AWARD WINNING EXPERTISE
35 YEARS’ CREATING OUTSTANDING ACRYLIC and POLYCARBONATE PRODUCTS
ACRYLIC WINDOWS
AS-CAST ACRYLIC WINDOWS
Thermoplastic polymers such as acrylic are used in numerous aircraft and rotorcraft applications, because it readily accommodates the manufacture of clear lightweight complex-shaped transparencies. As-cast acrylic is typically used for helicopters and non-pressurized aircraft transparencies.
STRETCHED ACRYLIC WINDOWS
Stretched acrylic windows are obtained by stretching as-cast acrylic sheets; a process which re-orientates the long polymer chains. Stretching drastically increases the material properties. Unlike as-cast acrylic, stretched acrylic also offers an improved craze resistance, increased stress tolerance, crack propagation and solvent resistance. As such, it is highly suitable for acrylic windshields, outer cabin window panes and other transparencies, even for aircraft fitted with pressurised cabin spaces.
LIGHT WEIGHT AND VERY RESILIENT
Due to the very high speeds and high level of hazards involved if flying, the acrylic windows we supply to iconic aircraft and rotorcraft corporations are of the very highest quality and must be flawless in every sense of the word. Indeed no acrylic windows are put into production prior to rigorous testing because no other industry demands a higher standard of product quality and durability.
OTHER APPLICATIONS
Aside of the aerospace and defence industries, acrylic windows can be fitted pretty much into any vehicle, equipment or device requiring a strong transparency. Indeed acrylic is a highly versatile polymer affording endless applications.
Although CLI has benchmarked its experience on these most challenging industries, we have the capability and resources to develop acrylic windows for any vehicle or application where safety, durability, light weight and reduced production costs are an essential requirement.
FLEXIBILITY TO CREATE YOUR EXCLUSIVE PRODUCT
So whatever your acrylic windows requirement may be, we can create your product from acrylic, with the benefit of a hard coating finish to afford it durability and a trouble free life-cycle. These days there are so many benefits to using acrylic as a substitute to glass and at considerable less production costs too.
POLYCARBONATE WINDOWS
EXCEPTIONAL PROPERTIES
Polycarbonate windows possess the superb property of exceptional strength, providing high impact resistance. In addition to its light-weight, these properties make it the ideal material for the design of windshields subjected to high velocity bird strikes. Furthermore, polycarbonate windows provide excellent high-temperature tolerance. Susceptible to stress-solvent crazing, it is highly recommended polycarbonate items only be used with an applied protective hard coating.
PROTECTIVE COATING
Protective Coatings for polycarbonate windows are used to prevent deterioration from extreme weather or environmental deterioration ― including ultraviolet rays ― as well as solvents and chemicals. Equally, hard coats, also protect polycarbonate windows against harsh conditions such as abrasion caused by sand and dirt or sea salt. Coatings can be applied by means of flow, dip or spray and are generally thermally cured.
OTHER APPLICATIONS
Polycarbonate windows can of course be applied to any vehicle or product device calling for hazardous impact protection, such as those found in performance vehicles, warehouse fork lift trucks, agriculture, roadwork, or other heavy construction machinery.
Not only is polycarbonate light-weight, but its high impact resilience properties means it is a a far superior alternative for safety glass, which can often shatter into thousands in pieces when subjected to a hard blow.
POLYCARBONATE vs. GLASS
Due to the limited strength of glass, further protection of the driver cabin is frequently required, almost imperative, and thus many of these machines have cabins are completely encapsulated by protective steel cages, which can of course reduce visibility substantially thus increasing the probability of an accident.
However, polycarbonate windows are a perfect substitute for glass, thus in most cases the steel protective cage is no longer required. For those instances where a large pane is required, a far less obtrusive cage could be implemented.
FLEXIBILITY TO CREATE YOUR EXCLUSIVE PRODUCT
So whatever your transparency requirement may be, we can create your perfect polycarbonate window for you. Choosing a polycarbonate window will afford you the benefit of a light-weight, highly durable product, with the assurance of maximum safety.
