polycarbonate plastic

Transparent, Good UV Resistance, Excellent Impact Resistance, Low Flammability, Outstanding Machinability…

Polycarbonate Plastic You Need To Know

Polycarbonate Plastic, the short name “PC”, was synthesized through chemical reactions between bisphenol A (BPA) and phosgene COCl2. It was first patented in 1953 by Hermann Schnell at Bayer with the trademark “Makloron”. Also in 1953, Daniel Fox at General Electric (GE) synthesized polycarbonate plastic, the trademark is “Lexan”.

Polycarbonate Plastic is one of the thermoplastics, its main features include good optical properties, excellent impact resistance, and extraordinary durability. It can be extruded into panels, thin films, blocks, rods, tubes, and other plastic profiles with special shapes. Polycarbonate Plastic also can be injection molded into some plastic parts for industrial parts and components.

As one of the popular engineering plastics, Polycarbonate (PC) plastic is a virtually unbreakable plastic, it offers lightweight and high optical clarity, therefore, it is widely used for window glass & roofing panels for buildings, front panels of screens, machine guards, signs, plastic parts and components for industrial.

Specification about Polycarbonate Plastic

Profile/Shape

  • Sheet
  • Block
  • Film Roll
  • Rod
  • Customized Profile

Grade

  • General-purpose
  • Glass-Filled
  • Light Diffuser
  • Print Grade
  • PMMA/PC
  • Flame retardant
  • Glass-Filled
  • Optical grade

Color

  • Nature (transparent)
  • White
  • Black
  • Green
  • Blue
  • Grey
  • Customized colors

Coating Type

  • ESD/Anti-static
  • Scratch-resistant
  • Anti-Fog
  • UV Resistant
  • Infrared Ray Transmitting
  • Anti-glare

Surface

  • Glossy/polished
  • Matte
  • Fine frosted
  • Middle frosted
  • Frosted

PC Film

  • Thickness: From 0.06mm to 1mm
  • Max. Width: 1220mm
  • Max. Length: 1000m

PC Sheet

  • Thickness: From 1.2mm to 40mm
  • Max. Width: 2700mm
  • Max. Length: 50m

PC Block

  • Thickness: From 50mm to 200mm
  • Max. Width: 1220mm
  • Max. Length: 2000mm

PC Rod

  • Diameter: From 3mm to 250mm
  • Max. Length: 2000mm

PC Tube

  • Diameter: From 5mm to 110mm
  • Max. Length: 2000mm
Remark
  • All sizes can be customized according to the requirements of clients;
  • Machining services are available;

Main Usage of Polycarbonate Plastic

  • Industrial parts by injection molding or machining polycarbonate sheet/block/rod;
  • Facade & roofing panels for buildings;
  • Riot shield & machine guards;
  • Safety glass & bullet-proof glass;
  • Sight glasses & face shield;
  • The windshield of the golf cart and motorcycle;
  • The front plate of the electric device;
  • Light diffuser for mini LED or head-up display system;
  • Instruments panel of car;
  • Rapid prototype of automobile parts;
  • Basketball backboard;
  • Display sign or indicator;

Main Feature of Polycarbonate Plastic

  • Polycarbonate plastic is virtually unbreakable;
  • Transparent polycarbonate sheet is glass-like, and offers 90% light transmission;
  • Wide options in colors and surface types;
  • With co-extruded UV layers on one or two sides for improved durability;
  • Excellent flame retardation, meeting V0/U94;
  • Outstanding machinability, for example, thermoforming, CNC machining, cold/hot bending;
  • Easy to print by UV printing and silk-screen printing;
  • Easy to bond;
  • Withstands most extreme hot and cold climates between -40°C to 120 °C;
  • Environment-friendly material and meet RoHS and REACH requirements;

Properties of Polycarbonate plastic

Basic PropertiesTesting StandardUnitValue
DensityASTM D-792g/cm31.2
Flame-retardant gradesUL94V0 or V2
Natural Color//Transparent

Mechanical PropertiesTesting StandardUnitValue
Tensile StrengthASTM D-638Mpa68
Tensile Modulus of ElasticityASTM D-638Mpa2530
flexural strengthaSTM 790Mpa100
flexural modulus of elasticityASTM 790mpa2200
hardnessASTM D-2240D85
izod impactASTM D-256J/M800

physical propertiestesting standardunitvalue
water absorption(immersion 24 hours23℃ 60%RH%0.15

thermal propertiestesting standardunitvalue
coefficient of linear thermal expansionASTM D-69610-5-1/K5.6
heat deflection temperature(66psi/264psi)ASTM D-648120
max continuous service temperature in air120

other propertiestesting standardunitvalue
coefficient of frictionDIN 533750

Can’t find what you need? Or need a custom polycarbonate?

