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does anyone know by chance what kind of temperature the inside of a projector-beam headlamp would see when being used under normal conditions with a 55W Halogen bulb? would it be more than like 150F? im trying to think of what kind of plastic material would need to be used if one was making a headlamp assembly (projector beam), but i would need to make sure it doesnt get too hot in there.

on that topic, would fiberglass be ok to use for making a projector-beam headlamp assembly? i would assume not, but what if it was lined with like ABS or something so that would take the heat from the bulb directly? i think the headlamp assemblies in the TYC Projectors like i have are made of ABS, if so i guess i could use that for the headlamp huh? [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/IMG]

 
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i think a test is in order, for sure. ive been wondering abotu operating temperatures of fiberglass as well, as it is said that glass is highly suceptible to heat and fire.

for sure youd want a thermoset plastic, anything like polyethylene or polystyrene, any thermoplastic surely wouldnt hack it in such conditions. there may be a termoplastic under your hood, but i dont want to think abotu what honda had to do to raise the glass transition temperature high enough so they didnt have to worry about plastic flow.

but since fiberglass IS prone to burn, the question is, what must be done to get it to be solid here? there are additive you cna buy that increase its heat resistance, but i havent seen it in a shop....may be an internet order only. firthermore, is it really neccesary? try some experiments! when i do my hood, you cna be sure ill be talking ot my university chemistry department. there is a test you can do called Dynamic Mechanical Analysis that will measure the loss and starage modulous of polymers at various temperatures. if you can get your own chemistry department to do some tests on a sample of yoru own stuff that you prepare, you can find out not only operating temperatures, but can extrapolate expected lifetime of your asembly!

at least, in theory....... [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/IMG]