermoformed; as such, these plastics are very widely used in the modern chemical industry. Their interesting features (temperature resistance, impact resistance and optical properties) position them between commodity plastics and engineering plastics.
Polycarbonates got their name because they are polymers having functional groups linked together by carbonate groups (-O-(C=O)-O-) in a long molecular chain.
The type of polycarbonate plastic is one made from bisphenol A, in which groups from bisphenol A are linked together by carbonate groups in a polymer chain. This polycarbonate is characterized as a very durable material, and can be laminated to make bullet-proof "glass", though “bullet-resistant” would be more accurate.
Although polycarbonate has high impact-resistance, it has low scratch-resistance and so a hard coating is applied to polycarbonate eye-wear lenses. The characteristics of polycarbonate are quite like those of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA; acrylic), but polycarbonate is stronger and more expensive. This polymer is highly transparent to visible light and has better light transmission characteristics than many kinds of glass. CR-39 is a specific polycarbonate material — although it is usually referred to as CR-39 plastic — with good optical and mechanical properties, frequently used for eyeglass lenses.
Polycarbonate is becoming more common in housewares as well as laboratories and in industry, especially in applications where any of its main features—high impact resistance, temperature resistance, optical properties—are required.
Main transformation techniques for polycarbonate resins:
injection moulding into ready articles
extrusion into tubes, rods and other profiles
extrusion with calenders into sheets (0.5-15 mm) and films (below 1 mm), which can be used directly or manufactured into other shapes using thermoforming or secondary fabrication techniques, such as bending, drilling, routing, laser cutting etc.
Typical injected applications:
lighting lenses, sunglass/eyeglass lenses, safety glasses, automotive headlamp lenses
compact discs, DVDs
lab equipment, research animal enclosures
drinking bottles
iPod/Mp3 player cases
Typical sheet/film application:
Industry: machined or formed, cases, machine glazing, riot shields, visors, instrument panels
Advertisement: signs, displays, poster protection
Building: domelights, flat or curved glazing, sound walls,
Computers: Apple, Inc.'s MacBook, iMac, and Mac mini
For use in applications exposed to weathering or UV-radiation, a special surface treatment is needed. This either can be a coating (e.g. for improved abrasion resistance), or a coextrusion for enhanced weathering resistance.
Wisegeek:
Polycarbonate is a versatile, tough plastic used for a variety of applications, from bulletproof windows to compact disks (CDs). The main advantage of polycarbonate over other types of plastic is unbeatable strength combined with light weight. While acrylic is 17% stronger than glass, polycarbonate is nearly unbreakable. Bulletproof windows and enclosures as seen inside banks or at drive-throughs are often made of polycarbonate. Add to this the advantage that polycarbonate is just one-third the weight of acrylic, or one-sixth as heavy as glass, and the only drawback is that it is more expensive than either acrylic or glass.
Compact disks and digital versatile discs (DVDs) are perhaps the most readily recognized examples of polycarbonate. If you’ve ever archived files on a writable CD, then later tried to break it before throwing it away, you know just how tough polycarbonate can be!
Clear polycarbonate is used to make eyeglasses because of its excellent transparency, durability, and high infraction index. This means that it bends light to a far greater degree than glass or other plastics of equal thickness. Since prescription lenses bend light to correct vision, polycarbonate lenses can be far thinner than glass or conventional plastic, making polycarbonate the ideal material for heavy prescriptions. Thin polycarbonate lenses correct poor vision beautifully without distorting the face or the size of the eyes, yet this extremely thin lens is virtual indestructible, an important safety factor for children and active adults.
Polycarbonate lenses are also used in quality sunglasses that incorporate filters to block ultra-violet (UV) rays and near-UV rays. The lenses can also be polarized to block glare, and their high impact resistance makes them perfect for sports. Many sunglasses manufacturers choose polycarbonate because it can be easily shaped without problems like cracking or splitting, resulting in extremely lightweight, distortion-free, fashionable glasses that feature all of the health benefits doctors recommend.
Polycarbonate is also used in the electronics industry. Apple’s original iMac featured polycarbonate mixed with clear colors for a transparent computer case. Many cell phones, pagers, and laptops also use clear or opaque polycarbonate in their casings.
