Polycarbonate Solar Panel & Window Glazing Properties
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Properties of polycarbonate (thermoplastic) glazing materials used in solar applications
Polycarbonate glazing offers improved impact resistance compared to acrylic plastics and glass
Expansion and contraction of polycarbonate glazing under thermal stress
Abrading (scratching) and discoloration of polycarbonate glazing loses solar transmittance with age
Producers & sources of polycarbonate plastic glazing: GE's Lexan, Lasco's Lascolite, Cy.Ro's Cryolon SDP
Solar Age Magazine Articles on Renewable Energy, Energy Savings, Construction Practices

Polycarbonate solar panel or window glazing: this article discusses the properties of polycarbonate glazing used in solar applications, including its impact resistance, thermal movement, scratching, discoloration, and solar transmittance.

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Polycarbonate Glazing for Solar Applications, Windows, Greenhouses

Accompanying text is reprinted/adapted/excerpted with permission from Solar Age Magazine - editor Steven Bliss. Our photograph (left) shows an interesting sloped window installation on the roof of a barn silo that had been converted to living space. Conventional wood-frame double-hung windows were set into the sloped silo roof - this was not a successful installation and the windows rapidly rotted, leaked, and disintegrated. Our photo of sloped glazing at page top was taken by the editor (DF) at Taliesin West in Scottsdale, AZ.

Readers who are building their own windows or who are installing factory-built windows should also see SLOPED GLAZING DETAILS and VERTICAL GLAZING DETAILS. For suggestions about how to diagnose and repair leaks in existing skylights, see SKYLIGHT LEAK DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR.

The question-and-answer article below paraphrases, quotes-from, updates, and comments an original article from Solar Age Magazine and written by Steven Bliss.

Topic: What is Polycarbonate glazing, does it prevent "ultraviolet radiation seepage", Where can I get some?

Question:

I recently (1985) read an advertisement fdor a product that touts its covering as being made of "polycarbonate," which prevents ultravoilet radiation seepage. What is this stuff and where can I buy it? - Gary Allen, Palo Alto, CA.

Answer:

Polycarbonate is one of several thermplastic glazing materials used in solar applications. Polycarbonate glazing is also used in greenhouse construction and hurricane-damage-resistant windows. Manufacturers assert that polycarbonate glazing is "200 times stronger than glass" (Gallina) and the material is lighter in weight than glass as well.

Greater resistance to impact is a main advantage of polycarbonate glazing over acrylic or glass glazing materials, but it is more expensive than either of them. Some manufacturers (Gallina, below) offer tongue-and-groove sheets, modular polycarbonate roof panels, insulated polycarbonate windows, and related glazing products.

Like all plastics, polycarbonate glazing expands and contracts under thermal stresses, so glazing stops must accomodate a fair amount of movement.

Also, polycarbonate glazing can abrade and discolor ovcer time, thus losing a certain amount of solar transmittance. And like other plastics, it is vulnerable to deterioration caused by ultraviolet radiation.

Polycarbonate sheet products that have been well known since the mid 1980's and are available through glazing distributors. Some sources of polycarbonate glazing products include:

ARCAT lists current manufacturers of polycarbonate sheet glazing, including Polygal Inc., SABIC (Originally General Electric Plastics), Sheffield Plastics, CO-EX, C.R. Laurence- Retrieved 11/29/2010, original source: http://www.arcat.com/divs/sec/sec08841.shtml
General Electric (Lexan, now produced by Sabic - see below). According to GE, Daniel W. Fox, a GE Chemist who was seeking an improved wire enamel, first discovered and discovered the polycarbonate resin used to produce Lexan in 1953. Lexan and related plastics have become widely used in the ensuing half-century and include products well beyond glazing, such as the production of CDs.
Lasco Industries ( Lascolite)
Cy/Ro (Cryolon SDP)
Gallina USA LLC. (Arcoplus) 4335 Capital Circle, Janesville, WI 53546 Tel: 608-531-0450., Email: todd@gallinausa.com - Retrieved 11/29/2010, original source: http://www.gallinausa.com/
Professional Plastics, (Acrylite) distributes products from 35 manufacturers. Tel: 888-995-7767. Quoting:
Lexan polycarbonate resin is an amorphous engineering thermoplastic, characterized by outstanding mechanical, optical, electrical and thermal properties. The Lexan portfolio provides broad design versatility through its wide range of viscosities and product options such as: environmentally conforming flame retardancy, scratch resistance, toughness, heat resistance, weatherability, biocompatibility, optical quality, and compliance with stringent FDA and USP requirements. - Retrieved 11/29/2010, original source: http://www.professionalplastics.com/MAKROLONGP-polycarbonate
Sabic (originally GE Plastics) produces Lexan - Retrieved 11/29/2010, original source: http://www.sabic-ip.com/gep/Plastics/en/ProductsAndServices/ProductLine/lexan.html

