Polycarbonate (PC)
Amorphous engineering thermoplastic; outstanding impact toughness and optical clarity.
Also called: polycarbonate, PC, Lexan
| Property | Value | Source | Method | Conditions | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.2 g/cm³ | Callister & Rethwisch, Materials Science and Engineering, 10th ed. | ASTM D792 | 23 °C, dry | — |
| Young's modulus E | 2.4 GPa | Callister & Rethwisch, Materials Science and Engineering, 10th ed. | ASTM D638 | 23 °C, dry | — |
| Tensile strength | 65 MPa | Callister & Rethwisch, Materials Science and Engineering, 10th ed. | ASTM D638 | 23 °C, dry | — |
| Glass transition Tg | 147 °C | Callister & Rethwisch, Materials Science and Engineering, 10th ed. | DSC | 23 °C, dry | — |
Polycarbonate is an amorphous, glass-clear engineering thermoplastic famous for extreme impact resistance — it is the material of bulletproof glazing, safety visors, and riot shields.
Its limitations are surface hardness (it scratches easily, so it is often hard-coated) and stress cracking when exposed to certain solvents and hydrocarbons. With no crystalline phase, its glass transition (around 147 °C) is a hard service-temperature ceiling.
See where Polycarbonate fits in a real product, and what it competes with:
- Callister & Rethwisch, Materials Science and Engineering, 10th ed.
Typical room-temperature values for learning and preliminary design; grades vary. Always confirm against the supplier datasheet before design work. Data policy: docs/DATA-SOURCES.md in the repository.