Pittsburgh airport relies on weather-resistant PC windows
Canadian Plastics
Durability, as well as appearance, were key criteria when the aesthetically-conscious Pittsburgh International Airport set out to replace the weather-worn windows at its main terminal entrance....
Durability, as well as appearance, were key criteria when the aesthetically-conscious Pittsburgh International Airport set out to replace the weather-worn windows at its main terminal entrance.
In late 2004, the airport installed 30 ultraviolet (UV)- and abrasion-resistant 4 inch by 8 inch plastic window panels manufactured by Extech Exterior Technologies Inc. (Pittsburgh, PA). The panels were composed of Bayer MaterialScience’s Makrolon AR polycarbonate (PC) produced by Bayer subsidiary, Sheffield Plastics Inc. The airport’s previous windows were made from another material, which had become faded, colored and scratched from exposure to the elements.
Makrolon AR polycarbonate is easily injection molded or thermomolded to any shape or size, making it ideal for numerous applications such as cars, sporting goods and CDs. Glass, in comparison, is expensive to form into complex shapes, Bayer said. “Makrolon AR polycarbonate provides styling flexibility without sacrificing durability,” explained Robert Pyles, future business program manager at Bayer MaterialScience.
Bayer MaterialScience 800-662-2927
Extech Exterior Technologies Inc. 800-500-8083