Also see THERMAL EXPANSION of MATERIALS and see if you are constructing site-built storm windows using this or any other glazing product, see our discussion of storm window weep holes and why they are critical: STORM WINDOW WEEP HOLES

Here we include solar energy, solar heating, solar hot water, and related building energy efficiency improvement articles reprinted/adapted/excerpted with permission from Solar Age Magazine - editor Steven Bliss.

The link to the original Q&A article in PDF form immediately below is preceded (above) by an expanded/updated online version of this article.

Q&A Polycarbonate Glazing - PDF form, use your browser's back button to return to this page. Original article, Solar Age Magazine, January 1985, adapted and updated for InspectAPedia.com November 2010.

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POLYCARBONATE GLAZING - see detailed links at page left

Solar Age Magazine was the official publication of the American Solar Energy Society. The contemporary solar energy magazine associated with the Society is Solar Today. "Established in 1954, the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is the nation's leading association of solar professionals & advocates. Our mission is to inspire an era of energy innovation and speed the transition to a sustainable energy economy. We advance education, research and policy. Leading for more than 50 years. ASES leads national efforts to increase the use of solar energy, energy efficiency and other sustainable technologies in the U.S. We publish the award-winning SOLAR TODAY magazine, organize and present the ASES National Solar Conference and lead the ASES National Solar Tour – the largest grassroots solar event in the world."
Steven Bliss served as editorial director and co-publisher of The Journal of Light Construction for 16 years and previously as building technology editor for Progressive Builder and Solar Age magazines. He worked in the building trades as a carpenter and design/build contractor for more than ten years and holds a masters degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Excerpts from his recent book, Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, Wiley (November 18, 2005) ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, appear throughout this website, with permission and courtesy of Wiley & Sons. Best Practices Guide is available from the publisher, J. Wiley & Sons, and also at Amazon.com.
Excerpts with updates and annotations expanding the original Best Practices Guide text can be found in the online review and book summary at BEST CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES GUIDE and also at DECK & PORCH CONSTRUCTION, at INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE, and in other articles found at InspectAPedia.com such as HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS, SOUND CONTROL in buildings, and other topics.
Engineering Toolbox website, provides a more extensive table of coefficients of linear expansion at http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/linear-expansion-coefficients-d_95.html
Western Washington University Thermal Expansion is described and defined in a clear article that also gives both linear and volumetric coefficients of thermal expansion at 20 degC. for a variety of materials at http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~vawter/PhysicsNet/Topics/Thermal/ThermExpan.html
General Electric Corporation, Silicone Products Division, Waterford NY 12188, 518-237-3330 also see www.ge.com/ [Beware of online web-links to the GE Silicone Products Division - the company's contact information for silicone products will redirect to a not-helpful website on silicone products hosted by supplier Momentive.
Tremco, 10701 Shaker Blvd., Cleveland, OH
Identification of Silicone Oil/PETN Interaction, PDF information from General Electric Corporation, Silicone Products Division, Product Information. Pamphlet RHB-4B. c A General Electric polydimethylsiloxane, document from the U.S. Department of Energy at http://www.osti.gov
Idea Development, Inc., PO Box 44, Antrim NH 03440 603-588-6544. Updated contact: www.bigideagroup.net, Manchester NH, 03101 603-641-5955 - Bigideagroup is a network of inventors assisting in marketing products.

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Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, Wiley (November 18, 2005) ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, appear throughout this website, with permission and courtesy of Wiley & Sons. Best Practices Guide is available from the publisher, J. Wiley & Sons, and also at Amazon.com.
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Polycarbonate Glazing for Solar Applications, Windows, Greenhouses

Topic: What is Polycarbonate glazing, does it prevent "ultraviolet radiation seepage", Where can I get some?

Questions & Answers regarding this article

Ask a Question or Search InspectAPedia

Technical Reviewers & References

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair