Polycarbonate as a substance matter is a solid, colorless polymer plastic, which is used in the form of granules in manufacture. It is strong, light-weight, optically transparent, flexible, freeze-proof, durable and also a good dielectric material.
From the chemical point of view polycarbonates are
synthetic polymers.
Polycarbonates are products of polycondensation of dihydric phenols with derivatives of carbon dioxide. Polycarbonates, received from diphenylol propane and phosgene, are widespread.
Special features of polycarbonate are specified by unique structure of its
macromolecule
It is similar to a long chain with the repeating units, connected together by carbonate groups (-O — (C=O)-O-). Due to length of the molecules the polymers differ from other materials by plasticity, lightness and durability. Such molecules are called macromolecules, and their compounds are called polymers.
Polycarbonate is thermoplastic polymer (thermoplastic). It means that this material restores its features by hardening, regardless of
how many times it has been fluxed.
At high temperature (250ºC) physical links between its macromolecules break up, accordingly physical properties of polycarbonate such as hardness and resistance disappear, and it becomes a liquid melt. Macromolecules keep the integrity and a liquid melt is cooling down and hardening, physical links between them appear again, and polycarbonate becomes the same as before fusion process. This makes possible to expose a polycarbonate to repetitive processing that does a material especially attractive with relation to ecology.
About polycarbonate sheets
Polycarbonate sheets are made from polycarbonate granules by an extrusion method, and it became very popular as a universal material with unique service characteristics and a very wide spectrum of application.
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Cellular
polycarbonate sheet
is a hollow polymeric sheet with the internal structure representing a multilayered construction, filled with longitudinal crosspieces — stiffening ribs. |
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Solid
polycarbonate sheet
is a solid polymeric sheet without internal free spaces. Externally it reminds ordinary glass, only it is lighter and stronger. |
Unique characteristics of polycarbonate sheets
Lightness
Cellular polycarbonate is lighter than glass in 6 times, and solid is lighter in 2 times; it allows to create light original constructions; to increase the area of light transmitting surface due to increase of span width of a bearing construction and to install without elevating mechanisms. The small weight of sheets allows to reduce volume of bearing designs; it reduces a total cost of the building under construction. |
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TransparencySolid polycarbonate is transparent and transmits to 90 % of light that is above the indicators of ordinary glass. Panels of cellular polycarbonate are not transparent; however they also possess the high degree of light transmission, and the finest panels pass to 85 % of a visible spectrum. |
Heat and acoustic insulation — of all polycarbonate sheets at a height, and acoustic insulation of cellular polycarbonate panel is higher in 2 times in comparison with glass of the same thickness due to air that is filling its free spaces. |
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Durability
Due to the structure of its molecules the polycarbonate has unrivaled indicators of crash-worthiness — panels from polycarbonate are capable to maintain by an order greater weight loads (wind and snow) than glass. Additional constructive durability in relation to weight of cellular polycarbonate is due to the numerous stiffening ribs which are forming the cells in the panel. |
Flexibility in a cold condition makes the sheets of polycarbonate as an ideal material for covering of constructions of the difficult geometrical form: arched and vault constructions and other geometrically difficult building projects. |
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Safety Polycarbonate does not fly apart on dangerous splinters from impact that also gives it advantage over glass. |
Simplicity of processing Sheets from polycarbonate are perfectly processed by ordinary cutting tools. |
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Temperature and fire resistance A wide temperature range of performance is from -40 to +120°C. |
Chemical and environmental resistance Polycarbonate sheets are resistant to the majority of chemical substances and compounds and keep their characteristics for a long time. |
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Simplicity of installation For installation of polycarbonate sheets convenient polycarbonate profiles of the same colour and mechanical properties are used. |
Cleanability Polycarbonate sheets are easily removed by a large quantity of water and 100%-cotton fabric (it is allowed to use dishwashing detergent or special agents, except for agents containing ammonia that conducts to destruction of polycarbonate) |
About properties of polycarbonate sheets in details
Comparison table of characteristics of polycarbonate sheets with other materials
