Searching for a strong inflexible plastic that is transparent

In summary, this person is looking for a material that is transparent, does not bend, and is strong. They have considered using glass, but reject it because it is too fragile. They are considering using a plastic tube with a threaded rod to improve strength.
  • #1
Tone L
73
7
Hi all,

I think this is the right place to post this?! Material sciences..

Nonetheless, I am searching for a strong inflexible plastic, that is transparent. The principle job of the plastic is to be a long piece with a sensor attaching at the end. The sensor will weigh about 2kg, putting a fair amount of torque on the material, I would like it not to bend.
Any recommendations? Price isn't a big deal.
 
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  • #2
Some dimensions and weights would be helpful.

Lexan? Polycarbonate? They come in many thicknesses.
 
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  • #3
Tone L said:
a long piece with a sensor attaching at the end. The sensor will weigh about 2kg, putting a fair amount of torque on the material, I would like it not to bend.
Do you understand why "I-Beam" shapes are used for beams? Do you understand why triangle shapes are used for bracing? Using just a long thin beam is not the best way to ensure good strength... :smile:

http://www.ema-models.co.uk/media/catalog/category/H.jpg

H.jpg
 

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  • #4
Ah ! Obvious. Thanks :D
 
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  • #5
Pick one you can easily glue?
 
  • #6
Axial torque is best transferred by a tube.
Why “plastic”, have you considered using glass?
 
  • #7
Baluncore said:
Axial torque is best transferred by a tube.
Why “plastic”, have you considered using glass?
It will be deployed to make experiments, glass might be too fragile. A tube might be tricky to mount the instrument onto the end of.
 
  • #8
"glass might be too fragile"

Yes, your first 'Health and Safety' assessment would veto such.

One dodge I've seen had a plastic tube with a threaded rod passed through. This stiffened the plastic and allowed easy mounting at either end...
 
  • #9
Nik_2213 said:
Yes, your first 'Health and Safety' assessment would veto such.
Why veto a material based on childhood fears of bare feet and a broken glass jar on the floor? Next thing, you will be prohibiting the use of glassware in the laboratory, glass windows in buildings, or in cars. There are some very strong and rigid glass materials now available. Some are similar to ceramics. The material used to make beverage bottles is not fragile but is a very tough and plastic form of glass, those bottles usually bounce when you drop them. On the other hand there are also many rigid organic polymers available that also break with a conchoidal fracture to make a serrated cutting edge. Will you also prohibit them from use?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tempered_glass
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass-ceramic
 
  • #10
"Why veto..."

Lawyers ? Insurance ? Juries awarding zillions of dollars in damages ?

IIRC, window glass is generally 'annealed' for toughness, and car windows are either laminated for safety or pre-stressed to 'crumb' upon damage.

After thirty years in college, uni & analytical labs, I'm reasonably aware of the dangers of glass, both soda and boro-silicate 'Pyrex', as-is or 'tempered'...

I saw more people with bloody paper-cuts than even minor glass-related injuries but, beyond the jet-lagged 'zombies' shambling about after each 'Continental Shifts' rotation, we feared the 'Health and Safety' folk, who'd summarily impose new working practices following some tangentially-related mishap else-where.

Against that, a little prevention may keep Murphy's Law at bay. Sometimes 'lateral thinking', sometimes 'bumper mesh' etc...

Certainly, if you do a formal safety assessment, document the options, alternatives, risks, failure modes, mitigation etc, get it professionally reviewed and signed-off, that's 'Due Diligence'.
;-)
 

1. What qualities make a plastic strong and inflexible?

There are a few key factors that contribute to a plastic's strength and inflexibility. These include the chemical composition of the plastic, the molecular structure, and the amount of cross-linking between the polymer chains. A plastic that is highly crystalline and has strong intermolecular forces tends to be stronger and more inflexible.

2. How can transparency be achieved in a strong and inflexible plastic?

In order to maintain strength and inflexibility while also achieving transparency, it is important to have a polymer with a highly ordered molecular structure. This can be achieved through processes like orientation, which aligns the polymer chains in a specific direction, or by using additives like plasticizers to increase transparency without significantly impacting strength.

3. Are there any natural or sustainable options for a strong and transparent plastic?

Traditionally, most strong and transparent plastics are made from petroleum-based polymers. However, there are now more sustainable options available, such as bioplastics made from renewable sources like corn or sugarcane. These can also be engineered to have strong and inflexible properties while maintaining transparency.

4. Can a plastic be both strong and inflexible, but also have some flexibility?

Yes, it is possible for a plastic to have a balance of strength and inflexibility while also having some flexibility. This can be achieved through careful selection of polymer composition and molecular structure. For example, semi-crystalline polymers can have both rigid and flexible regions, allowing for a balance of strength and flexibility.

5. What industries or applications would benefit from a strong, inflexible, and transparent plastic?

There are many industries and applications that could benefit from a plastic with these properties. Some examples include packaging for fragile items, construction materials, medical devices, and electronic components. A strong, inflexible, and transparent plastic could also be useful in creating durable and lightweight products for consumer goods.

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