Polycarbonate, also referred to as PC, is a tough, impact-resistant, virtually unbreakable material used in wide variety of applications. It is an amorphous thermoplastic material, with a continuous use temperature range of up to 265° F (129° C). LEXAN™ is one of the most commonly recognized polycarbonate brands.
Benefits of Polycarbonate Sheet
Impact resistant
Optical quality
Printable
Formable
Lightweight compared to glass
FDA compliant (grade specific)
Low moisture absorption
High strength and stiffness
Easy to machine
Low friction
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Common Applications
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Aerospace
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Armored Vehicle
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Automotive
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Bearings and Bushings
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Building and Construction Plastics
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Bullet/Blast/Wind Resistant Security Windows, Doors, Enclosures and Glazing
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Bus and Rail
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Data Centers & Aisle Containment
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Die Cutters
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Electric and Non-Printed Sign
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Electrical-Grade Plastics
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Enclosures
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Food and Beverage Preparation and Processing
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Golf Cart Windshields
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Greenhouses
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Heavy Equipment
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Logging & Forestry
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Machine Guards
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Machine Shops
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Marine
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Membrane Switches
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Milling and Mining
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Movie Studio/Sound Stage
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Packaging and Conveying Equipment
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POP/Display
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Printing/Graphics
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Recreation Plastics and Playground Equipment
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Recreational Vehicles
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Skylights
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Storm Protection
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Thermoformers
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Transit Shelters
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Watercraft
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Window Glazing
Physical Properties
Units | ASTM Test | General Purpose Polycarbonate | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Tensile strength @ break @ 73°F | psi | D638 | 7,310 – 10,700 | |
Flexural modulus @ 73°F | psi | D790 | 250,000 – 417,000 | |
Izod impact (notched) | ft-lbs/in of notch | D256 | 1.1 – 18 | |
Deflection Temperature Under Load @ 264 psi Unannealed | ft-lbs/in of notch | D658 | 249 – 282 | |
Coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CLTE) | (in/in F) | D696 | 3.2E-5 to 3.9E-5 | |
Compressive strength | psi | D695 | 9,000 – 12,500 | 9,000 – 12,500 |
Coefficient of friction | D1894 | 0.060 – 0.39 | ||
Taber Abrasion Resistance | mg | D1044 | 9.90 – 10.8 | |
Water absorption – 24 hours – 1/8″ thick | 0.036 – 0.11% | D570 | 0.15 – 0.21 | |
Deflection Temperature Under Load @ 264 psi | °F | D648 | 277 – 289 | |
Compressive strength | psi | D695 | 9,000 – 12,500 | 9,000 – 12,500 |
* Technical Data is provided courtesy of UL Prospector (www.ulprospector.com) and IAPD (www.IAPD.org).
Data is to be considered representative and is provided for guidance only. All product performance must be verified by the user under actual application conditions.