Crazed Perspex windows

[koukouvagia]

The lift out windows on the undercloth part of our butty are made from 6mm Perspex Acrylic sheets. One of these has become badly crazed.  Googling around I discover that this is a common problem, especially if they are exposed to sunlight as ours are.

There doesn’t appear to be any way of avoiding this so I was wondering if polycarbonate sheets would fare better. I’d be grateful for any advice before I make a replacement.  

[TheBiscuits]

Yes, but make sure you get UV stable polycarbonate. 

 

It's easily available as it's used for greenhouses as flat sheets which you probably want.

[koukouvagia]

Thanks.   That was a quick and definitive answer  

[Chewbacka]

Polycarbonate is a lot tougher and harder to break than Perspex.  Both are much softer than glass and will scratch easily.  Both are susceptible to solvent crazing so be careful what you clean it with.  As above, uv light is hard on polymers (plastics).

[David Mack]

How about tempered glass instead?

[stegra]

Polycarbonate sheet has uv protection on one side so you need to fit it the right way around. 

[Jen-in-Wellies]

2 minutes ago, stegra said:

Polycarbonate sheet has uv protection on one side so you need to fit it the right way around. 

Do they give you a clue which side that is when you buy it? ?

[koukouvagia]

31 minutes ago, David Mack said:

How about tempered glass instead?

Yes I'm considering that.  I suspect it could be a bit pricey, though.

[Mad Harold]

1 hour ago, stegra said:

Polycarbonate sheet has uv protection on one side so you need to fit it the right way around. 

Just replaced the front cabin windows on my grp cruiser with polycarbonate.

Could you tell me which side is which.

I have looked long and hard at the windows for  "this side out" but can't see it. just remembered ,I did one window with the manufacturer's name on the outside and the other with the name inside. So I will see which one crazes first . 

Edited August 24, 2019 by Mad Harold

[Mac of Cygnet]

1 hour ago, Mad Harold said:

Just replaced the front cabin windows on my grp cruiser with polycarbonate.

Could you tell me which side is which.

I have looked long and hard at the windows for  "this side out" but can't see it. just remembered ,I did one window with the manufacturer's name on the outside and the other with the name inside. So I will see which one crazes first . 

 

The branded protective film should go to the outside.

[ditchcrawler]

Looks like you can also get dual sided UV protected https://www.brettmartin.com/en-gb/plastic-sheets/products/polycarbonate/flat-polycarbonate/uv-protected.aspx