PPG begins full-scale production of OPTICOR advanced transparency material

PPG Industries' aerospace transparencies group has begun full-scale commercial production of OPTICOR(TM) advanced transparency material at its Sylmar facility. The company transferred pilot operations from the PPG Glass Business and Discovery Center near Pittsburgh to expand production of the high-performance plastic for lightweight aircraft windows.

PPG created Opticor advanced transparency material and expanded its availability to help meet the increasing efficiency and maintenance challenges faced by global customers who manufacture and operate aircraft, according to Anthony Stone, PPG global director for new business development and innovations for transparencies.

"Aircraft windows made with Opticor advanced transparency material are lightweight and resist crazing to maintain optical clarity," Stone said.

He added that PPG produces the material in a range of thicknesses and plans to develop technology for forming it into complex shapes.

Opticor advanced transparency material is used for the outboard surface of the passenger-cabin windows in the Gulfstream G650(R) business jet, Stone said. The proprietary PPG plastic is laminated to stretched acrylic for increased stiffness and assembled with an inboard coated glass panel that is heated for antifogging. PPG fabricates the windows at its Huntsville, Ala., plant.

PPG is displaying a cabin window for the G650 business jet at its booth (B10, Hall 4) during the Farnborough International Airshow, July 9-15.