Plastic Products for Government & Defense Applications

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) created very specific guidelines for signage in many public buildings. Acrylic is often used for ADA compliant signage because it is durable, weather-resistant, cost effective, and available in a wide range of colors. Braille can also be added to acrylic using a few different techniques.

For the best in armored vehicle protection, LEXAN HLG5 is a laminated ballistic grade polycarbonate engineered to resist bullets and other physical attacks without sacrificing optical clarity.

Doors and windows of abandoned buildings can be covered with polycarbonate instead of wood to prevent drawing attention to the vacancy and retain curb appeal. Polycarbonate is virtually unbreakable and won’t rot or swell, so it’s unlikely it will need to be replaced. Once it’s no longer needed, polycarbonate can be recycled.

Road signs are often made from aluminum composite material (ACM), which pairs durable aluminum with a moisture-resistant polyethylene core. This material can last for years with minimal maintenance. Reflective vinyl is often applied to improve visibility.

Face shields provide eye protection from infectious material (such as COVID-19) or physical damage from debris or chemicals, without obscuring vision. LEXAN polycarbonate is strong and won’t shatter, is easy to clean and disinfect, and is available with an anti-fog coating.

Boltaron is a thermoplastic acrylic-polyvinyl chloride that is commonly used for gun holsters and knife sheaths because of its durability, imperviousness to sweat and oil, and comfort.

Polycarbonate and acrylic are excellent alternatives to glass windows, especially where safety or vandalism is a concern. Both materials weigh significantly less than glass, are impact and shatter resistant, and are easy to fabricate. If plastic windows do need to be replaced, they are easy to recycle. Specialized grades are available depending on the requirements of your glazing project. LEXAN MARGARD MR10 contains a UV and scratch resistant coating that also resists chemicals such as spray paint, making it easy to clean away graffiti. When forced entry is a concern, Polymershapes has a portfolio of bullet-resistant glazing materials.

Whether you’re looking to protect employees from disease, physical attack, or provide a visual or sound barrier, performance plastics offer many transparent and opaque options. Polycarbonate provides transparency and near unbreakable strength and is an excellent noise dampener. Acrylic offers additional scratch resistance and is available in a variety of opacities and colors, making it perfect for privacy screens.

Since radomes protect radar antennas, they must be made of a weatherproof material that won’t block or interfere with radio waves. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polycarbonate are commonly used because of their dialectic properties, strength, weatherability, and low water absorption, though polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) may be chosen when harsher environmental conditions are expected.

Polycarbonate is commonly used for riot shields as it is lightweight, transparent, and very impact resistant. Ballistic and non-ballistic grades are available.