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Leading Supplier of Polycarbonate Plastic In China

In 2003, UVTECO began to manufacture polycarbonate sheets/films/blocks/rods/tubes by using high-quality polycarbonate plastic from Sabic, Covestro, Teijin, etc. With continuous effort, UVTECO has grown to be a leading supplier of polycarbonate-based products in China, and we are storing polycarbonate films/sheets/blocks/rods/tubes in frequently-used sizes for fast delivery.

Otherwise, UVTECO can provide the integrated machining solution for polycarbonate-based parts/components, the main machining methods include cutting, bending, drilling, 3-axis & 5-axis CNC milling, CNC Turning, injection molding, thermal forming, silk-screen/UV printing, engraving, polishing, coating, etc.

Today, UVTECO is providing high-quality polycarbonate-based products, parts, and components for more than 2500 clients from more than 45 countries, they are working in agriculture, architecture, automation, the automobile industry, the medical industry, aerospace industry, security, protection, etc.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Polycarbonate Plastic

Polycarbonate plastic is a popular engineering plastic, it offers excellent impact resistance and good flame retardance. Therefore, it is used widely in agriculture, construction, riot shields, security glass, bullet-proof glass, etc.

Polycarbonate plastic can be extruded into sheets, rods, and tubes, they offer good machinability, therefore, it can be machined into industrial parts, electronic components, rapid prototypes, and low-volume manufacturing.

Polycarbonate plastic is a good material for the injection molding process, therefore, it can be made into complex parts in large-quantity products.

Polycarbonate plastic offers good light transmittance and printing performance, therefore, it is used frequently as front panels, glass, etc.

Here, maybe you want to know some polycarbonate products from UVTECO:

Yes. IR-transmitting polycarbonate plastic offers the same physical properties as general polycarbonate plastic, but it can block visible light and transmit Infrared Rays. Normally, it is used for Infrared sensing devices, cameras, light filters, etc.

Contact UVTECO for more information for IR-transmitting polycarbonate plastic.

Yes. Normally, IR-block polycarbonate plastic is used as building material, it can block some heat from outdoor to indoor.

Yes. Compared with acrylic, polycarbonate is easier to scratch. However, UVTECO can produce anti-scratch polycarbonate by coating technology. This is a very thin layer attached to the surface of polycarbonate that prevents scratching effects and won’t affect the optical properties.

Yes, a solid polycarbonate sheet with 15mm thickness is bulletproof.

Yes. Polycarbonate plastic turns yellow over time as a result of exposure to direct sunlight. However, UVTECO treats the polycarbonate with UV protective layer to prevent yellowing.

Yes. Normally, the samples are free, but clients should pay the delivery cost, or UVTECO uses clients’ UPS, FedEx, or DHL to deliver samples. If the samples are customized, clients should pay the sample cost and delivery cost.

Yes. polycarbonate sheet is bendable with or without heating.

If you bend it at home, a heat gun will be needed. But we suggest leaving UVTECO to bend it because we have professional equipment and machining experience.

Polycarbonate plastic and Acrylic are popular engineering plastics, which provide good light transmittance, but polycarbonate sheets are stronger than acrylic, and polycarbonate is easier to scratch. Please see the following comparison.

ItemAcrylicPolycarbonate
Strength17 times stronger than glass250 times stronger than glass
Clarity92% light transmittance90% light transmittance
CuttingCan be cut by a sawCan be cut by a saw
DrillingBy using a special drill bitBy using a regular drill bit
Gluingcleaner glue jointcan be glued, but not as clean as acrylic
Bendingheat bendingheat/cold bending
Polishingcan be polishedcan be polished
Chemical Resistancelow, should only be cleaned with plastic cleanerhigher than acrylic, resistant to gasoline and acid
Costless expensive than polycarbonatecomparatively more expensive
Difference between Polycarbonate and Acrylic

Yes. polycarbonate sheet is bendable with or without heating.

If you bend it at home, a heat gun will be needed. But we suggest leaving UVTECO to bend it because we have professional equipment and machining experience.

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