Also see Polygal

If you are looking for a quality polycarbonate sheet which features the latest in product technology and which comes with the kind of personal service you need, call or email SAN DIEGO PLASTICS, INC. and ask about Lexcel TW.

Lexcel TW polycarbonate sheets are an effective alternative to traditional glazings in a wide variety of applications including:
Commercial Greenhouses
Skylights
Pool Enclosures
Office Partitions
Industrial Roofing
Vertical Glaring
Shelters
Canopies
Sheds
Domes
Walkways
Patio Covering
Carports
Sunrooms
Window Replacement
Home Greenhouses

HIGH LIGHT TRANSMISSION
Lexcel TW sheet offers a high degree of light transmittance while blocking harmful ultra violet rays. In its structured sheet form, Lexcel TW also offers excellent thermal insulation properties. VIRTUALLY UNBREAKABLE Lexcel TW is economical and light in weight, yet is 10 times stronger than acrylic and 200 times stronger than glass !

EASILY FABRICATED ON SITE
Highly flexible, a Lexcel TW sheet can be easily cold formed and will not crack or splinter when fabricated.

EXCLUSIVE DROP-STOP COATING
This high tech discovery ensures that greenhouse condensation is carried away from the roofing so that droplets will not damage your nursery stock.

POLYCARBONATE PROFILES
Join Lexcel TW structured panels with a complete line of polycarbonate profiles available in clear, bronze and opal tints.

WARRANTEED
Lexcel TW carries a full warranty against yellowing for 10 years and against breakage for 5 years.

LEXCEL C
The new LEXCEL C corrugated sheet provides cost-efficient glazing for greenhouses and many other uses. This product can easily fit into all types of construction applications. It can be easily cleaned. LEXCEL C is light weight and virtually unbreakable. It is designed to match the specific profile of metal sheets in wall cladding or roofing, and is tailor-made to match the commonly used profiles.

Surface UV Protected
A Co-extruded protective surface on the top side gives excellent durability to outdoor weathering. The sheet will remain clear and non-yellowing for many years with minimal deterioration. The optical property of LEXCEL C (91%) is almost equal to that of glass. (Fig 3) With a service life that is years longer than polyethylene or fiberglass, and more economical than glass, LEXCEL C Corrugated sheet fills an important cost/performance niche in rigid coverings.

Unbelievably Tough
The unbreakableness of LEXCEL C makes it a tough product for outdoor applications. It is extensively used in industrial and commercial buildings, swimming pool covers, stadium roofs, greenhouse coverings and wall glazing.

Light Spectrum Transmission
The transmission of solar radiation through LEXCEL C corrugated sheet is selective for UV rays: visible, near infrared and infrared. The sheets form a complete shield against harmful UV rays. At the same time, they transmit the visible light essential to crop health and photosynthesis.

Condensation Control
LEXCEL C corrugated sheets are available with condensation control formulated on the inside of the sheet. This helps prevent condensation droplets from causing disease to plants while allowing up to 30% more light than corrugated sheets without this control.

AVAILABILITY:
Thickness: .031" (.79mm)
Width: 50"
Length: Up to 38'
Custom lengths to a minimum of 8'
Standard Color: Clear, Opal, Bronze
Tolerances: ±10%
Bending Radius: 13' min

Thermal Insulation
LEXCEL C corrugated sheets offer considerable energy saving and reduced heating costs as compared to other materials. The heat loss in greenhouses through LEXCEL C sheets is very low as compared to fiberglass sheets. The K-value (amount of energy transmitted through the material per square meter and per degree temperature difference, expressed in w/meter square K), for LEXCEL C is 2.8 W/meter square K. The lower K-value means better insulation. The U-value is 1.2. When used with an energy curtain, energy savings of up to 50% can be realized.

High Impact Strength
With 20 times the impact resistance of fiberglass and over 40 times the impact resistance of glass or acrylic, LEXCEL C corrugated sheet resists hail, wind and vandalism. It is 250 times stronger than other thermoplastic material. At a thickness of .031" (.79mm), LEXCEL C corrugated sheet can withstand over 240 pounds of impact. This equates to a 3/4" hailstone falling at 96 miles per hour. The sheet maintains this superior impact resistance through extreme temperature changes. The bending radius of the sheet is 13' minimum.

Non-Flammable Feature
LEXCEL C corrugated sheet is classified as self extinguishing material. The sheet does not contribute to flame spread. When subjected to flames from spreading fire, the material only melts away and forms holes which release smoke, gases and heat. It exhibits good melting behavior as it prevents burning droplets and does not emit toxic gases.

Temperature Resistance
LEXCEL C corrugated sheets remain stable under extreme climatic conditions. The sheets will not distort at high temperature, and will not brittle under low temperature. Physical properties remain unchanged in the temperature range of -30° Celsius to +120° Celsius.

Packaging
UV Protected side marked: "Install this side outwards". Pallets are protected with PE film.
Individual sheets are not protected with PE film.

Thermal Expansion
Correct calculation of expansion in order to provide for the necessary allowance in the framing is required. The thermal expansion coefficient is 0.0000375 in/in °F. Allow for thermal expansion during installation at a rate of 1/8" per 3 feet at 100° temperature differentials in both width and length of sheet. Bronze panels require an additional 30% space for expansion.

Panel Distortion
LEXCEL C corrugated should never be walked on, knelt on or dented with a hammer. Any local deformation due to inadvertent and excessive local pressure or vandalism should be reversed as soon as possible to avoid eventual local stress crazing.

