Amorphous Engineering Thermoplastic

Polycarbonate (PC)

Polycarbonate is a transparent, amorphous thermoplastic known for very high impact strength and good heat resistance. It is used for guards, lenses, light pipes, and tough housings. Request a quote or browse all materials.

Typical Properties

Polycarbonate at a glance

Property	Typical value
Density	~1.20 g/cm³
Tensile strength (yield)	~60–65 MPa
Tensile modulus	~2.3–2.4 GPa
Elongation at break	~100%+
Notched Izod impact	~600–900 J/m
Heat deflection (1.8 MPa)	~128–138 °C
Glass transition	~147 °C
Light transmission	~88–90% (clear, 3 mm)

Typical clear general-purpose grade; UV-stabilized, flame-retardant, and glass-filled grades differ. These are typical reference values from standard published data, not guaranteed minimums. Request material certificates in your RFQ if properties must be verified.

Advantages

Why engineers choose Polycarbonate

Impact strength

Far tougher than acrylic in impact.

Clarity

Optically clear grades for windows and covers.

Heat resistance

Higher service temperature than ABS or acrylic.

Dimensional stability

Low shrinkage for molded parts.

Design considerations: Scratches more easily than acrylic; sensitive to some solvents and stress cracking; machined faces become frosted and need polishing or vapor polishing for clarity.

Applications