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Polycarbonate Sheet, Rod & Tube

Buy cut-to-size polycarbonate with UV-stabilized and machine-grade options for impact strength and optical clarity.

Clear Polycarbonate Sheet
Polycarbonate Sheet
 Polycarbonate Rod
Polycarbonate Rod
 Polycarbonate Tube
Polycarbonate Tube
 Twinwall
Twinwall
 SunTuf
SunTuf
 Polycarbonate Base & Caps
Base & Caps
 Machine Grade Sheet
Machine Grade Sheet
 Renovo-MPC™ Clear Post-Consumer Polycarbonate Sheet
Post-Consumer Polycarbonate Sheet
 Marine Grade Polycarbonate
Marine Grade Polycarbonate
 Polycarbonate Sheet - Clear AR2
Clear AR2 Polycarbonate Sheet
 Polycarbonate Security Panels
Polycarbonate Security Panels
 Material Sample Packs
Sample Packs

What is Polycarbonate?

Polycarbonate plastic is a thermoforming finished plastic easily worked, molded, and thermoformed. Because of these properties, polycarbonates find many applications. Thermoforming plastics are plastics used in manufacturing processes where sheets are heated to a pliable forming temperature, formed to a specific shape in a mold, and trimmed to create a usable product strength, higher than both glass and polystyrene. Polycarbonate can undergo large plastic deformations without cracking or breaking.

Polycarbonate is a durable material. Although it has high impact-resistance, it has low scratch-resistance remedied by abrasion resistant Polycarbonate. The characteristics of polycarbonate are quite similar to acrylic, but polycarbonate is stronger and performs in a wider temperature range.

Polycarbonate is highly visible to light, with better light transmission than many types of glass. Polycarbonate is much lighter than glass, and is nearly unbreakable. Bullet-resistant variations are available and are used in windows and enclosures usually seen inside banks are often made of polycarbonate.

Polycarbonate is safe and shatterproof, transparent or translucent, durable and lightweight, with numerous optional specifications.

Polycarbonate is also known by brand names including PolyGal, Lexan, Tuffak, and Makrolon®.

  • Virtually unbreakable with extreme impact resistance
  • Thermoformable
  • Easily machinable
  • Lightweight and rigid
  • Excellent optical properties
  • More impact resistance than glass
  • Transparent up to 2" thick
  • Wide temperature operating range (-40°F to 280°F)
  • Lightweight
  • Easy to glue, hot air weld, and machine.

What is Multiwall Polycarbonate?

Twinwall or Multi-Wall Polycarbonate provides excellent insulation in a ribbed air-layer configuration. Multi-walled sheets traps air within the sheet, providing outstanding thermal insulation. High impact strength with great insulation and heat retention properties make twinwall an excellent choice for roofing panels, especially among greenhouses where it has been found to be particularly effective. Other twinwall applications include shower enclosures, partitions, window replacements, patio covers, carports, awnings, wind breaks, light covers & enclosures, and other home improvement projects.

Polycarbonate Applications & Industries Served

Common applications include:

Construction Materials: Bullet resistant enclosures, modern enclosures, large-scale architectural projects, chemically durable industrial coverings, high-traffic areas or leisure centers, domelights, flat or curved glazing, and sound walls.

Graphics & Display: Screens (from picture frames to screen walls), safety & security glazing, machine operation safety, and virtually any case where traditional glass proposes a risk.

Fabrication: Easy to process while maintaining material robustness, formable through machining or conventional tooling. Fabricators are offered with a multitude of possibilities with easily processed materials, supplied in numerous specifications.

Transportation: In the automotive industry, injection-molded polycarbonate can produce very smooth surfaces that make it well-suited for sputter deposition or evaporation deposition of Aluminum without the need for a base-coat. Decorative bezels and optical reflectors are commonly made of polycarbonate. Due to its low weight and high impact resistance, polycarbonate is the dominant material for making automotive headlamp lenses.

  • Bullet Resistant "Glass"
  • Lenses
  • Eyewear
  • Shields
  • Industrial Equipment
  • Medical Components
  • Instrument Components
  • Electrical Insulators
  • Aerospace
  • Portholes
  • Automotive Parts
  • Card Guides
  • Assembly Lines

Polycarbonate Sheet Properties (Mechanical, Thermal, Optical)

Specific Gravity 1.2
Tensile Strength 9000-10500 psi
Tensile Modulus 345k psi
Elongation % (Rupture) 100-110%
Flexural Strength (Rupture) 13k-15k psi
Flexural Modulus 345k psi
Shear Modulus 114,000 psi
Izod Impact, Notched 1/8" 12-16 lbs/in.
Compressive Strength 11500 psi
Compressive Modulus 300 ksi
Rockwell Hardness 126 (D785)
Deflection Temperature 270-290°F
Max Service Temperature 250°F

Light Transmission
Clear 1/8":
Gray/Bronze 1/8":
Dark Grey 1/8":

  
86%
50%
18%
Ignition Temperature 1022°F
Water Absorption
(Saturated)		 0.15-0.20%

*Values listed are typical and are meant only as a guide to aid in design. Field testing should be performed to find the actual values for your application.

Polycarbonate Sheet (Solid/Monolithic)

Polycarbonate Rods & Tubes

Multiwall Polycarbonate Sheet (Twinwall/Multiwall Panels)

Polycarbonate Film (Electrical/Graphics/Insulation)

Clear Polycarbonate Film

Durable & flexible polycarbonate film can be thermoformed, molded, or die-cut into complex shapes.

Clear Polycarbonate Film

Polycarbonate Storm & Hurricane Panels

Bullet-Resistant & Containment-Grade Polycarbonate (Security Glazing)

Corrugated Polycarbonate Panels

Corrugated Panel Accessories (SunTuf/SunSky Systems)

Polycarbonate Glazing Profiles

Polycarbonate Fasteners & Installation Accessories

Prop 65 WarningWARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including Bisphenol A, CAS 80-05-7, which are known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.

 

Interstate Plastics Suppliers