Other uses for polycarbonate include greenhouse enclosures, automobile headlights, outdoor fixtures, and medical industry applications, though the list is virtually endless. Somewhat less toxic than polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to produce, polycarbonate nevertheless requires toxic chemicals in its production phase. It is, however, recyclable and environmentally preferable to PVC in applications for which either material can be used
Wikipedia:
Polycarbonates are a particular group of thermoplastic polymers. They are easily worked, moulded, and thermoformed; as such, these plastics are very widely used in the modern chemical industry. Their interesting features (temperature resistance, impact resistance and optical properties) position them between commodity plastics and engineering plastics.
Polycarbonates got their name because they are polymers having functional groups linked together by carbonate groups (-O-(C=O)-O-) in a long molecular chain.
The type of polycarbonate plastic is one made from bisphenol A, in which groups from bisphenol A are linked together by carbonate groups in a polymer chain. This polycarbonate is characterized as a very durable material, and can be laminated to make bullet-proof "glass", though “bullet-resistant” would be more accurate.
Although polycarbonate has high impact-resistance, it has low scratch-resistance and so a hard coating is applied to polycarbonate eye-wear lenses. The characteristics of polycarbonate are quite like those of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA; acrylic), but polycarbonate is stronger and more expensive. This polymer is highly transparent to visible light and has better light transmission characteristics than many kinds of glass. CR-39 is a specific polycarbonate material — although it is usually referred to as CR-39 plastic — with good optical and mechanical properties, frequently used for eyeglass lenses.
Polycarbonate is becoming more common in housewares as well as laboratories and in industry, especially in applications where any of its main features—high impact resistance, temperature resistance, optical properties—are required.
Main transformation techniques for polycarbonate resins:
injection moulding into ready articles
extrusion into tubes, rods and other profiles
extrusion with calenders into sheets (0.5-15 mm) and films (below 1 mm), which can be used directly or manufactured into other shapes using thermoforming or secondary fabrication techniques, such as bending, drilling, routing, laser cutting etc.
Typical injected applications:
lighting lenses, sunglass/eyeglass lenses, safety glasses, automotive headlamp lenses
compact discs, DVDs
lab equipment, research animal enclosures
drinking bottles
iPod/Mp3 player cases
Typical sheet/film application:
Industry: machined or formed, cases, machine glazing, riot shields, visors, instrument panels
Advertisement: signs, displays, poster protection
Building: domelights, flat or curved glazing, sound walls,
Computers: Apple, Inc.'s MacBook, iMac, and Mac mini
For use in applications exposed to weathering or UV-radiation, a special surface treatment is needed. This either can be a coating (e.g. for improved abrasion resistance), or a coextrusion for enhanced weathering resistance.
Wisegeek:
Polycarbonate is a versatile, tough plastic used for a variety of applications, from bulletproof windows to compact disks (CDs). The main advantage of polycarbonate over other types of plastic is unbeatable strength combined with light weight. While acrylic is 17% stronger than glass, polycarbonate is nearly unbreakable. Bulletproof windows and enclosures as seen inside banks or at drive-throughs are often made of polycarbonate. Add to this the advantage that polycarbonate is just one-third the weight of acrylic, or one-sixth as heavy as glass, and the only drawback is that it is more expensive than either acrylic or glass.
Compact disks and digital versatile discs (DVDs) are perhaps the most readily recognized examples of polycarbonate. If you’ve ever archived files on a writable CD, then later tried to break it before throwing it away, you know just how tough polycarbonate can be!
Clear polycarbonate is used to make eyeglasses because of its excellent transparency, durability, and high infraction index. This means that it bends light to a far greater degree than glass or other plastics of equal thickness. Since prescription lenses bend light to correct vision, polycarbonate lenses can be far thinner than glass or conventional plastic, making polycarbonate the ideal material for heavy prescriptions. Thin polycarbonate lenses correct poor vision beautifully without distorting the face or the size of the eyes, yet this extremely thin lens is virtual indestructible, an important safety factor for children and active adults.
Polycarbonate lenses are also used in quality sunglasses that incorporate filters to block ultra-violet (UV) rays and near-UV rays. The lenses can also be polarized to block glare, and their high impact resistance makes them perfect for sports. Many sunglasses manufacturers choose polycarbonate because it can be easily shaped without problems like cracking or splitting, resulting in extremely lightweight, distortion-free, fashionable glasses that feature all of the health benefits doctors recommend.
