Polycarbonate materials have a great blend of helpful features which include temp resistance, impact resistance and optical properties position polycarbonates in between commodity plastic materials and engineering plastic materials.
Polycarbonate is definitely a rugged material. Whilst it offers considerable impact-resistance, it possesses low scratch-resistance and so a hard coating typically is applied to polycarbonate eye wear and polycarbonate exterior auto equipment. The characteristics of polycarbonate are generally similar to that of those of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA, acrylic), and yet polycarbonate is actually 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 many kinds of glass.
Polycarbonate carries a glass transition temperature of around 150 °C (302 °F), so it softens gradually above this point and flows above about 300°C (572 °F). Tools are required to be held at warm to high temperatures, generally above 80 °C (176 °F) to help make strain- and stress-free products.
Unlike most other thermoplastics, polycarbonate can undergo large shape changes without breaking or cracking. Hence, it can be processed and formed without needing to be heated using sheet metal techniques, for example forming bends on a brake. For even sharp angle bends with a tight radius, no heating is usually necessary. This makes it useful for prototyping applications where transparent or electrically non-conductive parts are essential, which can not be crafted from sheet metal. Please keep in mind PMMA/Plexiglas, that is similar in appearance to polycarbonate, but it's brittle and cannot be bent with out a heating process.
The light weight of polycarbonate, in contrast to glass, has led to growth and development of electronic display screens that replace glass materials with polycarbonate, for use in mobile and portable devices. Such displays include newer e-ink as well as LCD screens, though CRT, plasma screen and other LCD technologies still generally require glass for its higher melting temperature and the ability to be etched with finer detail.
Other kinds of items made from Polycarbonate include durable, lightweight luggage, MP3/digital audio player cases, computer cases, police riot shields, instrument panels, and blender jars. Many toys and hobby items are constructed from polycarbonate parts, e.g. fins, gyro mounts, and flybar locks for use with radio-controlled helicopters.
For use in applications exposed to weathering or UV-radiation, a special surface treatment is needed. This either can be a coating (e.g. for improved abrasion resistance), or as a coextrusion for enhanced weathering resistance.
Bayer Makrolon Polycarbonate is a thermoplastic that begins as a solid material in the form of small pellets. In a manufacturing process called injection molding, this pellet material is heated until they begin to melt. This liquid polycarbonate is then rapidly pushed into the mold - shaped like the part, compressed under high pressure and cooled to produce a finished product in a matter of minutes.
local engineering plastic materials
No comments:
Post a Comment