Material guide
PC, polycarbonate
PC, polycarbonate, is transparent and almost unbreakable at the same time. The most impact resistant of the transparent plastics, chosen for machine guards, splash guards and anything that has to be seen through and take a serious knock at the same time.
What it is
PC, polycarbonate, is a transparent engineering plastic with a combination that is hard to beat: it lets light through almost like glass, but takes blows and impact like few other plastics. Where acrylic is harder and more scratch resistant, polycarbonate is tougher; it does not crack, it absorbs the hit. The material is dimensionally stable, handles a wider temperature range than many aesthetic plastics and can be bent, milled and thermoformed. Count on PC when the part has to be see-through and handle mechanical load at the same time, for example a guard someone may knock into.
Properties
Very high impact strength, it does not crack, it absorbs the blow
Transparent with good light transmission
Dimensionally stable and holds its measurements, even under some heat
Handles a wider temperature range than acrylic and most aesthetic plastics
Can be bent, milled and thermoformed into complex shapes
Available in flame retardant grades for fire requirements
Common applications
PC sits in machine guards, splash guards, safety glazing, covers and inspection hatches where you want to see through and protect against mechanical load at the same time. It is common in protective screens and partitions, in lighting parts and in Multiwall as a light, insulating roofing material. When a designer needs a transparent part that must not shatter, PC is almost always the answer.
Limitations
PC is tough but not especially scratch resistant; the surface scratches more easily than acrylic, so for a surface that has to stay glossy and free of scratches acrylic can be the better choice. It is sensitive to certain solvents and strong bases, which can make the surface cloudy or brittle, so keep an eye on the chemical environment. The material is not UV stable in its basic version either, so for long sun exposure you want a UV protected variant. For high chemical or thermal load there are engineering plastics that suit better.
Our PC grades sit at 120 °C in continuous operation and 140 °C for short periods, and downward they go to -60 °C.
Grades and variants
PC is available in several versions depending on surface and environmental requirements. The grades differ in surface treatment, weather resistance, flame protection and format.
Base grades
- PC standard, transparent and impact resistant, for guards, covers and see-through parts.
- UV stabilized PC, for outdoor use where the material otherwise yellows over time.
- Scratch resistant coated PC, with a harder surface coating for parts that have to stay glossy.
- Flame retardant PC, for environments with fire requirements.
Formats and versions
- Solid sheets, for stiffness and full transparency.
- Multiwall, lighter and insulating, solves needs for weight and heat insulation.
The versions are chosen to suit surface and environmental requirements, and PC is typically supplied transparent unless otherwise stated.
Machining
PC saws, mills, drills and polishes up nicely. It glues well with the right adhesive and can be thermoformed when heated. Be watchful of solvents, though: the wrong agent gives stress cracks, and they show up only once the part has been in place for a while. Check what your adhesive and cleaning agents contain before you start.
Formats we can supply
PC is available as sheets, round rods, tubes and hollow bars, as well as film, Multiwall and corrugated sheet in a wide dimensional span. You see formats and dimensions in the range. Would you like a piece cut to size? Enter the dimensions in VisualCutter and you will see the price straight away.