Bayer Makrolon Polycarbonate materials have a great blend of useful features which include temperature resistance, impact resistance and optical properties position polycarbonates in between commodity plastics and engineering plastics.
Polycarbonate is definitely a tough material. Though it has tremendous impact-resistance, it possesses low scratch-resistance and so a hard coating can be applied to polycarbonate eyewear as well as polycarbonate exterior automotive components. The properties of polycarbonate are generally comparable to those of Acrylic PMMA materials, yet , polycarbonate is definitely 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 has better light transmission characteristics than most grades of glass.
Polycarbonate has a glass transition temperature of around 150 °C (302 °F), consequently it softens gradually above this point and flows above about 300°C (572 °F). Tools ought to be held at higher temperatures, generally above 80 °C (176 °F) for making strain- and reduced stress products.
Unlike almost all other thermoplastics, polycarbonate can undergo dramatic shape changes without cracking or breaking. Hence, it is sometimes processed and formed without needing to be heated using standard sheet metal techniques, for instance forming bends with a brake. Even for sharp angle bends with a tight radius, no heating is usually necessary. This makes it valuable in prototyping applications where transparent or electrically non-conductive parts are crucial, which can not be produced from sheet metal. Be aware that PMMA/Plexiglas, that is similar in appearance to polycarbonate, but it’s brittle and can’t be bent with out a heating process.
Polycarbonate is commonly utilized in eye protection, and also in other projectile-resistant see through or lighting applications that would normally be thought of as requiring the use of glass, but require much higher impact-resistance. Many different types of lenses are produced from polycarbonate, including automotive headlamp lenses, lighting lenses, sunglass/eyeglass lenses, swimming and SCUBA goggles, and safety visors for use in sporting helmets/masks and police riot gear. Windscreens in small motorized vehicles are normally made out of polycarbonate, such as for motorcycles, ATVs, golf carts, and small planes and helicopters.