THERMOFORMING
PRODUCTS CATEGORIES
We specialize in advanced thermos-polymer formations in stretched acrylic, cast acrylic and polycarbonate, always with minimal optical distortion and aberration. CLI can also offer forms in fiberglass laminate for applications such as window edgings.
EXPERIENCE
Our enterprise possesses comprehensive experience with acrylic and polycarbonate products, employing the latest and most advanced techniques within the industry, to achieve precise contour control, creating the very highest quality products for strength and durability.
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE
Within the acrylic and polycarbonate products transparency industry, our specialty is working with bi-axially stretched acrylics, (MIL-PRF-25690) ― a stronger, crack propagation resistant acrylic; cast acrylics (MIL-PRF-8184, and MIL-PRF-5425), and polycarbonate for products requiring very high impact resitance.
CLI also employs various industry standard techniques such as drape forming, vacuum forming, wet forming, and blow forming, to achieve precise control of window contours, yet always maintaining defect and distortion free optics.
FLEXIBILITY TO YOUR EXACT REQUIREMENTS
We are also capable to form acrylic and polycarbonate products on customer supplied tools, or able to assist you in the development of specific products and help you build new tools for complex forming applications.
CERTIFICATION
CLI holds a BSI AS9100 certificate in quality assurance and has received various accolades for its exceptional acrylic and polycarbonate products and services. We are proud to benchmark our service on meeting, and often exceeding, customer requirements for both process controls and product inspection.
HARD COATS
INTRODUCTION
Hard coats are applied to formed acrylic and polycarbonate products in our class 100 clean room providing protection from surface damage and environmental degradation. CLI has invested heavily in the technology of hard coats. Our financial commitment of and assiduous dedication to research and development allows us to provide the very best product solutions for even the most difficult application.
As a Post-Coater (applying our coatings after they have been formed), we offer the industries’ highest level of performance coatings.
-
-
- Abrasion Resistance
- Chemical Resistance
- Clarity
- Anti-Fog Performance
-
FIVE STEP PREPARATION
CLI has developed a meticulous five-step cleaning process to prepare all acrylic and polycarbonate products for coating in our class 100 clean room. Fluids are tested for every session and environmental conditions are always well controlled to ensure we offer consistent, superior results in the field. CLI has never had an acrylic or polycarbonate product returned due to poor performance of its hard coat.
POLYCARBONATE
Our exclusive Polycarbonate Hard-Coat offers your product the highest level of performance available today. Our hard-coat is able to repel water better than any temporary window treatment, and is so durable it will withstand the use of wipers when necessary.
SILICONE BASED TREATMENTS
CLI can meet customer requirements for silicone based hard coats on polycarbonate and acrylic transparencies. This is a well-developed process which has been perfected to ensure coatings provide not only lasting protection, but also without any negative effects on the optical characteristics of the transparency.
COUPON TESTING
Coupon testing is performed after every batch run to ensure best adhesion, chemical and environmental resistance, and of course optical clarity.
BONDING AND ASSEMBLY
Thermoformed acrylic and polycarbonate products are custom routed to final size and the faying surfaces are carefully prepared for bonding. Formed edgings are then hand-crafted to precisely match the formed windows within the required tolerances.
BONDING OPTIONS AND MATERIAL DIVERSITY
CLI has bonding experience with fiberglass, ABS, Kydex, nylon and several other edging materials. We can build assemblies ready for final installation with attachment holes machined, or with excess material for final installation by the client in their facilities.
BELL HELICOPTER CERTIFICATIONS
We are certified to the following Bell Helicopter process specifications: 4102; 4446; 4458; 4403; 4434; 4351; 4302; 4302; 4581; 4352; 4138
ADHESIVES, PRIMERS AND TOP COATS
CLI also has comprehensive experience with many adhesives, including acrylic based epoxies and urethane. Furthermore, our plant is equipped for spray application of military grade primers, top coats and protective coatings.
