Covestro Makrolon Polycarbonate Flat Sheet are clear and tough
Makrolon Polycarbonate materials have a unique balance of beneficial features including high temperature resistance, impact resistance and optical properties position polycarbonates in between commodity plastics and engineering materials.
Polycarbonate is definitely a long-lasting material. Though it has increased impact-resistance, it possesses minimal scratch-resistance and so a hard coating is often applied to polycarbonate eyeglasses lenses and polycarbonate exterior motor vehicle components. The properties relating to polycarbonate are generally along the lines of those of common Acrylic materials, except 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 it has better light transmission characteristics than many kinds of glass.
Polycarbonate has a glass transition temperature of about 150 °C (302 °F), as a result it softens gradually above this point and flows above about 300°C (572 °F). Tools must be held at warm to high temperatures, generally above 80 °C (176 °F) in order to make strain- and almost stress free products.
Unlike most other thermoplastics, polycarbonate can undergo large shape changes without cracking or breaking. Subsequently, for small changes in shape, it can be processed and formed cold using standard 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 attractive prototyping applications where transparent or electrically non-conductive parts are needed, which cannot be produced from sheet metal. Note that PMMA/Plexiglas, which happens to be similar in looks to polycarbonate, but it's brittle and can't be bent with out a heating process.
The light weight of polycarbonate, unlike glass, has led to continuing development of electronic view screens that replace glass with polycarbonate, for use in mobile and portable devices. Such displays include newer e-ink and several LCD screens, though CRT, plasma screen and other LCD technologies which still do require glass for its higher melting temperature and its ability to be etched in finer detail.
Other types of items made from Polycarbonate include durable, lightweight luggage, MP3/digital audio player cases, computer cases, high impact riot shields, instrument panels, and blender jars. Many toys and hobby goods are manufactured from polycarbonate parts, e.g. fins, gyro mounts, and flybar locks for use with radio-controlled helicopters.
For use in applications subjected to weathering or UV-radiation, a special surface treatment could be 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 starts as a solid material in the form of small pellets. In a manufacturing process called injection molding, the pellets are heated until they begin to melt. This liquid polycarbonate is then rapidly pushed into molds, compressed under high pressure and cooled to form a finished product in less than a minute.
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