Engineering Thermoplastic
Polycarbonate — Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate (PC) is an amorphous engineering thermoplastic combining exceptional impact strength with optical clarity. It is virtually unbreakable and widely used where glass-like transparency and toughness are required.
PCMakrolonLexanPanliteCalibre
Manufacturers
5
Grades
6
Applications
6
Equivalents
3
Physical Properties
- Density
- 1.20 g/cm³
- Water Absorption (24h)
- 0.15 %
- Transparency
- Transparent (88% light transmission)
- Shrinkage
- 0.5 – 0.8 %
Mechanical Properties
- Young's Modulus
- 2.3 – 2.4 GPa
- Tensile Strength
- 60 – 70 MPa
- Flexural Strength
- 90 – 100 MPa
- Impact Strength (Izod)
- 600 – 900 J/m
- Hardness (Rockwell M)
- 70
- Elongation at Break
- 100 – 150 %
Thermal Properties
- Glass Transition Temperature
- 147 °C
- Continuous Service Temperature
- 115 – 130 °C
- Heat Deflection Temperature
- 130 – 140 °C
- Thermal Conductivity
- 0.20 W/m·K
- CTE
- 65 – 70 × 10⁻⁶ /K
Electrical Properties
- Dielectric Constant
- 2.9 – 3.0
- Volume Resistivity
- 10¹⁶ Ω·cm
- Dielectric Strength
- 15 kV/mm
Chemical Resistance
- Acids (dilute)
- Good
- Bases
- Poor
- Alcohols
- Fair
- Oils
- Good
- Gasoline
- Fair
- Acetone
- Poor (attacks)
- UV Resistance
- Poor (unless coated)
Sustainability
- Recyclability
- Recyclable
- Recycling Code
- 7
- Bio-based Content
- 0 – 50 % (bio grades)
- Carbon Footprint
- ~5 kg CO₂e / kg
Manufacturing compatibility
Injection MoldingExtrusionBlow MoldingThermoformingCNC MachiningLaser CuttingBonding
Applications
Safety goggles & face shields
Automotive headlamp lenses
Bulletproof windows
Electronic housings
Medical devices
Greenhouse glazing
Available grades
PC OpticalPC FRPC GF10PC GF30PC MedicalPC UV