Explore Our Products & Services
If you would like to know more about our comprehensive product lines and services, please drop us a line and we shall be delighted to discuss your enterprise’s specific product and design requirements with great interest.
ACRYLIC WINDOWS
AS-CAST ACRYLIC
Thermoplastic polymers such as acrylic are used in numerous aircraft and rotorcraft applications, because it readily accommodates the manufacture of clear lightweight complex-shaped transparencies. As-cast acrylic is typically used for helicopters and non-pressurized aircraft transparencies.
STRETCHED ACRYLIC
Stretched acrylic is obtained by stretching as-cast acrylic sheets; a process which re-orientates the long polymer chains. Stretching drastically increases the material properties. Unlike as-cast acrylic, stretched acrylic also offers an improved craze resistance, increased stress tolerance, crack propagation and solvent resistance. As such, it is highly suitable for windshields, outer cabin window panes and other transparencies, even for aircraft fitted with pressurised cabin spaces.
LIGHT WEIGHT AND VERY RESILIENT
Due to the very high speeds and high level of hazards involved if flying, the acrylic windows we supply to iconic aircraft and rotorcraft corporations are of the very highest quality and must be flawless in every sense of the word. Indeed no acrylic window is put into production prior to rigorous testing because no other industry demands a higher standard of product quality and durability.
OTHER APPLICATIONS
Aside of the aerospace and defence industries, acrylic windows can be fitted pretty much into any vehicle, device requiring a strong transparency. Indeed acrylic is a highly versatile polymer affording endless applications.
Although CLI has benchmarked its experience on these most challenging industries, we have the capability and resources to develop acrylic products for any vehicle or application where safety, durability, light weight and reduced production costs are an essential requirement.
FLEXIBILITY TO CREATE YOUR EXCLUSIVE PRODUCT
So whatever your acrylic windows requirement may be, we can create your product from acrylic, with the benefit of a hard coating finish to afford it durability and a trouble free life-cycle. These days there are so many benefits to using acrylic as a substitute to glass and at considerable less production costs too.
POLYCARBONATE WINDOWS
EXCEPTIONAL PROPERTIES
Polycarbonate windows possess the superb property of exceptional strength, providing high impact resistance. In addition to its light-weight, these properties make it the ideal material for the design of windshields subjected to high velocity bird strikes. Furthermore, polycarbonate windows provide excellent high-temperature tolerance. Susceptible to stress-solvent crazing, it is highly recommended polycarbonate items only be used with an applied protective hard coating.
PROTECTIVE COATING
Protective Coatings for polycarbonate are used to prevent deterioration from weather extremes, environmental deterioration ― including ultraviolet rays ― as well as solvents and chemicals. Equally, hard coats, also protect polycarbonate windows against harsh conditions such as abrasion caused by sand and dirt or sea salt. Coatings can be applied by means of flow, dip or spray and are generally thermally cured.
OTHER APPLICATIONS
Polycarbonate windows can of course be applied to any vehicle or product device calling for hazardous impact protection, such as those found in performance vehicles, warehouse fork lift trucks, agriculture, roadwork, or other heavy construction machinery.
Not only is polycarbonate light-weight, but its high impact resilience properties means it is a perfect substitute for safety glass, which can often shatter into thousands in pieces when subjected to a hard blow.
POLYCARBONATE vs. GLASS
Due to the limited strength of glass, further protection of the driver cabin is frequently required, almost imperative, and thus many of these machines have cabins are completely encapsulated by protective steel cages, which can of course reduce visibility substantially thus increasing the probability of an accident.
However, polycarbonate windows are a perfect substitute for glass, thus in most cases the steel protective cage is no longer required. For those instances where a large pane is required, a far less obtrusive cage could be implemented.
FLEXIBILITY TO CREATE YOUR EXCLUSIVE PRODUCT
So whatever your transparency requirement may be, we can create your perfect polycarbonate window for you. Choosing a polycarbonate window will afford you the benefit of a light-weight, highly durable product, with the assurance of maximum safety.
