Polycarbonate (PC) is a thermoplastic polymer and is used in a wide range of applications. Polycarbonate is stronger than PMMA and holds up longer to extreme temperatures. Polycarbonate is amorphous and highly transparent to visible light and offers better light transmission.
Polycarbonate is a durable material and has high impact resistance but low scratch resistance, therefore it is coated with a harder material when used in applications. It is ductile at room temperature and can be easily bent at room temperature. It is easy to saw, drill and mill PC by using machining tools.
Polycarbonate can undergo deformation without cracking or breaking therefore it can be formed at room temperature. Thermoforming is the most popular process used to make polycarbonate products and it is also economical.
It is a preferred material where strength, impact resistance, heat tolerance and optical qualities are required. The material is available in sheet form, extruded shapes like rods and rounds and pellets which can be used for injection moulding.
Applications of polycarbonate
- Polycarbonate has a high impact resistance and is therefore used where the risk of impact is higher like automotive headlamps, security windows, motorcycle face shields and windshields, safety glasses, lenses, machinery guards, streetlamps, skylights and more. As the scratch resistance is less a coating is used in some applications like eyewear.
- Polycarbonate can give the look and feel of glass and a higher shatter resistance and less weight. It is used in many consumer products like food processors, blenders, drinkware, nursing bottles, water filter housings, water bottles and more.
- PC stays stable at higher temperatures and is used in various medical applications which can be steam sterilised.
- One of the main uses of polycarbonate is in the data storage industry. It is used to make compact discs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs. They are produced using the injection moulding process. The polycarbonate sheet is placed in the mould cavity that has the negative image of the disc data and the other side is mirrored surface.
- PC is used in many electronics and electrical applications like house connectors, battery boxes, smartphones and other optical media. It is used in electronic display screens where it is used as an alternative to glass. PC has good electrical resistance and is used in power systems, telecommunications hardware and more.
- PC is not suitable for long-term exposure to UV radiation therefore UV stabilisers are added to it if required.
- It is widely used in 3D printing in filament form to produce durable and strong plastic products with a high melting point.
- PC is widely used in the construction industry for flat or curved glazing, dome lights, sound walls and roofing sheets. When a durable but light material is required PC is used in building material.
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