Lightweight and virtually unbreakable clear plastic for glass replacement, glazing, signage, and more.
Polycarbonate is a transparent and virtually unbreakable thermoplastic with outstanding impact resistance, strength, and durability. It has similar optical properties to glass at a much lower weight.
Polycarbonate (PC) plastics are transparent amorphous thermoplastics with outstanding mechanical strength, durability, and impact resistance. They are virtually unbreakable and capable of withstanding much greater impacts compared to glass and other plastics with similar properties.
General purpose polycarbonate has similar light transmittance and transparency to glass at a much lower weight and is often used as a replacement for it. Polycarbonate is a versatile material than can be thermoformed, machined, fabricated, and bonded with solvents.
Although polycarbonate has superior impact resistance and optical clarity compared to similar materials, it is susceptible to scratching. An abrasion resistant coating may be applied to polycarbonate sheet to increase its resistance to scratches.
What is polycarbonate used for?
Polycarbonate, also abbreviated as PC, is a virtually unbreakable amorphous engineering plastic with outstanding impact resistance and optical clarity. Polycarbonate is used in laptop housings, interior aircraft parts, skylights, public buildings, self-service gas stations, and other applications where light weight, durability, and optical properties are required.
Is acrylic or polycarbonate better?
Polycarbonate offers more durability and impact resistance but scratches more easily than acrylic, making it the better material for more demanding or protective applications. Acrylic has better optical clarity but is more prone to cracking than polycarbonate and is an ideal choice for framing, signage, and display applications.
How expensive is polycarbonate?
Compared to materials used for similar applications, polycarbonate sheet is more expensive than acrylic, but cheaper than glass. The increased cost is due to the fact that polycarbonate has greater impact resistance than both acrylic and glass.
General Properties1 of Polycarbonate
Property
Unit
Value
Specific Gravity
g/cm.3
1.2
Tensile Strength
psi
9,000-15,000
Tensile Modulus
psi
345,000
Elongation %
%
100-110
Flexural Strength
psi
13,000-15,000
Shear Modulus
psi
114,000
Izod Impact (Notched, 1/8")
ft-lbs/in.
12-16
Compressive Strength
psi
11,500
Compressive Modulus
psi
300,000
Rockwell Hardness
R
125
Heat Deflection Temperature
°F
270-290
Maximum Service Temperature
°F
250
Ignition Temperature
°F
1,022
Light Transmission (Clear, 1/8" thickness)
%
86
Water Absorption (Saturated)
% @ 24 hrs.
0.15
1The values listed are typical and are meant only as a guide to aid in design. Field testing is always recommended to determine exact values for each application.
WARNING: The products on this page can expose you to chemicals including Bisphenol A, CAS 80-05-7, which are known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.p65warnings.ca.gov.