Bullet Resistant Plastic?

[blacklisted]

I have a sheet of some kind of acrylic and I am curious about it. It's 4'X4' and 1.5" thick. I'm wondering what sort of bullet resistance this type could have. I know I'm not giving many specifics, but someone here might be a plastics expert. I'll try and find the label tomorrow.

Here's what the edge looks like:

[TKo_Productions]

Not exactly the same, but this may give you some ideas...

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot6.htm

[blacklisted]

Not exactly the same, but this may give you some ideas...

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot6.htm

I wonder about that because his is 1 piece and mine appears to be three pieces sandwiched together.

[C.G.]

I have a sheet of some kind of acrylic and I am curious about it. It's 4'X4' and 1.5" thick. I'm wondering what sort of bullet resistance this type could have. I know I'm not giving many specifics, but someone here might be a plastics expert. I'll try and find the label tomorrow.

Here's what the edge looks like:

Generally speaking, Lexan or polycarbonate plastics will absorb shock much better than acrylics.
Lexan (polycarbonate) is used for bulletproof car windows whereas acrylic is an improved plexiglass and generally not bulletproof.
At this point there are several polycarbonate manufacturers, (you will mostly find GE in stores) and sometimes to improve scratch resistance the shock resistance is lowered with some.
The reason acrylics are used often is that they are easier to work with, cheaper and tend to be more scratch resistant than polycarbonates.
With various types of polycarbonates and acrylics I would study the spec sheets of the manufacturer before attempting any type of bulletproofing.

[C.G.]

I wonder about that because his is 1 piece and mine appears to be three pieces sandwiched together.

It is less expensive to glue 3 pieces to 1" (or thicker) than it is to produce a 1" solid thickness.

[blacklisted]

I'm actually not sure if it is acrylic.

[C.G.]

I'm actually not sure if it is acrylic.

Not easy to tell from photo, acrylic and polycarbonate is not easy to tell apart by just looking at it.

[blacklisted]

Is there any way to tell by scratching it or something?

[C.G.]

Is there any way to tell by scratching it or something?

1) Polycarbonate will be more difficult to machine and mill.
2) If it were thinner you could bend it with all your might and if it wouldn't break, it would be polycarbonate.
Your best bet might be taking it to TAP and talk to someone there that actually works with plastics (not a salesperson) and they should be able to tell.
Either also reacts differently with various chemicals, unfortunately I don't remember what those were off the top of my head. Sorry couldn't be more help.

[littenhope]

its hard to tell just by looking at photos but it could be acrylic sightglass sorry that i cant help more.

[xxINKxx]

ultra high molecular weight polyethylene is a plastic that they make armor from.

I have a set.

[mikenewgun87]

Yeah maybe against rubber bullets....

Plastic? Like them glocks you can walk thru metal detectors?

[titan2]

I have a sheet of some kind of acrylic and I am curious about it. It's 4'X4' and 1.5" thick. I'm wondering what sort of bullet resistance this type could have. I know I'm not giving many specifics, but someone here might be a plastics expert. I'll try and find the label tomorrow.

Here's what the edge looks like:

Take it out and give it a shot!!!

[hermosabeach]

The mythbusters used a blast shield for years.

One episode they shot it- epic failure.


Anything to slow a bullet will help.


Try a test with 22lr to see what happens.

[Whatisthis?]

This is a forum for gun enthusiasts, right? We like to shoot at anything we safely (and sometimes not so safely) can, right? There have been far too few suggestions of taking it out and shooting it with everything you've got! I vote test it for yourself!

I'm also not a plastics expert so I'm no help there.