About Polycarbonate

Polycarbonates are a type of thermoplastic polymers which can be easily worked, shaped, and thermoformed to create a range of useful products, such as polycarbonate panels. This type of plastic is widely used in the modern chemical industry.

Polycarbonates derive their name from the fact that they are polymers having functional groups linked together by carbonate groups in an extended molecular chain. One particular type of polycarbonate plastic is made from bisphenol which produces a very durable material, and can be laminated to make bullet-resistant "glass". This is very similar to the process used to make polycarbonate panels. It has low scratch-resistance which means a hard coating must be applied to proctect it.

The glass transition temperature of polycarbonate is about 150 °C, after this point, it softens and at 300 °C it begins to act like a fluid and flow.

Polycarbonate Applications

The use of polycarbonate in housewares and garden buildings is fast becoming the norm especially in areas where its high impact resistance is useful, temperature resistance, optical properties are required.

Main transformation techniques for polycarbonate resins:

• Creation of tubes and rods
• Forming of sheets and films from cylinders, which can then be formed into other shapes using thermoforming or secondary fabrication techniques, such as bending, drilling, and laser cutting
• Injection molding into ready articles

Typical polycarbonate applications

• CD's, DVDs, Blu-ray Discs
• Drinking bottles
• Glasses for holding fluids
• Laboratory equipment
• Sunglass/spectalce lenses, safety googles, etc

Sheet and film usage

• Signs, displays and protective coatings for posters
• Construction industry: flat or curved glazing, and sound-proof walls
• Computer contstruction: casing and screens

For use in products exposed to the environments, i.e. polycarbonate greenhouses , a special surface treatment is needed. This is usuall a a coating or a coextrusion for enhanced weathering resistance.

For detailed opinions of what people think of a small range of greenhouse sizes, head on over to our greenhouse reveiws page.