Maybe you’ve experienced it—it’s a hot day outside, and in a rush to switch off from the job site, you accidentally leave your prescription safety glasses on the dashboard. Or, perhaps you’ve forgotten a pair of sunglasses in the center console on a summer road trip. No matter how it happens, the results are the same: heat builds up inside the car, softening the acetate or low-grade plastic on your frames and leaving them warped, stretched out, and maybe unwearable.
Whether you’re at work or play, you shouldn’t have to live with frame distortion. Glasses frames made from TR-90, a thermoplastic memory polymer engineered to withstand high heat, are no match for summer temperatures, other extreme conditions, and regular wear and tear.
Read on to learn how the thermoplastic nylon TR-90 solves the problem of warped glasses frames while remaining easy to wear. You’ll also learn about the wide range of TR-90 frames available for eyeglasses, sunglasses, and safety glasses at RX-Safety.
Cars are thoroughly insulated to protect the driver and passengers from both intense engine heat and outdoor weather conditions. While that’s great for keeping you comfortable, it also means things can get hot quickly when the car is parked and the AC is off.
Heat energy from sunlight enters your car through the windows and windshields, but it has a far harder time leaving. A few minutes parked in the summer sun is all it takes for a car’s interior to become dangerously hot. On a day with temperatures of 90° F/32° C, the interior of a locked vehicle can exceed 130° F/54°C in minutes. Surfaces are even hotter, with dashboard temps regularly exceeding 160°F/71°C after minutes. Even indirect sun can cause a rapid temperature spike.
The heavy-duty materials in your car can handle the heat, but the plastics and acetates you’ll find in most glasses frames can’t. These materials typically have low heat deflection temperatures, which means they don’t require much heat to become pliable. Once safety glasses frames are damaged by dashboard heat, the temples can stretch, and the front rims may warp, affecting prescription alignment and reducing the protection your eyes receive.
TR-90 is a thermoplastic polyamide, or a nylon compound that can be heated and reshaped multiple times without major chemical changes. This Swiss-engineered material also has a high melting point and high thermal stability, meaning it requires a lot of energy to heat up. It’s rated to survive temperatures far hotter than those in your truck cab and is often used in industrial components.
Additionally, TR-90 is a memory polymer, which means it can be subjected to stress or mild flexing while warm and still return to its exact, factory-molded shape when cooled. In the unlikely event that your TR-90 frames are exposed to temperatures high enough to cause deformation, they will return to their original shape.
This type of toughness generally comes with extra bulk, but TR-90 is about 85% lighter than traditional plastics. That makes for heat-resistant glasses which are exceptionally comfortable, even after a long day on the job site.
High heat is far from the only risk to a pair of frames at the job site. Struck-by incidents can easily break a pair of glasses. As a nylon, TR-90 is naturally elastic and able to absorb even high-velocity impacts, such as those from a falling or flying object. It’s so tough that it’s the premier base material for ANSI Z87.1-certified safety eyewear.
Dangers aside, day-to-day job site work is enough to take a toll on your glasses. Sweat, body oils, sunscreen, and industrial cleaning solvents will degrade most plastics over time, but TR-90 resists peeling and corroding. And unlike cheaper plastics, which can cause chafing, rashes, or irritation, TR-90 is completely biocompatible.
TR-90 is tough enough for outdoor work, but at RX-Safety, we use this durable material in more than personal protective equipment. You’ll find it across our entire lineup, from indestructible safety glasses to stylish optical frames and high-performance TR-90 nylon sunglasses.
Start by selecting the right TR-90 frames for you, then outfit them with fully customized RX-Safety prescription lenses. We can add anti-fog, polarized, and transition coating in-house to provide you with a customized pair of glasses that are comfortable, durable, and affordable.
TR-90 is a premium thermoplastic material that’s tough enough for a heatwave on the job site, but comfortable enough for everyday wear. TR-90 frames also offer impact resistance, durability, and biocompatibility.
Don’t let the summer heat waves destroy your vision. Upgrade to the ultimate in thermal durability. Explore RX-Safety’s vast collection of TR-90 prescription safety glasses, sunglasses, and optical frames today, and get gear that can handle the heat.
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