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Lexan. Thermal expansion

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Bones:

Soon I will be cutting out the pretend Lexan I have been supplied which is called "Safeguard".

Looking at the protective covering it says to allow 5mm expansion for every metre. (Around 3/16" per 3 & a bit feet)

This sounds ridiculous and if I follow the instructions I will have a noticeable gap.

The temperature here will go from about 0 in winter to about 40 in summer and if Lexan is not subject to this type of expansion I might burn this current Polycarbonate I have and not waste my time.

Anybody have experience with Lexan growing and shrinking in size?

RandyT:

You don't say what you are going to be doing with it.

They are referring to butt-seaming or placing the edges against immovable objects.  If you don't leave a little space, it will expand with the heat and start to buckle.

All common plastics do this to some extent.  Acrylic is just as bad, and whether you use IZOD, Lexan or any other Polycarbonate, you will see the same thing.

Heck, acrylic is so bad that if you screw it over something to protect it outdoors (like a sign) and don't give it 1/16" of slop around the screws, it WILL crack when the temperature changes.

Just the way it is.

RandyT


Bones:

I was intending to use it on top of the CP.

Thanks for your help mate.


Stingray:


--- Quote from: BrokenBones1 on April 17, 2005, 08:54:39 am ---
The temperature here will go from about 0 in winter to about 40 in summer

--- End quote ---

What are you building an outdoor cab or something? ;) The temperature indoors only fluctuates by a few degrees. I can't imagine it would be enough to cause any significant expansion/ contraction.

-S

Veinman:

Where are people finding lexan sheets? They didn't have it at Lowe's. I haven't checked yet at Home Depot or Menard's.

I'm wondering if I'll have to buy it online. I want to use it to cover the top of the control panel when I build it.

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