Twin Wall Vs Solid Polycarbonate Sheet
Polycarbonate sheeting is popular material due to its durable and rigid structure. it is generally replacing glass in many fields such as the Greenhouse, pool enclosure, roofing of buildings. It is a perfect combination of lightweight, high impact strength, light transmission, frame-resistance, anti-drop as well as charming appearance.
Typically, polycarbonate sheeting is formed into a sheet by an extrusion process. Its impact resistance is 250 times that of glass and surpasses many other plastic materials such as acrylic.
Polycarbonate sheets usually come in two types, Solid and twin-wall. They have similar properties; however, they vary in thickness, clarity, impact resistance and pricing. In this article, we will guide you through a comparison between Twin wall and solid polycarbonate sheets.
What is solid polycarbonate sheeting?
Solid Polycarbonate sheet is a transparent, resistible and high-toughness material, it is a Flat Extruded Polycarbonate Sheet with single layer. Its lightweight, transparent, and UV-resistant properties, making it the top choice for many architects and designers. solid polycarbonate sheet is ideal for use in construction, architecture, roofing, and glazing applications because it can be shaped, cut, or drilled with ease since it will not break under pressure.
What is Twin wall polycarbonate sheeting?
Twin wall sheet means two exterior pieces of polycarbonate connected by an interior plastic support that allows the two plastic sheets to run parallel to one another; it has two layers with an air space between the layers. This method of layering reduce weight a lot and increase Thermal insulation. this kind of sheet commonly used in residential, commercial, or industrial establishments as roofing, green house panels, skylights, and more.
- 4mm Twin wall polycarbonate sheet – Commonly used for safety barriers, wall cladding and greenhouse glazing.
- 6mm Twin wall polycarbonate sheet- Commonly used for wall cladding and greenhouse glazing.
- 10mm Twin wall polycarbonate sheet- Commonly used for smaller roofing projects such as carports and sheds.
Typical Characteristics comparison of Twin wall vs solid polycarbonate sheet
| 4 mm solid Polycarbonate Sheeting | 4 mm Twin wall Polycarbonate Sheeting | |
| Thermal insulation | Fair | Great (better than Solid sheet) |
| Light transmission | 88% | 82% |
| Weight | 1.19 kg/m² | 0.8 kg/m² |
| Cost | Fair | Low (lower than solid sheet) |
| impact strength | Great (better than twin wall sheet) | Fair |
polycarbonate sheet for Greenhouse, Twin wall vs solid?
The two types of polycarbonate sheets for greenhouses are Twin wall Polycarbonate and Solid Polycarbonate. Both are great options with similar properties. Overall, a twin wall polycarbonate sheet will be a better choice for green housing. here we explain a head-to-head comparison of twin wall VS solid polycarbonate sheet.
Impact Strength
Solid polycarbonate sheets are 200 times stronger than glass of the same thicker due to the polymer resin it is manufactured from. They give a higher impact strength than any other plastic sheet including muti-wall polycarbonate sheets.
Twin wall polycarbonate is a lightweight sheet however it also has a good impact strength when compared to glass. Its impact strength is due to it having multiple layers, meaning it spreads any impact throughout the layers.
So, if you put impact strength sheet as priority, then Solid polycarbonate sheets are the best option.
Thermal insulation
twin wall polycarbonate roofing will make you never have to worry about the weather being too hot or too cold again! These twin wall panels possess a high light transmission rate, allowing plenty of natural sunshine to come. Its excellent thermal insulation also stores heat in its two internal walls for heating spaces where warmth may be necessary. So, in terms of home roofing, twin wall polycarbonate sheet will be your best choice.
Cost
Twin-wall polycarbonate is the more cost-effective option for anyone on a budget. this is because it isn’t solid so there is less raw material used per meter. Solid polycarbonate is considered a more premium option for a greenhouse. But better quality comes with a bigger cost, So, in terms of cost, Twin wall is a cheaper greenhouse than polycarbonate option.
Clarity
Solid polycarbonate offers a higher light transmission of around 89% compared to the 81% offered by twin walls. Along with better light transmission, solid polycarbonate has a lot greater clarity meaning if you are looking for the highest clarity in your green house, solid So Solid polycarbonate lid polycarbonate sheet will be your choice.
Light weight
One of the first benefits of twin-wall polycarbonate for greenhouses is its lightweight design. When the entire wall and ceiling of a structure is made up of a material, it needs to be as lightweight as possible for easy installation. because the construction of twin walls, uses less materials than solid sheets, so it obviously lightweight than solid ones. So in terms of easy installing, twin wall polycarbonate sheet will be a good choice especially when you want change the walls of greenhouse usually.
Other Polycarbonate Material
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Polycarbonate Film
Polycarbonate Film Polycarbonate film usually with a thickness ≤0.25mm. It is a non-toxic, highly transparent colorless plastic film with excellent mechanical properties. types of Polycarbonate Film General-purpose Polycarbonate film General-purpose film has high strength, high toughness and wear resistance characteristics, mainly used in the production of auto parts, electronic device shell, building materials, aerospace materials…
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Polycarbonate Rod
Clear Polycarbonate Rod The polycarbonate rod is a high-quality rod made primarily of polycarbonate using co-extrusion technology. Due to a layer of high-concentration UV absorber on its surface, it not only has UV-resistant characteristics but can also maintain long-term weather resistance without fading. Polycarbonate rods can be connected using special glue, effectively preventing leaks. Clear…
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Polycarbonate Sheet
Polycarbonate Sheet Our clear polycarbonate sheets have good transparency plus shatter resistance and high strength. They are great alternative to glass and other clear plastics. We offer high-quality polycarbonate sheets with different thickneses, colors, and sizes. Types of Polycarbonate Sheet sellable Standard Polycarbonate Sheet Size: At Kusla, we offer Polycarbonate sheet as following sheet sizes…
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Polycarbonate Tube
clear Round & Square Polycarbonate Tube Polycarbonate tubes are clear extruded tubes delivering brilliant quality, superior performance, and durability. they refers to an elongated, hollow, and strong component engineered from polycarbonate thermoplastic material with space inside. It is widely used in different applications revolving around holding or transporting different substances, especially liquids and gases. Round Polycarbonate…
Conclusion
KUSLA is a leading polycarbonate sheet manufacturer in China that provide both solid polycarbonate sheet and twin wall polycarbonate sheet and other kinds, if you have any questions about polycarbonate sheet, contact us now.
