Polycarbonate plastic materials give you a unique balance of useful features which include temp resistance, impact resistance and optical properties position polycarbonates in between commodity plastic materials and engineering materials.
Polycarbonate is definitely a long-lasting material. Whilst it features outstanding impact-resistance, it has reduced scratch-resistance and thus a hard coating typically is applied to polycarbonate eyeglasses and polycarbonate exterior motor vehicle equipment. The properties of polycarbonate are generally similar those of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA, acrylic), except polycarbonate definitely is 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 it has better light transmission characteristics than most grades of glass.
Polycarbonate has a glass transition temperature near 150 °C (302 °F), so it softens gradually above this point and flows above about 300°C (572 °F). Tools need to be held at higher temperatures, generally above 80 °C (176 °F) to help make strain- and reduced stress products.
Unlike most other thermoplastics, polycarbonate can undergo dramatic deformations without cracking or breaking. Due to this fact, for small changes in shape, it can be processed and formed cold using sheet metal techniques, for instance forming bends on a brake. For even sharp angle bends with a tight radius, no heating is usually necessary. This makes it valuable in prototyping applications where transparent or electrically non-conductive parts are required, which should not be crafted from sheet metal. Please keep in mind PMMA/Plexiglas, which happens to be similar in appearance to polycarbonate, but it is brittle and can't be bent unless it is heated.
Polycarbonate is commonly found in eye protection, in addition to other projectile-resistant see through applications that would normally require the use of glass, but require much higher impact-resistance. Many different types of lenses are produced from polycarbonate, including automotive headlamp lenses, lighting lenses, sunglass/eyeglass lenses, swimming and SCUBA goggles, and safety visors for use in sporting helmets/masks and police riot gear. Windscreens in small motorized vehicles are commonly made up of polycarbonate, such as for motorcycles, ATVs, golf carts, and small planes and helicopters.
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