Polycarbonate Window Impact Testing 001

In this video: we have tested the strength and durability of 3 different materials that are used in a variety of vehicles, By dropping a projectile onto the material and viewing the result.

The Projectile in Question is a 2287g Steel Ball That has been dropped from a height of 4 metres. This is comparable to an average Branch (off a tree) hitting a Car at 40mph.

The Testing Rig Is Property of SABIC Innovative Plastics.
The Video is Property of Pastics4Performance.co.uk

(Future videos will have sound/music, i didnt have time on this one!)

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Impact
• Testing
• 0001

[Plastics4Performance]

Lexan is usually a little more expensive but you get what you pay for, we use Lexan and Makrolon which i consider to be the best available in the market.

Cant really comment on the cheaper stuff as we dont use it, weight wise all the polycarbs are the same really.

The glass in the video wasnt laminated, it was a standard toughned glass side window from a nissan micra. A laminated window would have held together BUT you will still get very dangerous glass spall ejecting into the vechicle ..

[jcadlols]

I have a few questions, how does this compare to other forms of polycarbonate in price, how does it compare in terms of weight and also, was the toughened glass laminated? Cheers :)

[plastics4]

Sorry My friend but your information is wrong - Sabbic do a test where they take Lexan to around -20 Deg C and fire at very high speed a steel tooth from an industrial Logging chainsaw which just beds itself into the Lexan sheet.

The sheet is not allowed to show any signs of severe damage - We have also Impact tested lexan at - 10 degrees C with no damage

I will do a video for you .

[thermaldog]

but, polycarbonate dramtically weakens with lower temperatures. Approaching 0 degrees Celsius polycarbonate with shatter easily upon impact.