What is PC Industrial Grade?
PC industrial grade is an engineering polycarbonate stock material in sheet and rod form, natural-coloured and near-colourless transparent. As an amorphous thermoplastic with a glass transition temperature of around 150°C, it combines high stiffness and hardness with good impact strength - even at low temperatures - while remaining easy to machine and form.
The combination of high stiffness, high hardness and good impact strength is unusual for a transparent thermoplastic: PC remains resistant to impact loading even at low temperatures while providing good electrical insulation. Compared with glass and acrylic (PMMA), PC shows markedly higher impact and fracture toughness and does not shatter even under strong impact loads.
Typical applications are found in electronics and electrical engineering - for example as insulating components, housings or carrier elements - and in mechanical engineering for sight windows, guide and mounting parts or test fixtures.
Technical Data
| Property | Value | Test Standard |
|---|---|---|
| General Properties | ||
| Density | 1.20 g / cm³ | DIN EN ISO 1183-1 |
| Water absorption | 0.2 % | DIN EN ISO 62 |
| Flammability (thickness 3 mm / 6 mm) | HB / HB | UL 94 |
| Mechanical Properties | ||
| Yield stress | 65 MPa | DIN EN ISO 527 |
| Elongation at break | 80 % | DIN EN ISO 527 |
| Tensile modulus | 2300 MPa | DIN EN ISO 527 |
| Notched impact strength | 20 kJ / m² | DIN EN ISO 179 |
| Shore hardness | 82 scale D | DIN EN ISO 868 |
| Thermal Properties | ||
| Glass transition temperature | 150 °C | ISO 11357-3 |
| Thermal conductivity | 0.21 W / (m·K) | DIN 52612-1 |
| Specific heat capacity | 1.20 kJ / (kg·K) | DIN 52612 |
| Coefficient of linear expansion | 70 · 10-6 / K | DIN 53752 |
| Continuous service temperature | -40 to 115 °C | guide value |
| Short-term service temperature (max.) | 140 °C | guide value |
| Heat deflection temperature | 135 °C | DIN EN ISO 75 |
| Electrical Properties | ||
| Dielectric constant | 3 | IEC 60250 |
| Dissipation factor (50 Hz) | 0.001 | IEC 60250 |
| Volume resistivity | 1015 Ω · cm | DIN EN 62631-3-1 |
| Surface resistivity | 1015 Ω | DIN EN 62631-3-2 |
| Comparative tracking index (CTI) | 275 | IEC 60112 |
| Dielectric strength | 30 kV / mm | IEC 60243 |
PC Industrial Grade in detail
1What is PC industrial grade?+
PC industrial grade is a natural-coloured, near-colourless polycarbonate stock material in sheet and rod form with high stiffness, good impact strength and good electrical insulation.
2How does Liedtke machine PC industrial grade?+
We saw, mill, drill and turn PC industrial grade using standard plastic machining methods to tight tolerances; bonding and thermal forming are also possible.
3When should I choose PC industrial grade?+
PC industrial grade pays off whenever transparency, stiffness and good impact strength combined with high dimensional stability are required - for example:
- Insulating components, housings or carrier elements in electronics and electrical engineering
- Viewing windows, guide and mounting parts or test fixtures in mechanical engineering
- Applications where stiffness, dimensional stability and transparency are equally required
- Use in place of glass or acrylic where high impact and fracture toughness and break resistance are needed
- Components, viewing windows, insulating parts or prototypes made from sheets and round rods, including bonded or thermoformed parts
4What determines the price of a PC industrial grade part?+
The price depends mainly on dimensions, machining effort, tolerances and quantity. We are happy to provide a binding quote based on your drawing.
5When is PC industrial grade not the right choice?+
PC has only limited weather resistance without UV protection and is sensitive to stress cracking under certain media. For permanent outdoor use with UV exposure, a coated or UV-stabilised grade should be considered.
6Advantages and disadvantages of PC industrial grade+
An honest assessment of the strengths and limits of PC industrial grade:
- Advantage: High heat deflection resistance up to around 135 °C
- Advantage: Very good electrical insulation properties
- Advantage: Good impact strength, also at low temperatures
- Advantage: Virtually colourless transparency
- Advantage: Good dimensional stability due to low moisture absorption
- Disadvantage: Limited resistance to many solvents
- Disadvantage: Susceptible to stress cracking under the influence of certain media
- Disadvantage: Only limited weathering resistance without UV protection
- Disadvantage: Burning behaviour HB, not self-extinguishing
Typical properties
- Amorphous thermoplastic, glass transition temperature 150 °C
- Natural colour, virtually colourless and transparent
- Low moisture absorption
- High stiffness and hardness
- High heat deflection resistance
- Good formability and dimensional stability
- Electrically insulating
- Good impact strength, also at low temperatures
Typical industries
- Electronics
- Electrical engineering
- Mechanical engineering
- Fixture and equipment manufacturing
Downloads for PC Industriequalität
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