Polycarbonate
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T H E R M O P L A S T I C    M A T E R I A L

Polycarbonate (PC)

Polycarbonate is a relatively young plastic material among the common thermoplastic materials which was produced on 28th May 1953 for the first time by H. Schnell at the Bayer works. After a short testing period an industrial production has been put into practice in 1958 already. Independent of H. Schnell, D.W. Fox discovered Polycarbonate rather by chance as a glutinous mass in a storage bottle at General Electric. Systematic tests also lead to an industrial production very quickly.

Polycarbonates are linear polyesters of carbonic acid which combine many properties of metall, glass and plastics.
The most important properties are:
Advantages:
  • extreme high impact resistance, (Vandalism),
  • high stability,
  • high temperature resistance (cold and hot temperatures),
  • excellent light transmittance,
  • good optical properties,
  • fire-proof (material is self-extinguishing),
  • recycable serveral times
 disadvantages:
  • sensitive against chemicals and stress cracking,
  • Notice: Polycarbonates lose its stability when they are being steam sterilised or treated with alcalic cleaning materials.
Chemical Resistance
mineralic lubricants  partially resistant
aliphatic hydrocarbon  resistant
aromatic hydrocarbon  non-resistant
Petrol  non-resistant
low concentrated mineral acids  resistant
highly concentrated mineral acids  partially resistant
low concentrated organic acids  resistant
highly concentrated organic acids  partially resistant
oxidating acids  non-resistant
low concentrated lyes  non-resistant
highly concentrated lyes  non-resistant
Trichlorethylene  non-resistant
Perchlorethylene  non-resistant
Acetone  non-resistant
Alcohols  partially resistant
hot water (Hydrolyse-resistance)  non-resistant
UV-Lightand weather conditions  partially resistant
 
Technical data
Characteristics Legal basis Units of measure Polycarbonate
Raw density ISO 1183 g/cm³ 1,20
Impact toughness ISO 179/1 fu kJ/m² no breakage
Notched bar impact strength ISO 180/1 A kJ/m² 10
Tensile strength ISO 527-2/1B/50 MPa - 40°C 80
   23°C 60
   70°C 50
Extension while breaking ISO 527-2/1B/5 % -
Bending strength
Norm pile (80x10x4 mm)		 ISO 178 MPa 90
E-module short ISO 527-2/1B/1 MPa 2400
Ball hardness ISO 2039-1 MPa -
Heat conductivity DIN 52612 W/mK 0,20
Forming temperature   °C 190...210
Continous use temperature, max.   °C 115
Fire behaviour
(Material thickness³ 1,5 mm)		 DIN 4102   B2
normal ignitiability
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