Lexan
by D. Cody
Lexan polycarbonate is a material that few people know of or think about, yet many people carry it around with them everyday and most people have seen it in common use. Lexan is the tough stuff Nalgene water bottles are made from, among other things. It has excellent strength (as all Nalgene owner’s know), it is easy to machine and thermoform, it has excellent UV resistance, and comes in all colors.
Nalgene bottles are not the only application of this plastic. Lexan is used in window coatings, sign coatings, bus station windows, and a wide assortment of areas where clarity and safety are a concern. Lexan is such a widely used and important material that goes unrecognized by the public.