Back to the Materials Group main page.
Polycarbonate film features a unique combination of advantages that meet an extensive range of performance requirements for both screen printers and end-users. Polycarbonate film has excellent clarity, producing true graphic colors which have outstanding durability due to second-surface, or backside printing. Also, it is an easy substrate to print on, with excellent ink adhesion without pretreatment.
Polycarbonate film is more economical than metal and more versatile as well. Polycarbonate film is easier to process and more design-flexible. Its variety of textures further expand design options while adding durability and attractive appeal.
Polycarbonate Film Facts
Clarity: Virtually haze free, regardless of thickness. Showstrue colors in reverse printing regardless of gauge. Excellent for LED/LCD windows. Protects second-surface printing, even in heavy gauges.
Printability: Easily screen-printed with no surface preparationor special inks required. Offers unlimited possibilities to achieve a variety of graphic effects.
Heat Stability: Allows close-tolerance registration after repeatedheat and drying cycles. Permits close proximity to illumination sources. Excellent in-use performance to 270ºF.
Textures: Abrasion-resistant and anti-reflective textures are available that resist scratching during processing. Abrasion-resistant and anti-reflective finish.
Flammability: UL94 V-0 or VTM0* flame retardant grades available from 1-30 mils to meet customer specifications. Conforms to UL94 V-0 and VTM-0 classifications. Complies with Underwriters Laboratories requirements and other flammability codes.
Polycarbonate is a tough, transparent engineering thermoplastic which offers very high impact strength and high modulus of elasticity. It also has a high heat deflection temperature and absorbs very little moisture. These properties, plus good low frequency and high voltage insulating characteristics, make polycarbonate a prime material for electrical and electronic components. Its strength, impact resistance and transparency also make it an ideal material for certain transparent structural applications. Glass fibers may be added in various amounts (10%, 20%, 30% and 40%) to increase tensile strength, stiffness, compressive strength, and lower the thermal expansion coefficient. Properties for 30% glass-filled polycarbonate are shown below for reference. Contact us for properties of other grades.
With high impact strength, excellent strength retention at elevated temperatures, high tensile, shear, and flexural strength, high modulus of elasticity, low deformation under load, excellent creep and cold flow resistance, low coefficient of thermal expansion, good electrical insulation properties polycarbonate is easy to fabricate and machine. Polycarbonate is an amorphous thermoplastic with extraordinary impact strength and toughness. Its versality allows for numerous industrial and military applications. High heat deflection values and transparency make it a candidate for many structural components.
Design Considerations:
250ºF continuous use temperature
hydroscopic above 200ºFmachine, not optical grade
limited chemical resistance/susceptibility to weak alkalies, strong acids, esters, ketones,
and chlorinated hydrocarbons.
Product Attributes:
high impact resistance at varied
temperaturestransparencygood tensile, shear and
flex strengthslow moisture absorptiongood electrical
insulationgood creep resistancegood dimensional
stabilitystrength at elevated temperaturesFDA and
flame retardant grades availablemeets Federal Spec L-P-393A
Applications:
electronic components, equipment housing
electrical-insulators, switches, connectors, coil forms, structural
componentsmedical-centrifuge components, sight gauges, shielding,
windows, handles