Comparison

Urea-Formaldehyde UV Stable vs Polycarbonate

A side-by-side comparison of Urea-Formaldehyde Resin and Polycarbonate.

Physical

Density
1.45-1.55 g/cm³
1.20 g/cm³
Water Absorption (24h)
1.5-3.0 %
0.15 %
Transparency
Clear to Off-White
Transparent (88% light transmission)
Shrinkage
5-8 %
0.5 – 0.8 %

Mechanical

Young's Modulus
6-12 GPa
2.3 – 2.4 GPa
Tensile Strength
50-80 MPa
60 – 70 MPa
Elongation at Break
0.5-2.0 %
100 – 150 %
Impact Strength (Izod)
3-8 J/m
600 – 900 J/m
Flexural Strength
90 – 100 MPa
Hardness (Rockwell M)
70

Thermal

Glass Transition Temperature
Undetermined (Degradation)
147 °C
Melting Point
N/A
Continuous Service Temperature
60-100 °C
115 – 130 °C
Heat Deflection Temperature
40-80 °C
130 – 140 °C
Thermal Conductivity
0.20 W/m·K
CTE
65 – 70 × 10⁻⁶ /K

Electrical

Dielectric Constant
5.5-7.0
2.9 – 3.0
Volume Resistivity
10^8-10^11 Ohm-cm
10¹⁶ Ω·cm
Dielectric Strength
9-15 kV/mm
15 kV/mm

Chemical resistance

Acids
Poor resistance
Bases
Poor resistance
Poor
Solvents
Resistant to hydrocarbons, swells in polar solvents
UV Resistance
Poor
Poor (unless coated)
Acids (dilute)
Good
Alcohols
Fair
Oils
Good
Gasoline
Fair
Acetone
Poor (attacks)

Sustainability

Recyclability
Difficult
Recyclable
Recycling Code
N/A
7
Carbon Footprint
Low to Moderate (Formaldehyde concerns)
~5 kg CO₂e / kg
Bio-based Content
0 – 50 % (bio grades)