Answers.Body: <p>All of this is correct, ABS can't be transparent and thus transparent parts are made of PC.
  PC against PC bonds way too tighly and designers are actually forbidden to do that in their models. (I've a 4L lightsaber blade stuck in the crossend of a Technic beam, both trans-red, and I can't get it out.)</p>
  
  <p>I'm fairly sure there's a designer (possibly Jamie Berard indeed) presentation on things forbidden to designers but I can't find it back.</p>
  
  <p>Edit: <a href="https://bricks.stackexchange.com/users/125/grandpappy">@Grandpappy</a> found it back: <a href="http://bramlambrecht.com/tmp/jamieberard-brickstress-bf06.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://bramlambrecht.com/tmp/jamieberard-brickstress-bf06.pdf</a> and it's indeed by Jamie Berard. Worth reading again and again.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-11-03T15:13:36.067Z
Answers.Text: Just a clarification, my link was provided by @Kramii!
Answers.UserDisplayName: Nathan
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-11-03T17:33:13.317Z
Answers.Text: There's nothing to be ashamed of, you know :-)
Answers.UserDisplayName: Joubarc
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-02-06T14:32:01.223Z
Answers.Text: I have a [small creator set](http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?S=5865-1) (5865) which calls for two clear 1x2 plates stacked on top of each other.  It is interesting however, that all three models have the plates stacked so there is no need to separate them.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Friend Of George
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-26T13:46:53.297Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2011-11-03T14:37:27.310Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2017-04-13T12:47:56.390Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Joubarc
Body: <p>There are several colors of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/legoblacklight/discuss/72157627478394644/">transparent, fluorescent Lego bricks</a>. In particular, "<a href="http://guide.lugnet.com/color/?q=YG00tf">trans neon yellow</a>" and "<a href="http://guide.lugnet.com/color/?q=OR00tf">trans neon orange</a>", introduced in the early 1990s, exist in a variety of specialized shapes like skis, satellite dishes and visors.</p>
  
  <p>A <a href="http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=61301">Eurobricks discussion</a> on why minifigs are not made from transparent colors suggests that the transparent colors require a different plastic resin than the normal bricks:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>I think some of the issue is that (according to Jamie Berard [Lego designer]), the transparent bricks are made from polycarbonate plastic (PC) rather than ABS. And that's fine most of the time, when you've got opaque ABS and transparent PC, it works just fine. ... But when PC and PC parts get next to each other, they bond VERY TIGHTLY. </p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>I've never really noticed this issue with transparent bricks, but perhaps it's only an issue for certain blocks or with the flexibility needed in minifigs. Still, it's good to know the characteristics of what you're working with!</p>
  
  <p>I can find plenty of information about the normal ABS bricks, but little specifically about how  the transparent neon Lego bricks are made. Are these bricks made from PC rather than ABS?</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2011-11-07T21:29:17.687Z
Comments.Text: PC resins are also more abrasive to molds.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Erik Olson
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2011-10-26T08:42:17.340Z
Comments.Text: I have a habit of stacking all my spare 1x1 round plates together, and I've certainly noticed that if I stack the transparent ones together they are harder to separate than the opaque ones.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Zhaph - Ben Duguid
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2011-10-26T13:43:33.487Z
Comments.Text: possible duplicate of [What kind of plastic are Lego bricks made of?](http://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/191/what-kind-of-plastic-are-lego-bricks-made-of)
Comments.UserDisplayName: Joubarc
Tags: <manufacturing><colour><plastics>
Title: Are transparent neon Lego bricks made from a different plastic than usual?
UserDisplayName: aedia λ
ThreadText: # Are transparent neon Lego bricks made from a different plastic than usual?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2011-10-26)
  
  There are several colors of [transparent, fluorescent Lego bricks](http://www.flickr.com/groups/legoblacklight/discuss/72157627478394644/). In particular, "[trans neon yellow](http://guide.lugnet.com/color/?q=YG00tf)" and "[trans neon orange](http://guide.lugnet.com/color/?q=OR00tf)", introduced in the early 1990s, exist in a variety of specialized shapes like skis, satellite dishes and visors.
  
  A [Eurobricks discussion](http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=61301) on why minifigs are not made from transparent colors suggests that the transparent colors require a different plastic resin than the normal bricks:
  
  > I think some of the issue is that (according to Jamie Berard [Lego designer]), the transparent bricks are made from polycarbonate plastic (PC) rather than ABS. And that's fine most of the time, when you've got opaque ABS and transparent PC, it works just fine. ... But when PC and PC parts get next to each other, they bond VERY TIGHTLY.
  
  I've never really noticed this issue with transparent bricks, but perhaps it's only an issue for certain blocks or with the flexibility needed in minifigs. Still, it's good to know the characteristics of what you're working with!
  
  I can find plenty of information about the normal ABS bricks, but little specifically about how the transparent neon Lego bricks are made. Are these bricks made from PC rather than ABS?
  
  **Tags:** manufacturing, colour, plastics
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_2**: I have a habit of stacking all my spare 1x1 round plates together, and I've certainly noticed that if I stack the transparent ones together they are harder to separate than the opaque ones.  
  > **username_3**: possible duplicate of [What kind of plastic are Lego bricks made of?](http://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/191/what-kind-of-plastic-are-lego-bricks-made-of)  
  > **username_1**: PC resins are also more abrasive to molds.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2011-10-26. Score: 23 | Accepted answer
  
  All of this is correct, ABS can't be transparent and thus transparent parts are made of PC.
  PC against PC bonds way too tighly and designers are actually forbidden to do that in their models. (I've a 4L lightsaber blade stuck in the crossend of a Technic beam, both trans-red, and I can't get it out.)
  
  I'm fairly sure there's a designer (possibly Jamie Berard indeed) presentation on things forbidden to designers but I can't find it back.
  
  Edit: [@Grandpappy](https://bricks.stackexchange.com/users/125/grandpappy) found it back: <http://bramlambrecht.com/tmp/jamieberard-brickstress-bf06.pdf> and it's indeed by Jamie Berard. Worth reading again and again.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_4**: Just a clarification, my link was provided by @Kramii!  
  > **username_3**: There's nothing to be ashamed of, you know :-)  
  > **username_5**: I have a [small creator set](http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?S=5865-1) (5865) which calls for two clear 1x2 plates stacked on top of each other.  It is interesting however, that all three models have the plates stacked so there is no need to separate them.  
  
  ---
  
  