Weatherability is measured through 3 key criteria's:

1. Colour retention

2. Gloss Retention (fading/chalking)

3. Retention of mechanical properties

You can add an additive such as UV to the products, however this does not make the product weatherable. It improves the colour and gloss retention only.  It is also important to bear in mind it will usually reduce the mechanical performance of the product. With plastics when you add an additive to improve a type of performance you lose performance else where.  

ASA / Weatherability is excellent and is truly a "weatherable" material. Mechanical properties ok but not as good initially from impact or chemical attack as a KYDEX or ABS material.  Also if you add flame Retardant additive to this you lose virtually all impact and colour/ gloss retention . 

ABS/ Good mechanical properties due to the rubber content, however once in contact with UV/ chemicals, the product losses performance and visual properties.  Once Flame resistance added you reduce the mechanical property and performances slightly also.

KYDEX / Very good mechanical properties and as it is inherently flame retardant. You do not lose any performance mechanical properties even if weathered, as the product holds all of it performance properties when in contact with UV and chemicals, however visually the product will lose colour retention and gloss if weathered.

To make a decision on the above the customer really needs to decided which criteria is more important. From weather-ability, performance properties i.e impact/chemical resistance, FR performance, Colour/gloss retention etc/ as you can see you can not have all the requirements listed above in one product.
 

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PERSPEX® sheet is the most widely used material for POOL Fence Guards to meet the strict standards laid down by the Gold Coast City Council & Queensland Building & Construction Commission Safety Standards.
Thickness is normally 3mm thick clear but for larger areas 4.5mm thick material may be neededtalk to us and we can advise.

UV LIGHT RESISTANCE & CLARITY:
LEXAN Polycarbonate has a UV protected film on both sides of the sheet of which gives a guaranteed 10 years of service outdoors whereas PERSPEX® is guaranteed for 30 years as it has in-built UV stabilises within the material. 

PERSPEX® can be polished using "Brasso" to remove fine scratches whereas Polycarbonate is a lot more difficult to remove marks & scratches.
                                                             
MACHINE CUTTING:
Both materials can be cut with conventional jig-saws, routers and panel saws.
The material must always be laid flat on a surface and be well supported, when doing any cutting, use carbide tipped negative rake saw blades for best results. (Available at Bunnings)

PERSPEX® can be cut on a Laser Machine leaving polished edge or router cut whereas LEXAN Polycarbonate can only be cut using a jig saws, routers & panel saws.

DURABILITY:
LEXAN Polycarbonate Sheet scratches more easily than PERSPEX®, so it depends where it is being used..from an earth moving machine (requires impact resistance) to a pool fence guard (a guard only).
PERSPEX® sheet also has much better chemical resistance than LEXAN Polycarbonate.
Both products may be guaranteed for outdoor use, although LEXAN Polycarbonate does not have the same UV guarantee than PERSPEX® outdoors.

Attached is a small information sheet...DOES YOUR POOL COMPLY?

Acrylic is also known as PMMA is Polymethyl methacrylate. Is a synthetic resin produced from the polymerization of methyl methacrylate.  A transparent and rigid plastic.
This material trades under the name PERSPEX® along with a lot of other trade names.
PERSPEX® can be found in everyday life from woman's Acrylic jewellery to Acrylic Display cases, shatterproof windows, skylights, illuminated signs & acrylic Pool Guards.
It has an impact strength 17 times stronger than glass, has excellent UV resistance, can be made into virtually any shape, have a range of colours and thickness & is an excellent alternative to glass as it does not shatter.
LEXAN Polycarbonate is sold under the trade name of LEXAN or Makrolon and has a superior impact strength of up to 250 times that of glass, it is fire resistant & mechanically a stronger but more flexible material.
LEXAN Polycarbonate is used in banks as pop up screens as the material is virtually bullet proof, it is also used in armour guard vehicles & in areas where product or people can be protected against vandalism.

LEXAN Polycarbonate sheet has a 89% light transmission of light, compared to 92% for Acrylic.
Acrylic can be polished using "Brasso" to remove fine scratches whereas Polycarbonate is a lot more difficult to remove marks & scratches.                                       

MACHINE CUTTING:
Both materials can be cut with conventional jig-saws, routers and panel saws.
The material must always be laid flat on a surface and be well supported, when doing any cutting, use carbide tipped negative rake saw blades for best results. (Available at Bunnings)
PERSPEX® can be cut on a Laser Machine leaving polished edge or router cut whereas LEXAN Polycarbonate can only be cut using a jig saws, routers & panel saws.

CNC  MACHINING:
Both materials machine well in a CNC machine. These machines use solid Tungsten Carbide tool bits and can make any 3D design.
Both materials are machined to make various components used in Signage, engineering, scientific, transport industries depending on application.

HEAT BENDING:
PERSPEX® sheet can be bent on a heated "Line Bender" to form a right angle bend.
Also thermo-formed to different shapes by heating up to 165 to 170 Deg. Cent.
It must be cooled over a former to hold its shape.

Polycarbonate sheet can also be bent on a heated "Line Bender" to form a right angle bend.
LEXAN Polycarbonate is very difficult to form to shape as the temperature needs to be up to 175 to 190 Deg Cent.  The material cools very quickly and it is difficult to form.

DURABILITY:
LEXAN Polycarbonate Sheet scratches more easily than PERSPEX®, so it depends where it is being used..LEXAN for a earth moving machine (requires impact resistance), Acrylic for a pool fence guard (a guard only).
PERSPEX® sheet also has much better chemical resistance than LEXAN Polycarbonate.

PRICE:
LEXAN Polycarbonate sheet is approx.. 35% more expensive than a PERSPEX® sheet of the same size and thicknessbut where you would use 4.5mm thick PESPEX®, you can use 3mm Thick LEXAN Polycarbonate due to its toughness.

PERSPEX® Sheet comes in a range of thicknesses up to 50mm thick.
1.5mm thick..Clear only
2mm Thick.Black, White, Clear & Opal
3mm Thick..full colour range
4.5mm Thick. Black, White, Clear & Opal & some colours
6mm. Thick. Black, White, Clear & Opal & some colours
8mm. Thick.  Clear Only
10mm. Thick. Black, White, Clear & Opal & some colours
12mm. Thick. Black, White, Clear & Opal
                                                             

CONCLUSION:
Both materials have different properties and should be chosen depending on the application.
PERSPEX® sheet finds uses in areas where optimal weather and in-service resistance are required, since it can withstand the weather, sunlight and the elements better than LEXAN Polycarbonate.

LEXAN Polycarbonate, due to its toughness and durability is more suited to Police hand Shields, signage, roofing as it has high impact resistance to storm damage, earthmoving equipment cabin windows, machine safety guards, bullet proof windows on armoured vehicles & pop up bullet proof screens in banks.
LEXAN Polycarbonate is not the best choice for UV resistance but has many other advantages as a material.