Eat ChikenPolycarbonate materials give you a unique balance of useful features which include temp resistance, impact resistance and optical properties position polycarbonates in between commodity plastics and engineering materials.
Polycarbonate is a very long-lasting material. Whilst it offers tremendous impact-resistance, it has reduced scratch-resistance and thus a hard coating could be applied to polycarbonate eye protection and polycarbonate exterior motor vehicle equipment. The properties associated with polycarbonate are generally similar to that of those of common Acrylic materials, and yet polycarbonate is definitely 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 different types of glass.
Polycarbonate has a glass transition temperature of about 150 °C (302 °F), consequently it softens gradually above this point and flows above about 300°C (572 °F). Tools ought to be held at higher temperatures, generally above 80 °C (176 °F) to help with making strain- and stress-free products.
Unlike almost all other thermoplastics, polycarbonate can undergo large deformations without cracking. Hence, it may be processed and formed  cold using standard sheet metal techniques, for instance forming bends on a brake. For even sharp angle bends having a tight radius, no heating is generally necessary. This makes it valuable in prototyping applications where transparent or electrically non-conductive parts are necessary, which should not be crafted from sheet metal. Please keep in mind PMMA/Plexiglas, which is similar in appearance to polycarbonate, but it is brittle and can’t be bent at room temperature.
The light weight of polycarbonate, compared with glass, has led to development of electronic display screens that replace glass with polycarbonate, for use in mobile and portable devices. Such displays include newer e-ink and many 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 with finer detail.
Other kinds of items manufactured from Polycarbonate include durable, lightweight luggage, MP3/digital audio player cases, computer cases, high impact riot shields, instrument panels, and common style blender jars. Many toys and hobby goods 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 could be needed. This may be a coating (e.g. for improved abrasion resistance), or a coextrusion for enhanced weathering resistance.
The Makrolon Polycarbonate is a thermoplastic that begins as a solid material in the form of small pellets. In a manufacturing process called injection molding, the pellets are heated until they melt. The melted liquid polycarbonate is then rapidly pushed into a mold, compressed under high pressure and cooled to form a finished product in a matter of minutes.
