Lexan Polycarbonate Sheeting are clear and tough
Polycarbonate plastic products offer a balance of useful features which include temp resistance, impact resistance and optical properties position polycarbonates between commodity plastic materials and engineering plastic materials.
Polycarbonate is a very sturdy material. Even though it has increased impact-resistance, it's got lower scratch-resistance and so a hard coating can be applied to polycarbonate eyeglasses lenses as well as polycarbonate exterior automotive components. The properties associated with polycarbonate tend to be similar those of Acrylic PMMA materials, although polycarbonate is always stronger, it is usable in a wider temperature range and is a bit more expensive. This plastic polymer is highly transparent to visible light and it has better light transmission characteristics than many different types of glass.
Polycarbonate carries a glass transition temperature of approximately 150 °C (302 °F), so it softens slowly above this point and flows above about 300°C (572 °F). Tools will have to be held at higher temperatures, generally above 80 °C (176 °F) to help make strain- and almost stress free products.
Unlike most thermoplastics, polycarbonate can undergo massive shape changes without breaking. Subsequently, it may be processed and formed cold using sheet metal techniques, for instance forming bends on a brake. For even sharp angle bends with a tight radius, no heating is generally necessary. This makes it valuable in prototyping applications where transparent or electrically non-conductive parts are essential, which should not be crafted from sheet metal. Be aware that PMMA/Plexiglas, which is similar in appearance to polycarbonate, but is brittle and cannot be bent at room temperature.
The light weight of polycarbonate, compared to glass, has led to growth and development of electronic view screens that replace glass with polycarbonate, for use in mobile and portable devices. Such displays include newer e-ink as well as LCD screens, though CRT, plasma screen and other LCD technologies which still require glass for its higher melting temperature and its ability to be etched with finer detail.
Other miscellaneous items made out of Polycarbonate include durable, lightweight luggage, MP3/digital audio player cases, computer cases, high impact riot shields, instrument panels, and blender jars. Many toys and hobby goods are made out of polycarbonate parts, e.g. fins, gyro mounts, and flybar locks for use with radio-controlled helicopters.
For use in applications exposed to weathering or UV-radiation, a special surface treatment could be needed. This may be a coating (e.g. for improved abrasion resistance), or as a coextrusion for enhanced weathering resistance.
Bayer Makrolon Polycarbonate is a thermoplastic that starts as a solid plastic material in the form of small pellets. In a manufacturing process called injection molding, the pellets are heated until they melt in to a thick liquid. The liquid polycarbonate is then rapidly injected into a mold with the empty part being the size and shape of the part you want, compressed under high pressure and cooled to form a finished product in a matter of minutes.
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