What is Polycarbonate?
Polycarbonate. If you’re not familiar with the term, it sounds like a super complex material that requires a chemistry degree to learn about. In reality, polycarbonate is simple to learn about and has a variety of applications in every industry! Commercially developed in the 1950’s, it serves many uses among us today.
Polycarbonate is considered a thermoplastic, a material that becomes pliable or moldable once it’s been heated to a specific temperature and then returns to a solid after cooling. It’s also transparent, which allows for easy application in printing and allows for brilliant light transmission.
Polycarbonate is a tough plastic, and has many advantages. It offers high impact strength, so for everyday uses that don’t involve being crushed it will be dependable. Polycarbonate also boasts high heat stability; it has to hit 311 °F before it can be molded.
Like everything, polycarbonate does have some disadvantages. It is prone to stress cracking and can be scratched easily. It is also not considered a “green’ product because it requires such high heat processing temperatures and toxic chemicals to produce it.
Polycarbonate is commonly used outdoors, because of its ability to withstand heat and its rigidity against the elements. It’s also used in harsh environments, and in applications that require optical clarity, such as eyewear lenses. Chemical resistance also means it can be used as a durable material in areas with hazardous chemicals.
Common uses of polycarbonate are:
- Nameplates
- Button Panels
- Harsh Environment Products
- Outdoor Weatherable Applications
- Windows
- Bulletproofing
- CD’s
- Eyeglass Lenses
- Business Cards
- Durable Label
To learn more about polycarbonate and its printing capabilities, please call us at 636.349.6401 or email us.