MEAM.Design - Materials - Polycarbonate (PC, Lexan)
Instron Testing Video and Data
Tension Testing (mov) - Excel Data (Corrected Excel Data)
Material Properties
| Density | 1.21 | g/cc |
| UTS | 8-10 | kpsi |
| Hardness | M70 | Rockwell |
| Glass transition | 150 | C |
| Melting | 267 | C |
| Price point | $12 Per Foot | 3/4" rod, SmallParts ZPR-12-12 |
| Recycle | 7 |
History/Interest
Discovered at GE and Bayer at the same time in 1953, applied for patent in 55 and agreed to licensing even before patent was issued
Properties
High Impact Strength
Dimensionally Stable
High Rigidity
More Ductile than Acrylic
Stronger, Wider Temp Range
More expensive than Acrylic
More light transmissive than glass
Uses
Bullet-Resistant Glass
CDs / DVDs / Blu-Ray Discs
Drinking Glasses
Plastic MacBook
Apollo Visors
Automotive headlight covers
Hockey-Rink Glass
Riot Shields
Cockpit canopy for F-22
Eye Glass Lenses, usually with anti-scratch coating
Manufacturing
Easily worked, moulded, thermoformed
Injection molding more difficult than some other thermoplastics (Non-Newtonian fluid properties)