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Blackeagle · 12-26-2003, 02:41 PM

Lexan is a brand name for a plexi called polycarbonate.

It's about 30X stronger than Acrylic, but also a good deal more expensive. And while it's break strength and resistence to flexing is far greater than acrylic's, the acrylic is more scratch resistent than is the polycarb.

But you can also buy the polycarb with a hardened coating called MR-10 (gerneral electric's surface hardener). This solves the polycarb scratch problem, but also raises the price higher than standard polycarb.

Lexan is superior to acrylic for block tops for equal thicknesses of the two materials. The polycarb allows for a thinner top to be used, if desired, than can be used with acrylic.

Cathar the designer of the White Water and Cascade waterblocks uses only polycarbonate for the tops of the Cascade blocks he makes.

12-26-2003, 02:41 PM	#10
Blackeagle Thermophile Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: U.S.A = Michigan Posts: 1,243	Lexan is a brand name for a plexi called polycarbonate. It's about 30X stronger than Acrylic, but also a good deal more expensive. And while it's break strength and resistence to flexing is far greater than acrylic's, the acrylic is more scratch resistent than is the polycarb. But you can also buy the polycarb with a hardened coating called MR-10 (gerneral electric's surface hardener). This solves the polycarb scratch problem, but also raises the price higher than standard polycarb. Lexan is superior to acrylic for block tops for equal thicknesses of the two materials. The polycarb allows for a thinner top to be used, if desired, than can be used with acrylic. Cathar the designer of the White Water and Cascade waterblocks uses only polycarbonate for the tops of the Cascade blocks he makes.