May 22, 2020
How to Clean Plexiglass and other Plastic Surfaces Our “new normal” as much as that phrase has become cliché is going to involve many Plexiglass and other polymer-based windows to prevent virus spread in public spaces. Whether used for windows, sneeze guards, or barriers at retail checkout areas, acrylic (also known as PMMA or Plexiglass) offers many advantages over traditional glass windows. Acrylic is clearer and has higher visible light transmission that standard architectural glass. Along with superior clarity, acrylic is half the weight of glass while being 17 times more impact-resistant than standard plate glass. Here at NACL we…
Read MoreMay 6, 2020
I’m doing my part and wearing a mask…Now how do I keep my glasses from fogging up? By Dan Fiore, Director of Business Development Now that many states have instituted a “best practice” policy of wearing surgical masks in public spaces, a new problem has sprung up temporarily blinding many of us who wear eyeglasses or sunglasses on a regular basis. This issue has plagued eyeglass wearing medical workers, as well as goggle-wearing skiers, and outdoor athletes of all kinds. The obvious question is why does it happen? According to Tom Margrain, a leading researcher at Cardiff University’s School of…
Read MoreFebruary 14, 2020
By Dan Fiore, Director of Business Development Mirror coating services are a major part of our heritage here at North American Coating Laboratories. When we began our business, we deposited mirror coatings, but they were all for cosmetic purposes on ophthalmic lenses. As times changed and we began to move into more non ophthalmic related applications our mirrors were used more for functional applications than fashion applications. The interesting element of these applications is that the deposition technology is the same and creates a mirror that aesthetically looks the same. This is the case with our Full Mirror Gold coating…
Read MoreJanuary 6, 2020
By Dan Fiore, Director of Business Development Polymer optics are being used in a much wider array of applications as the manufacturing processes becomes more refined and the variety of polymers available for unique applications increases. Polymer optics in their virgin form (as molded, machined or diamond-turned) are still very soft and fragile. To overcome this obstacle, polymer material suppliers have been working with enhancements at the resin level, but such improvements have not yielded the results needed to sustain polymer optics in the most severe environments. Multiple deposition techniques can be used to help make polymer optics more robust….
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