Properties of Polycarbonate
1. Property of Heat:
- Temperature of Heat deformation: The temperature that causes Polycarbonate panels to deform is 130°C, and the highest temperature for continuous using is about 120°C.
- Coefficient of Linear Expansion: Polycarbonate is one of resin which has smaller coefficient of liner expansion.
- Conductivity of Heat: There is no big difference between heat conductivity of Polycarbonate and other resin. It’s about 1/4 of Glass, 1/300 of Iron, 1/1000 of Aluminum, 1/12000 of Steel. Polycarbonate is a better material to keep warmth.
- Temperature of Embrittlement: For embrittlement, Polycarbonate is lower than normal resin. It’s about -135°C, and the lowest temperature for continuous using is about -30°C.
- Polycarbonate (PC) sheet one of resin which gets burn not easily, it is also classified as a flame-resistant plastic; standard grades generally meet the UL 94 HB rating and are considered "self-extinguishing" materials that do not emit toxic gases when heated to high temperatures.
2. Property of Optics:
- Weather Ability: When normal Polycarbonate panels are exposed outdoor for a long time, normal Polycarbonate panel become yellowish and crack on the surface. The surface of Polycarbonate panel, made by SUN ASIA, is all coating with Anti-UV material. As the results, the optic property and mechanical property would not have significant changes even under the exposure for a long time.
- Diaphaneity: The diaphaneity of 1mm thickness clear Polycarbonate panel is above 85%, and the diaphaneity of 5mm thickness clear Polycarbonate panel is above 80%, similar with glass.
3. Mechanical Property:
- Pull Resistance: Polycarbonate panel have better heat resistance. Even under 120°C, the pull resistance is still 350kgf/cm2.
- Modulus of Bending Resistance: Polycarbonate panel have better bending resistance. Polycarbonate panel would not break, even if the angle is 80° ~ 90°.
4. Sound Insulation Property:
- As the thickness is the same, the sound insulation property of Polycarbonate panels is better than glass under the high frequency.
5. Property of Weight:
- At the same dimension, the weight of Polycarbonate board is half of glass. This can help us to save the cost of delivery and haul or construct more easily.
Fire-resistant properties of Polycarbonate(PC)
The fire-resistance ratings for PC (polycarbonate) plastics are primarily determined using the UL 94 standard; common ratings, ranging from lowest to highest, are HB, V-2, V-1, V-0, 5VB, and 5VA. While unmodified, pure PC naturally exhibits UL 94 HB or V-2 flame-retardant performance, fire-resistant PC sheets specially modified for flame retardancy can achieve the highest standard, UL 94 V-0.。
From lowest (Least flame-retardant) to highest (Most flame-retardant)：
HB (Horizontal Burn): slow burning on a horizontal specimen; burning rate < 76 mm/min for thickness < 3 mm or burning stops before 100 mm. (The burning rate is less than 3”/min or stops burning before the 5” mark. HB rated materials are considered "self-extinguishing".)V-2 (Vertical Burn): burning stops within 30 seconds on a vertical specimen; drips of flaming particles are allowed.V-1 (Vertical Burn): burning stops within 30 seconds on a vertical specimen; drips of particles allowed as long as they are not inflamed.V-0 (Vertical Burn): burning stops within 10 seconds on a vertical specimen; drips of particles allowed as long as they are not inflamed.5VB (Surface Burn): burning stops within 60 seconds on a vertical specimen; no drips allowed; plaque specimens may have a burn-through (a hole).5VA (Surface Burn): burning stops within 60 seconds on a vertical specimen; no drips allowed; plaque specimens may not have a burn-through (no hole).
Technical Data
| Characteristics | Test Method | Unit | Polycarbonate Hollow Sheet Data | Polycarbonate Solid Sheet Data |
|---|
| lzod Impact Strength (Notched) | ASTM D256 | kg • cm/cm (1/4") | 15 | 14.3 |
| Light Transmission | ASTM D1003 | % (3mm thick) | 88 | 89 |
| Specific Gravity | ASTM D792 | - | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| Coefficient of Linear Expansion | ASTM D696 | x10-5 cm/cm/°C | 6 ~ 8 | 6 ~ 8 |
| Service Temperature | - | °C | -40°C ~ +120°C | -40°C ~ +120°C |
| Thermal Conductivity | ASTM C177 | W/m°C | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Tensile Strength | ASTM D638 | kg/cm² | 630 | 630 |
| Flexural Strength | ASTM D790 | kg/cm² | 920 | 920 |
| Flexural Modulus | ASTM D790 | kg • cm/cm(1/4") | 24000 | 24000 |
| Tensile Stress at Break | ASTM D638 | % | 110 | 110 |
| Rockwell Hardness | ASTM D785 | M Scale | M-77 | M-77 |
| Heat Distortion Temperature | ASTM D648 | °C (4.6 Kg/cm², 120°C/hr) | 136 | 136 |
| Flammability | UL 94 | - | 1.5mm HB | 3mm HB |
Chemicals Incompatible to the PC Sheet
| 1. Acetic aldehyde | 2. Strong acetic acid | 3. Acetone | 4. Acrylonitrile | 5. Ammonia water |
| 6. Ammonium fluoride sat'd | 7. Ammonium chloride sat'd | 8. Benzene | 9. Benzoic acid | 10. Benzyl alcohol |
| 11. Brominated calcium nitrate | 12. Carbolic acid | 13. Carbon disulfide | 14. Carbon tetrachloride | 15. 5% potassium hydroxide solution |
| 16. 5% sodium hydroxide solution | 17. Chlorobenzene | 18. Chloroform | 19. Lilac | 20. Cresol |
| 21. Cyclohexanone | 22. Cyclohexene | 23. Dimethylformamide | 24. Dioxin | 25. Ethylamine |
| 26. Ether | 27. PVC | 28. 2-Ethanolamine | 29. 30% formic acid | 30. Gasoline |
| 31. Methacrylic acid methyl | 32. Nitrobenzene | 33. Nucleolus | 34. Pyridine | 35. Petroleum |
| 36. Benzyl ethanol | 37. Phenol | 38. Chloroperoxide | 39. Phosphorus trichloride | 40. Styrene |
| 41. Tetrachloroethane | 42. THF | 43. Tetralin | 44. Thiophenes | 45. Toluene |
| 46. 10% trichloroamine | 47. Xylene | 48. Ammonium hydroxide | 49. Chlorohydrocarbon | 50. Ketone |
| 51. Methyl-ethyl ketone | 52. Dichloromethane | 53. Ethylene hydroxide | 54. Sodium hydroxide | 55. Nitric acid |
| 56. Cement | 57. Oil | | | |
