| Polycarbonate | |
|---|---|
 Repeating chemical structure unit of Polycarbonate made from bisphenol A  | |
| Physical properties | |
| Density (ρ) | 1.20–1.22 g/cm3 |
| Abbe number (V) | 34.0 |
| Refractive index (n) | 1.584–1.586 |
| Flammability | HB-V2 |
| Limiting oxygen index | 25–29% |
| Water absorption—Equilibrium (ASTM) | 0.16–0.35% |
| Water absorption—over 24 hours | 0.1% |
| Ultraviolet (1–380 nm) resistance | Fair |
| Mechanical properties | |
| Young's modulus (E) | 2.0–2.4 GPa |
| Tensile strength (σt) | 55–75 MPa |
| Elongation (ε) at break | 80–150% |
| Compressive strength (σc) | >80 MPa |
| Poisson's ratio (ν) | 0.37 |
| Hardness—Rockwell | M70 |
| Izod impact strength | 600–850 J/m |
| Notch test | 20–35 kJ/m2 |
| Abrasive resistance ASTM D1044 | 10–15 mg/1000 cycles |
| Coefficient of friction (μ) | 0.31 |
| Speed of sound | 2270 m/s |
| Thermal properties | |
| Glass transition temperature (Tg) | 147 °C (297 °F) |
| Heat deflection temperature |
|
| Vicat softening point at 50 N | 145–150 °C (293–302 °F)[1] |
| Upper working temperature | 115–130 °C (239–266 °F) |
| Lower working temperature | −40 °C (−40 °F)[2] |
| Thermal conductivity (k) at 23 °C | 0.19–0.22 W/(m·K) |
| Thermal diffusivity (a) at 25 °C | 0.144 mm²/s[3] |
| Linear thermal expansion coefficient (α) | 65–70 × 10−6/K |
| Specific heat capacity (c) | 1.2–1.3 kJ/(kg·K) |
| Electrical properties | |
| Dielectric constant (εr) at 1 MHz | 2.9 |
| Permittivity (ε) | 2.568 × 10−11 F/m |
| Relative permeability (μr) at 1 MHz | 0.866(2) |
| Permeability (μ) at 1 MHz | 1.089(2) μN/A2 |
| Dissipation factor at 1 MHz | 0.01 |
| Surface resistivity | 1015 Ω/sq |
| Volume resistivity (ρ) | 1012–1014 Ω·m |
| Chemical resistance | |
| Acids—concentrated | Poor |
| Acids—dilute | Good |
| Alcohols | Good |
| Alkalis | Good-Poor |
| Aromatic hydrocarbons | Poor |
| Greases and oils | Good-fair |
| Halogenated hydrocarbons | Good-poor |
| Halogens | Poor |
| Ketones | Poor |
| Gas permeation at 20 °C | |
| Nitrogen | 10–25 cm3·mm/(m2·day·Bar) |
| Oxygen | 70–130 cm3·mm/(m2·day·Bar) |
| Carbon dioxide | 400–800 cm3·mm/(m2·day·Bar) |
| Water vapour | 1–2 g·mm/(m2·day) @ 85%–0% RH gradient |
| Economics | |
| Price | 2.6–2.8 €/kg[4] |
Polycarbonates (PC) are a group of thermoplastic polymers containing carbonate groups in their chemical structures. Polycarbonates used in engineering are strong, tough materials, and some grades are optically transparent. They are easily worked, molded, and thermoformed. Because of these properties, polycarbonates find many applications. Polycarbonates do not have a unique resin identification code (RIC) and are identified as "Other", 7 on the RIC list. Products made from polycarbonate can contain the precursor monomer bisphenol A (BPA).
- ^ "Lexan sheet technical manual" (PDF). SABIC. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-03-16. Retrieved 2015-07-18.
- ^ Parvin, M. & Williams, J. G. (1975). "The effect of temperature on the fracture of polycarbonate". Journal of Materials Science. 10 (11): 1883. Bibcode:1975JMatS..10.1883P. doi:10.1007/BF00754478. S2CID 135645940.
- ^ Blumm, J.; Lindemann, A. (2003). "Characterization of the thermophysical properties of molten polymers and liquids using the flash technique" (PDF). High Temperatures – High Pressures. 35/36 (6): 627. doi:10.1068/htjr144.
- ^ CES Edupack 2010, Polycarbonate (PC) specs sheet