Lexan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
LEXAN® is a registered trademark for General Electric Company's brand of highly-durable polycarbonate resin thermoplastic intended to replace glass where strength justifies its cost. It is a polycarbonate polymer consisting of chains of Bisphenol A alternating with carbonyl chloride, also known as phosgene. The trademark holder promotes the style "LEXAN", but both "Lexan" and "lexan" are commonly used (at least outside the context of sales literature), without implying claims about its source.
Lexan was discovered in 1953 by GE chemist Dr. Daniel Fox, while working on a wire coating. Dr. Hermann Schnell of Bayer in Germany applied for a U.S. patent on a virtually identical molecule in the same year that GE filed for a patent, 1955, but Dr. Fox is generally credited with the discovery.
Lexan is similar to polymethyl methacrylate (Plexiglas/Lucite/Perspex) — commonly described as Acrylic — in appearance, but is far more durable, often to the point of being described as "bulletproof" (depending on the thickness of the sample and the type of weapon used). Lexan is typically used in the aerospace industry for items such as aircraft canopies, windscreens and other windows, but can often be found in household items, such as bottles, compact discs, and DVDs. It is also one of the most common products used to make Bullet-resistant glass. The ASP 9mm features see-through grips made of Lexan to let the user know how many rounds are left in the magazine.
Lexan is manufactured by GE Plastics, a unit of General Electric. Today it is manufactured at several GE plants around the world, the largest being in Mt. Vernon, Indiana; Cartagena, Spain; and Bergen op Zoom, The Netherlands. GE Plastics is headquartered in Pittsfield, MA. Jack Welch, former CEO of GE, started his career as a chemical engineer in this division in Pittsfield.
Perhaps the most visible Lexan consumer product is the Apple Computer iBook and the iPod; the gleaming white plastic is GE Lexan. It also is used by Nalgene for their 1-liter wide-mouthed water bottle, popular with hikers and mountaineers. Nalgene participates in Lexan's publicity. Lexan is also being used by other water bottle manufacturers.
Lexan is the material used for the magazines used by the American 180 submachine gun in the capacities of 165, 220, and 275 rounds (the original 177 round magazine is made out of steel).
Lexan was also used for the housings of Loran audio cassettes because of its high resistance to warping and melting from heat, a common problem with audio cassettes stored in automobiles on hot summer days. Blank Loran cassettes were marketed as an ideal choice for automotive listening.
Lexan also is the brand name for polycarbonate sheet in thicknesses from 0.75 mm (0.03") to 12 mm (0.48"). Applications are mainly in three domains — building (glazing and domes), industry (machine protection and fabricated parts) and communication and signage.
For similar products offered by other companies, see polycarbonates.
[edit] Lexan in popular culture
The molecule of Lexan was featured on Star Trek IV as the visual depiction on the Apple Macintosh computer screen, described within the film as "transparent aluminum".
Lexan is also used in:
- racing cars to replace heavier (and breakable) glass windshields and windows.
- greenhouses for covering.
- the Flexdex skateboards "Clear" models
- for radio-controlled car bodies
