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(can also be made with
clear
vinyl)
Sea Clear is a UV stabilized thin gauge polycarbonate for
side and aft windows. It is optically clearer than vinyl and more resistant to
heat and cold. The creative use of Sea Clear polycarbonate provides a clearer,
longer lasting solution for marine or other window applications that do not
require roll-up. It is not appropriate for traditional roll-up application.
The
newer polycarbonates have finally solved the old problem of "yellowing". Also,
they are more scratch resistant that materials from three or four years ago.
This advanced product now allows us to offer an upgrade from rollable vinyl's to
semi-rigid polycarbonates. The cost is about $100.00 more than Stratglass panels
and it takes about an hour longer to make a polycarbonate panel. The clarity is
excellent, which makes it an excellent choice for most panel applications.
In
1953, polycarbonate was discovered by Dr. H. Schnell at Bayer AG, Germany and by
D.W. Fox, General Electric Company,
USA working
independently. In the late 1950’s polycarbonate began to be used in commercial
applications.
Polycarbonate was initially used for electrical and electronic applications such
as distributor and fuse boxes, display and plug connections and subsequently for
glazing for greenhouses and public buildings. Soon polycarbonate’s outstanding
combination of beneficial characteristics made it the material of choice for
many other applications.
In
1982, the first audio-CD was introduced to the market, quickly replacing audio
records. Within 10 years optical media technology included CD-ROMs, and within
15 years DVDs. All these optical data storage systems depend on polycarbonate.
Since
the mid 1980’s, 18 litre water bottles made of polycarbonate have increasingly
replaced heavy and fragile glass bottles. These light-weight and shatter
resistant bottles can now be found in many public buildings and offices.
Already used in the
USA since the
end of the 1980’s automotive headlamps made of polycarbonate became authorized
in Europe in
1991. Today, almost every new European car is equipped with polycarbonate
headlamps.
Some
other common uses are safety shields, sight glasses and chair mats
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