THERMOFORMING
PRODUCTS CATEGORIES
We specialize in advanced thermos-polymer formations in stretched acrylic, cast acrylic and polycarbonate, always with minimal optical distortion and aberration. CLI can also offer forms in fiberglass laminate for applications such as window edgings.
EXPERIENCE
Our enterprise possesses comprehensive experience with acrylic and polycarbonate products, employing the latest and most advanced techniques within the industry, to achieve precise contour control, creating the very highest quality products for strength and durability.
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE
Within the acrylic and polycarbonate products transparency industry, our specialty is working with bi-axially stretched acrylics, (MIL-PRF-25690) ― a stronger, crack propagation resistant acrylic; cast acrylics (MIL-PRF-8184, and MIL-PRF-5425), and polycarbonate for products requiring very high impact resitance.
CLI also employs various industry standard techniques such as drape forming, vacuum forming, wet forming, and blow forming, to achieve precise control of window contours, yet always maintaining defect and distortion free optics.
FLEXIBILITY TO YOUR EXACT REQUIREMENTS
We are also capable to form acrylic and polycarbonate products on customer supplied tools, or able to assist you in the development of specific products and help you build new tools for complex forming applications.
CERTIFICATION
CLI holds a BSI AS9100 certificate in quality assurance and has received various accolades for its exceptional acrylic and polycarbonate products and services. We are proud to benchmark our service on meeting, and often exceeding, customer requirements for both process controls and product inspection.
HARD COATS
INTRODUCTION
Hard coats are applied to formed acrylic and polycarbonate products in our class 100 clean room providing protection from surface damage and environmental degradation. CLI has invested heavily in the technology of hard coats. Our financial commitment of and assiduous dedication to research and development allows us to provide the very best product solutions for even the most difficult application.
As a Post-Coater (applying our coatings after they have been formed), we offer the industries’ highest level of performance coatings.
-
-
- Abrasion Resistance
- Chemical Resistance
- Clarity
- Anti-Fog Performance
-
FIVE STEP PREPARATION
CLI has developed a meticulous five-step cleaning process to prepare all acrylic and polycarbonate products for coating in our class 100 clean room. Fluids are tested for every session and environmental conditions are always well controlled to ensure we offer consistent, superior results in the field. CLI has never had an acrylic or polycarbonate product returned due to poor performance of its hard coat.
POLYCARBONATE
Our exclusive Polycarbonate Hard-Coat offers your product the highest level of performance available today. Our hard-coat is able to repel water better than any temporary window treatment, and is so durable it will withstand the use of wipers when necessary.
SILICONE BASED TREATMENTS
CLI can meet customer requirements for silicone based hard coats on polycarbonate and acrylic transparencies. This is a well-developed process which has been perfected to ensure coatings provide not only lasting protection, but also without any negative effects on the optical characteristics of the transparency.
COUPON TESTING
Coupon testing is performed after every batch run to ensure best adhesion, chemical and environmental resistance, and of course optical clarity.
BONDING AND ASSEMBLY
Thermoformed acrylic and polycarbonate products are custom routed to final size and the faying surfaces are carefully prepared for bonding. Formed edgings are then hand-crafted to precisely match the formed windows within the required tolerances.
BONDING OPTIONS AND MATERIAL DIVERSITY
CLI has bonding experience with fiberglass, ABS, Kydex, nylon and several other edging materials. We can build assemblies ready for final installation with attachment holes machined, or with excess material for final installation by the client in their facilities.
BELL HELICOPTER CERTIFICATIONS
We are certified to the following Bell Helicopter process specifications: 4102; 4446; 4458; 4403; 4434; 4351; 4302; 4302; 4581; 4352; 4138
ADHESIVES, PRIMERS AND TOP COATS
CLI also has comprehensive experience with many adhesives, including acrylic based epoxies and urethane. Furthermore, our plant is equipped for spray application of military grade primers, top coats and protective coatings.