Description
Polycarbonate, also known as PC plastic, is the most heat-resistant technical plastic, with peak temperatures of up to 150°C for short-term use. Other advantages of PC plastic in thermoformed parts include its high transparency and impact resistance. PC plastic is an electrical insulator and can be processed somewhat better than PMMA, with similar properties.
Processing and Thermoformability
Processing PC plastic for thermoformed parts requires experience and knowledge, as the material can only achieve satisfactory thermoforming results within an optimal temperature range. For this reason, it is necessary to have optimal and consistent temperature control of the aluminum tool during thermoforming, which is achieved through cooling with deep-hole drilling. These holes can only be implemented in monolithic, non-modular thermoforming tools. Therefore, basic tools with various multi-part inserts cannot be used for PC plastic. Additionally, creating a 3D-printing or Ureol pattern tool is not possible for PC plastic blistering due to the lack of tempering options. The sampling of thermoformed parts must be carried out from the production tool under optimal production conditions. When storing PC plastic, it must be noted that polycarbonate is hygroscopic. This means that PC plastic absorbs moisture from the surrounding environment during long storage, which degrades the quality and processing on the thermoforming machine. Therefore, PC plastic must either be dried before processing or procured upon customer request. Any material lead times should be considered when procuring PC plastic thermoformed parts.
Material Options
Antistatic
PrintableESD
Flocked
Regenerate
Sterilizable
Adhesive
WeldableFacts
Price
Colors
Features
- Highest temperature resistance
- Good impact resistance
- High strength
- Very high transparency
- Resistant to: Oils, gasoline, fats
- Weather- and UV-resistant (for outdoor use)
Weaknesses
- Low abrasion resistance
- Difficult to process
- Not resistant to acids and alkalis
- High density (heavy weight)
- Poor storability (hygroscopic)
- Complex tooling required
Common Industries and Applications:
Automotive
- Sunroofs
- Roof lifts
- License plate holders
- Enclosures for model vehicles
- Parts for cargo bikes
Electronics
- Components for household appliances
- Lighting: Lampshades
- Touch protection for electrical components
- Pots for encapsulating electrical components
- Display covers
- Covers/protection for displays
- Frames for display mounting
Consumer Goods
- Visors
- Winter garden windows
Mechanical Engineering
- Heat-resistant covers
- High-performance production containers
- Tank covers
- Pouring trays
Medical Technology
- Sanitary parts
- Medical packaging
- Hygiene product packaging
Facts and Figures:
| Group | Technical Thermoplastics |
| Structure | Amorphous |
| Density | 1.2 |
| Continuous Use Temperature Min. (in °C) | -100 |
| Continuous Use Temperature Max. (in °C) | 130 |
| Thermal Expansion Transverse/Longitudinal to Flow Direction (10^-6 *K) | 65 |
| Melting Temperature (°C) | 148 |
| Max. Temp. Short-Term (°C) | 140 |
| Max. Temp. Long-Term (°C) | 125 |
| Impact Strength (KJ/m^2) | 30 |
| Yield Stress (N/mm²) | 66 |
| Tensile Strength (N/mm²) | 61 |
| Tensile Modulus of Elasticity (N/mm²) | 2300 |
| Elongation at Break (%) | 80 |
| Flexural Strength (N/mm²) | 70 |
| Ball Indentation Hardness (N/mm²) | 110 |
| Dielectric Strength (kV/mm) | 34 |
| Volume Resistivity (Ω · m) | <1E13 |
| Surface Resistivity (Ω) | 1E15 |
| Tracking Resistance CTI | 250 |
Additional Plastics in the formary Portfolio
Learn More about PC Plastic
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