Polycarbonate is also used in the electronics industry. Apple’s original iMac featured polycarbonate mixed with clear colors for a transparent computer case. Many cell phones, pagers, and laptops also use clear or opaque polycarbonate in their casings.
Other uses for polycarbonate include greenhouse enclosures, automobile headlights, outdoor fixtures, and medical industry applications, though the list is virtually endless. Somewhat less toxic than polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to produce, polycarbonate nevertheless requires toxic chemicals in its production phase. It is, however, recyclable and environmentally preferable to PVC in applications for which either material can be used
SusanG
SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Thanks Rob,
Science was not my favorite class. This was the first time anyone ever asked me about this. Is this product an option in our industry?
A customer came in with a 2x3" illuminated vellum piece (15th century, France) which he got from an antique dealer. The dealer told the customer to ask for "polycarbonate glazing." I was honest and said that I was not familiar with that term. I explained three choices, Museum, CC, and UVPlexi. He chose Museum. He said that breakage wouldn't be an issue.
Susan
Science was not my favorite class. This was the first time anyone ever asked me about this. Is this product an option in our industry?
A customer came in with a 2x3" illuminated vellum piece (15th century, France) which he got from an antique dealer. The dealer told the customer to ask for "polycarbonate glazing." I was honest and said that I was not familiar with that term. I explained three choices, Museum, CC, and UVPlexi. He chose Museum. He said that breakage wouldn't be an issue.
Susan
preservator
SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Polycarbonate sheet is used in picture framing, generally when very large (long) items are to be framed, since polycarbonate is available in large sizes. It's high puncture resistance, which makes it useful for bullet-proof glazing, is not often called for in picture frames.
Hugh
Hugh
SusanG
SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Where does one purchase "polycarbonate glazing"
Who carries "polycarbonate glazing?"
Susan
Who carries "polycarbonate glazing?"
Susan
FramerDave
PFG, Picture Framing God
Honestly, I'd just use acrylic and be done with it. I'd bet good money that the antique dealer who advised the polycarbonate simply wasn't well-versed in the correct terms and meant what we know as acrylic.
SusanG
SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
I agree Dave, I don't think that the antique dealer knew much about framing. I ended up selling museum glass for the sale although I did offer acrylic. I just wondered if anyone had ever run into the product. At least I could tell my customer that it wasn't readily available for framers to purchase.
Susan MCPF
Susan MCPF
I don't think the Wiki article is completely correct. I believe CR-39 is different plastic with a lower dispersion giving you a less color fringing effect when looking out the edges of glasses...
Anyway, Polycarbonate is sold under trade names such as Lexan and Makrolon.
Indeed it is softer and scratches easier. It costs 2-3x times that of acrylic. It requires a UV coating to protect it from hazing when used outside. It is not an ideal material for picture glazing unless utra-high vandal resistance is required.
Another plastic glazing framers should avoid is styrene. It is more brittle than acrylic, scratches easier and may yellow over time. It is often used in cheap poster frames. It gives acrylic a bad name since the average joe doesn't know the difference.
Anyway, Polycarbonate is sold under trade names such as Lexan and Makrolon.
Indeed it is softer and scratches easier. It costs 2-3x times that of acrylic. It requires a UV coating to protect it from hazing when used outside. It is not an ideal material for picture glazing unless utra-high vandal resistance is required.
Another plastic glazing framers should avoid is styrene. It is more brittle than acrylic, scratches easier and may yellow over time. It is often used in cheap poster frames. It gives acrylic a bad name since the average joe doesn't know the difference.
When CYRO the company who produces most of the acrylic product used in this industry was asked when to use polycarbonate in picture framing their answer was "never." CYRO produces a polycarbonate but does not recommend it for picture framing. It does scratch easier, it does yellow and it can have outgassing. It is a very useful product but was never designed to be used for picture framing.
Last edited:
FramerPhil
CGF, Certified Grumble Framer
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2007
- Posts
- 161
Susan, I saw your picture in Decor magazine this month. You are one of the featured winners of the Tru Vue Secret Shopper Program.
Phil
Phil
SusanG
SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Thanks Phil,
And right next to it is an announcement of those who just received their MCPF. Wow, I made it to Decor twice on one page!
Susan
And right next to it is an announcement of those who just received their MCPF. Wow, I made it to Decor twice on one page!
Susan
Paul N
SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
And Kirstie too, one page before.