Polycarbonate is a highly versatile type of plastic. Being a type of thermoplastic, it is easy to mould into different shapes and forms by the application of heat.
Why Is Polycarbonate So Popular Today?
Polycarbonate is a very versatile type of plastic, because of its unique properties.
- Clear It is clear, allowing light to shine through and making it ideal for places where protection from the elements is desired, but where people don’t want to be see out.
- Lightweight Being plastic, it is lightweight, making it easier to handle than heavier materials like glass.
- Strong impact resistance Polycarbonate is tough, able to withstand 250 times the pressure of glass before breaking.
- UV resistant It can be made to be UV resistant, thereby providing years of use even in the harshest of climates.
- Impermeable to many liquids It doesn’t absorb liquids and is resistant to many chemicals, making it appealing for uses where other substances may corrode or degrade if in contact with chemicals.
- Scratch-resistant Polycarbonate is quite resistant to scratches.
- Good temperature resistance It can be used in temperatures ranging from as low as -40C up to 130C.
- Electrically-resistant It has strong electrical insulation properties.
- Easy to work with Polycarbonate is easy to drill, cut and, as it’s lightweight, it’s easy for DIY’ers to install, with no special equipment needed.
Common Types of Polycarbonate
Three common types of polycarbonate are polycarbonate sheet, UV2 polycarbonate and AR polycarbonate.
Exolon® (Made of Makrolon®) polycarbonate sheet
Exolon® (Made of Makrolon®) polycarbonate sheet is highly suited to environments where it may be subjected to deliberate or accidental physical or mechanical impacts, such as in machinery guards, police cells, farming vehicles, jails, or court houses.
It is also very resistant to UV rays.
Exolon® (Made of Makrolon®) UV2 Polycarbonate
Exolon® (Made of Makrolon®) UV2 polycarbonate sheet has greater UV resistance than standard polycarbonate sheet. In addition to its ability to withstand all kinds of adverse weather, it has a strong resistance to impact forces. It comes with a 10 year limited warranty.
AR Abrasion Resistant Polycarbonate
Exolon® (Made of Makrolon®) AR Polycarbonate has a higher resistance to abrasion than standard polycarbonate.
Where to Buy Polycarbonate in Australia
Plastral is a leading supplier of polycarbonate in Australia and check out the latest news in the plastics industry.
