Lexan or Plexi?

[AeroDog]

When looking at an older RV-12, is there an easy way to tell if the canopy is the original Lexan or later Plexi?

Jerre

 

[Norman CYYJ]

When looking at an older RV-12, is there an easy way to tell if the canopy is the original Lexan or later Plexi?

Jerre

Plexi is hard and lexan is soft

 

[seagull]

Are you asking about the rear piece?

 

[12vaitor]

Pour some fuel on it and see if it cracks? If it already has a bunch of cracks in the area near the fuel filler it is most likely the original Markolon PC.

 

[Mich48041]

I have serial number 23. I am pretty sure that the canopy is acrylic and the rear window is polycarbonate.

 

[Jetguy]

Serial #79 here with the same as Mich and the rear window will crase really bad if fuel spills on it!

 

[AeroDog]

Are you asking about the rear piece?

Yes, rear. Mine is number 593 and came with Lexan. I switched to plexi because of the gasoline issue. One I'm renting is much older and the owner doesn't know which it is.

Jerre

 

[seagull]

The Lexan comes as a flat sheet that you curve to install. The Plexiglass is formed to the shape of the rear window. If you see crazing it is Lexan.

 

[sansoneservices]

I must have crawled out from under a rock. I thought all aircraft glass is either acrylic or polycarbonate

 

[Norman CYYJ]

The Lexan comes as a flat sheet that you curve to install. The Plexiglass is formed to the shape of the rear window. If you see crazing it is Lexan.

Plexiglass also crates.

 

[JonJay]

Plexiglass is a trade name for acrylic.

 

[seagull]

Plexiglass also crates.

You are correct they both will craz. Lexan will react almost immediately from gasoline even if wiped off where plexiglass (acrylic) will probably show no crazing.

 

[lr172]

I must have crawled out from under a rock. I thought all aircraft glass is either acrylic or polycarbonate

Those are component names. Brand names are:

lexan=polycarbonate, plexiglass=acrylic

 

[sansoneservices]

Those are component names. Brand names are:

lexan=polycarbonate, plexiglass=acrylic

Thanks for the clarification