Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate also known under its trade names as Lexan, Makrolon, Makroclear is a very durable plastic which is great for applications requiring high impact strength and repeated use. Polycarbinate is lightweight and strong enough to be used as shielding (level 3 bullet resistance) or to minimise the effects of vandalism and theft. Although polycarbonate is slightly less transparent than acrylic it is more dimensionally stable and of course stronger.

Applications

Polycarbonate has similar applications to acrylic but it has higher strength so it is typically used as a glass replacement. Polycarbonate is used as skylights and as a riot protection material to just name a few! The key advantage of polycarbonate over glass is the fact that it doesn’t shatter as it’s far less brittle – it has a lot more flex in it compared to acrylic. But polycarbonate is not limited to these applications it can be used for speciality clear furniture items or any application where high strength is required and a clear finish. Unlike glass, polycarbonate can be vacuum formed so it can make it great for mass production.

Colours shown above are just representations of a particular colour and aren’t necessarily the finished plastic colour. Lighting conditions, monitor calibration and variances in the plastic colour processing can impact the colour of a given material. For more information on colour availability please contact us.

Thickness
Ava.
Thickness
Ava.
Thickness
Ava.
0.5MM
4.5MM
18MM
1MM
6MM
20MM
1.5MM
8MM
25MM
2MM
10MM
30MM
3MM
12MM
40MM
4MM
15MM

Please note that different materials have varying tolerances when it comes to thickness. A product should facilitate material variances +-0.2mm

Property
Value
Unit
Mechanical
Tensile Strength
65
MPa
Flexural Strength
93
MPa
Shear Strength
68
MPa
Impact Strength
6.5
J/m
Hardness
R118
M or R
Thermal
Working Temperature
138
°C
Vacuum Forming Temperature
191
°C
Thermal Expansion
3.75
10^-5/°C
Vicat Softening Temperature
149
°C
Miscellaneous
Specific Gravity
1.2
g/cm³
Water Absorption
0.15
% in 24 hr
Light Transmission
86
%
Dielectric Strength
380
Volts/Mil
Surface Energy
46
Dynes/cm

The information in the above data table is provided for educational purposes only in good faith and should only be used as a guide. As sheet material comes in a wide variety of grades, colours, textures and can contain different chemical properties, the figures only represent a typical insight into the specifications of the material. Information has been collated from a variety of sources. For more information on these figures and other properties please contact us.

Resistant = Semi-resistant = Not Resistant = Blank = Untested
Chemical
Resistance
Chemical
Resistance
Chemical
Resistance
Acetamide
Freon and Frigen
Propanol
Acetic Acid
Fruit Juices
Pyridine
Acetone
Glycerine
Salicylc Acid
Ammonia
Glykol
Silicone Oils
Anone
Glysantin
Soap Solution
Benzene
Heating Oil
Soda Iye
Benzine
Heptane and Hexane
Soda Solution
Bitumen
Hydrochloric Acid
Sodium Bisulphite
Boric Acid
Hydrogen Peroxide
Sodium Carbonate
Butyl Acetate
Hydrogen Sulphide
Sodium Chloride
Calcium Chloride
Ink
Sodium Nitrate
Carbon Tetrachloride
Iodine
Sodium Thiosulphate
Chlorbenzene
Iso-octane
Styrene
Chloroform
Isopropanol
Sulphur Dioxide
Citric Acid
Lactic Acid
Sulphuric Acid
Clophene
Linseed Oil
Tar
Cupric Sulphate
Methanol
Tartaric Acid
Cyclohexane
Methyl Ethyl Ketone
Tetrahydrofurane
Cyclohexanone
Methylene Chloride
Tetralin
Decalin
Milk
Toluene
Diesel Oil
Nitric Acid
Transformer Oil
Dimethyl Formamide
Nitrobenzene
Trichlorethylene
Diocthyl Phthalate
Oxalic Acid
Triethanolamine
Dioxane
Ozone
Trilon B
Edible Fats & Oils
Paraffin Oil
Urea
Ethanol
Perchlorethylene
Vaseline
Ethyl Acetate
Petroleum
Water Cold
Ethyl Ether
Phenol
Water Warm
Ethylene Chloride
Phosphoric Acid
Wax
Formaldehye
Potassium Dichromate
Wine
Formamide
Potassium Iye
Xylene
Formic Acid
Potassium Permaganate

The information in the above data table is provided for educational purposes only in good faith and should only be used as a guide. As sheet material comes in a wide variety of grades, colours, textures and can contain different chemical properties, the figures only represent a typical insight into the specifications of the material. Information has been collated from a variety of sources. For more information on these figures and other properties please contact us.

Speak to a Product Development Manager