Cleaning
Use only recommended cleaning agents.
Clean LEXCEL C corrugated sheet with any mild soap or detergent and warm water, using a soft cloth or sponge. Abrasive cleaners, brushes or squeegees should not be used. The following cleaning agents have been found compatible with LEXCEL C corrugated sheet. Follow manufacturer's recommendations and instructions: Joy, Top Job, Freon T.F., Formula 409, Palmolive Liquid and Windex with Ammonia D, are acceptable cleaning agents.

Handling
LEXCEL C corrugated sheet, being a tough product, requires little special handling. It is recommended, however, that the sheets must be protected from abrasion while handling.

Storage
The sheets must be stored horizontally on flat surface and kept away from direct sunlight during storage. Original crating is not sufficient to protect panels from solar heat gain damage. The longest sheet should be at bottom of stack. Maximum height of sheets, 1,000 mm. Avoid walking on sheets or placing heavy objects on stack.

Cutting
Sheets can be cut using standard hand saws, power saws, shears, circular blade saws with fine tooth blades, or razor knife. While cutting, the sheets should be clamped to avoid vibration. When making pointed turns in direction of the cut, drill a hole where the two cuts are to intersect, and then cut through the hole. It is a good idea to clean the powder or debris prior to installation.

Drilling
Allow for thermal expansion when drilling the holes. Hole diameter should be drilled 5/64th larger than the diameter of the fastener. The sheets can be drilled by using any kind of metal drills. The sheets should be drilled at a low speed, while supporting the sheet underneath to avoid vibration.

Positioning
Corrugated panels have a UV resistant exterior and a condensate control interior surface. Install panels with label side out. If label has been removed, install panels with edges pointing down--not up. Panels should be installed with exterior lap edges facing away from prevailing winds.

Weather-Seal
Using only neoprene or EPDM weatherseal washers with the fasteners of polycarbonate sheets. Other types of washers may cause panel deterioration at fastening points. Washers are to be of sufficient diameter to provide good seal against weather penetration. Closure strips must be of compatible neoprene or foam as well.

Sheet Orientation
Install LEXCEL C corrugated sheet with the ribs running vertically. An overlap of at least one corrugation is recommended. The upper sheet in the overlap should be in the up-wind direction. If overlap is needed in sheet length, we recommend a 5" to 8" overlap. Since the finished width of LEXCEL C corrugated sheet is 51", the yield from a sheet is 48". (Fig. 5)

Bending or Burying Sheet
The flexibility of the sheet is sufficient to allow longitudinal curves with a minimum radius of 158". Flexing or installing a sheet to the point of buckling can cause rapid deterioration in highly stressed areas. For added strength and rodent control, sheets at ground level may be buried 4" to 6".

Painting
It is not recommended to paint LEXCEL C corrugated sheets. Even if paint is necessary, the paints used should be compatible with polycarbonate. Polyurethane based paints are usually recommended. Solvent based paints should not be used. Paints should never be removed with paint thinner as it is highly incompatible with polycarbonate.

Fastening
Corrugated sheets should be fastened at every third or fourth corrugation. Sheet edges at ridge and gutter should always be fastened at each second corrugation. (Exception would be Florida, where new fastening codes apply.)

Wall Fastening
The fasteners should be installed on the down (flat) section of the corrugation. The panels must be attached to the horizontal members (girts) for correct support. Girts should be spaced 4' to 5' apart. (Fig. 6)

Roof Fastening
Rafters spacing should coincide with sheet overlaps. A roof fall of 5 degrees is recommended in order to allow wind and rain to clean the sheets naturally. For roofing, the fasteners should be installed at the top of the corrugation. The panels must be attached to the horizontal members (purlins) for correct support. Purlins should be spaced 4' to 5' apart.

Ridge/Cutter
Sheet edges at ridge and gutter should always be fastened at each second corrugation.

Sealants
Do not apply sealants between overlapping panels. Sealants are not required, could damage the sheet and would only result in unsightly dirt streaks.

Lap Fasteners
Install lap fasteners while panels are still on the ground. After marking off lap fastener locations, press pointed tabs through one panel from the bottom. Then bend tabs down. Overlapping panel edges are fastened together after placement by means of self-drilling, self-tapping screws which are screwed through both panels and into the lap fastener on the underside of the bottom panel. Two panels can be fastened together on the ground for fast installation.

No Drip Spacers
To avoid condensation dropping off purlins, no-drip spacers or pipe straps can be placed between the purlins and the panels. If condensate drip is not objectionable, fasten sheet directly to purlins.

DOUBLE-WIDE QUONSET-STYLE GREENHOUSE
To aid with condensation control, the addition of a ridge support is suggested to increase the roof pitch of double-wide quonset-style greenhouses. The ridge support should have a minimum pitch of 3:12. The joint between the sheet and ridge cap should be sealed with foam insulating weatherseal.

QUONSET-STYLE GREENHOUSES
A typical quonset-style greenhouse recovered with LEXCEL C corrugated sheet is shown below. In most houses, existing rafter and purlin supports will accommodate the installation of LEXCEL C corrugated sheet, which is designed to support a load of 30 lbs./sq.ft..
Rafter spacing is a function of greenhouse design. Purlin spacing should not exceed 40". For shorter (8') sheets, purlin spacing of 30" is suggested. Typical rafter and purlin support construction and details are illustrated below. In designs with lower load requirements, increased spacing can be used.