Hostaglas Ltd (5 Westgate Business Park, Ballymount, IRL-Dublin 24), a subsidiary of Hoechst AG (D-65926 Frankfurt), are using a novel extrusion technology to produce transparent PET sheets between 1 mm and 5 mm thick. According to Hostaglas, these sheets have very good optical clarity and exceptional impact resistance. They are classified as difficult to ignite (ignition class B1) even without flame-retardant additives; even if they should burn, only a small amount of smoke and no toxic gases are produced. This means that the sheets are particularly suitable for applications where safety is of particular importance, such as interior cladding and stands for trade fairs, advertisement display panels and decorative partitions or as transparent safety screens for machinery and in laboratories. The results of long-term UV resistance testing suggest that both weathering and UV stability are very good. "Hostaglas" is internationally approved for contact with foodstuffs and has good resistance to chemicals and solvents. Resulting from these characteristics, "Hostaglas" far outclasses all other types of transparent plastic sheet. In addition, it is completely reusable and can be integrated into established recycling systems. Hoechst acquired the know-how and the production plant for the manufacture of PET sheets from the Irish plastics manufacturer Caraplas Ltd at the beginning of 1995 (see Plasteurope.com No. 04, 1995).

READER SERVICE: Brochure "Hostaglas" with technical data and product programme (in German): PIE-No. 38797.