PC Polycarbonate
A transparent engineering plastic with outstanding impact strength and good heat resistance. The choice when you need clarity and toughness together.
Key properties
| Impact strength | Very high |
|---|---|
| Heat resistance | High (up to ~120–130°C) |
| Transparency | Transparent |
| Chemical resistance | Low–moderate |
| UV resistance | Moderate, needs stabilization |
| Ease of processing | Moderate |
| Relative cost | Moderate–high |
General values for comparison only. Exact data varies by grade and supplier.
Where it's used
- Medical device housings and components
- LED lighting covers, lenses and protective glazing
- Electronics and electrical enclosures
- Safety and protective equipment
Watch out for
- Prone to environmental stress cracking (ESC) from solvents, oils and some cleaning and disinfecting agents
- Can hydrolyze with repeated exposure to hot water or steam
- Notch-sensitive: sharp corners concentrate stress
- Scratches easily and yellows under UV without a suitable coating or stabilizer
Processing tips
- Drying is essential: ~3–4 hours at about 120°C, to below 0.02% moisture
- Typical melt temperature ~280–310°C, hot mold ~80–110°C
- High viscosity, so gate design and wall thickness matter
- Residual stress increases chemical cracking; annealing sometimes helps
Alternatives and when to choose them
- PMMA – When you need clarity, UV and scratch resistance, and less impact strength
- PC/ABS – When clarity isn't needed and you want easier processing and lower cost
- Clear copolyester – When chemical resistance matters more
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