UV Protection for Awning and Hatch

Kiltym

Active member
Wondering if there is some type of spray UV protectant that could be applied to the awning window and the top opening hatch to offer some protection to the clear plastic. The awning window is acrylic, and I assume the top hatch is also.

We are fortunate that both our windows are still in good condition, but would like to keep them that way.

Have searched on Google, but wondering if there are any recommendations.....
 

OldWest

2004 T1N Westfalia
1. Small Aircraft Windows

Maybe search for protective solutions for small aircraft windows, which are often made of plastic--acrylic.

2. Plexus

Plexus is supposed to be good for cleaning and protecting plastics but does not appear to have any UV protection.

http://www.plexusplasticcleaner.com/about.html

3. Paint/Plastic-Dip

For skylight, an alternative is to paint or Plasti-Dip if want to cut down heat. If not a solid coating, skylight will be translucent.

I used Plasti-Dip. Autocamp used paint.

https://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46428&highlight=Plasti-dip
 
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Tortuga44

New member
I've used the UV window film from Home Depot. It's perfect for the upper side windows. The windows come off really easy & you can apply the film to the exterior of the window at your kitchen table. The film is a peel off film meant for the inside of windows. But we've had it last for a year on the outside of the van. The film gets applied with a water solution. So make sure this has a chance to dry before you go driving down the road. This isn't a perfect solution, but it seems pretty good. The film is <$20, and I think this can cover 4 side windows. Gila Window Film- We used Black for the 98-99% UV protection. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Gila-36-in-x-78-in-Black-Privacy-Window-Film-PB78/100618512

Once, the film blew off of one of the windows. I think it was scratched by a tree, and then "peeled off". So it is non-permanent. Hope that helps.
 

Camp

Sprinter Westfalia
I usually don't have anything to add to the Westy discussion, but I have an entire shelf in my storage unit dedicated to Westy cleaning and preservation.

I saw a new camper a while back with acrylic windows that came from the manufacturer with the NOVUS kit in the link below. I recently bought it for my Westy, but haven't tried it out yet. It doesn't claim to offer UV protection, but one of the indicated uses of the first bottle is to protect plastics.

NOVUS 7100
https://www.amazon.com/NOVUS-7100-Plastic-Polish-Kit/dp/B002UCYRZU

Also, I accidently bumped the corner of my awning window once with a microfiber towel with 303 on it. I think the reason that it isn't recommended for acrylic is that it doesn't adhere properly. Usually 303 withstands many washes on surfaces it is designed for, but it came right off the awning window after wiping it with a wet microfiber towel.
 

discus

GA Westy
I've used the UV window film from Home Depot. It's perfect for the upper side windows. The windows come off really easy & you can apply the film to the exterior of the window at your kitchen table. The film is a peel off film meant for the inside of windows. But we've had it last for a year on the outside of the van. The film gets applied with a water solution. So make sure this has a chance to dry before you go driving down the road. This isn't a perfect solution, but it seems pretty good. The film is <$20, and I think this can cover 4 side windows. Gila Window Film- We used Black for the 98-99% UV protection. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Gila-36-in-x-78-in-Black-Privacy-Window-Film-PB78/100618512



Once, the film blew off of one of the windows. I think it was scratched by a tree, and then "peeled off". So it is non-permanent. Hope that helps.


Dark window film on plastic can usually gets a lot of heat build up and causes those nasty micro cracks all over the window. Like shattered safety glass.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

Mike DZ

2016 View 24V (2015 3500)
According to this site http://www.emcoplastics.com/acrylic-faqs/ acrylics will not yellow in the sun, but other plastics that look like acrylic will yellow.

"Acrylic (Plexiglas®, Lucite®, and Acrylite®) comes from natural gas and is completely inert when in solid form. American-made acrylic does NOT yellow in the sunlight. Witness the protective canopies and bubbles in the World War II bombers- they are still clear after 50 years in the sun! There are three other clear plastics that do yellow in the sun and get confused with acrylic- Styrene, PETG, and Polycarbonate. They have their respective qualities that make this an acceptable trade-off."

I am not a plastics engineer so I couldn't authoritatively tell the difference.

However, if true, the clear plastic used in your application may be ok with 303 or other similar products.
 

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