Key Benefits
- Virtually unbreakable impact strength — Izod notched over 600 J/m, 250× tougher than glass from -40°C to 130°C
- Optical clarity with 88–90% light transmission and low haze, providing glass-like transparency for lenses, glazing, and lighting
- High heat resistance — heat deflection temperature of 130–145°C enables continuous service above most transparent polymers
- Inherent flame resistance — self-extinguishing without additives (UL 94 V-2), with flame-retardant grades reaching V-0 at 0.5 mm
- Dimensional precision — low shrinkage, minimal warpage, and excellent creep resistance produce accurate, stable parts
- Design flexibility — complex thin-walled geometries, living hinges, and integrated optical features via advanced molding
End Markets
Industries We Serve
- Packaging & Flexible Films
- Food & Beverage Packaging
- Construction & Pipe Systems
- Agriculture Applications
- Automotive Components
- Industrial Manufacturing
Frequently Asked Questions
Polycarbonate combines three properties that no other transparent plastic can match simultaneously: optical clarity (88–90% light transmission), outstanding impact strength (250 times stronger than glass and 30 times stronger than acrylic), and high heat resistance (HDT 130–145°C). While acrylic (PMMA) offers slightly better optical clarity, it is far more brittle. Transparent ABS offers toughness but lower clarity and heat resistance. This unique combination makes polycarbonate the material of choice for safety glazing, automotive lighting, and demanding optical applications.
Syntex America supplies a comprehensive range of polycarbonate grades including general-purpose PC for injection molding and extrusion, optical and light-diffusion PC for LED lighting and automotive lenses, flame-retardant PC (UL 94 V-0) for electronics and electrical enclosures, glass-fiber-reinforced PC for structural applications, and FDA-compliant food-contact PC for food processing and storage applications.
Standard polycarbonate is sensitive to UV degradation, which causes yellowing and loss of impact strength over time. However, UV-stabilized grades and coextruded sheets with UV-protective cap layers are widely used in outdoor applications including greenhouse panels, architectural glazing, skylights, and noise barriers with service life exceeding 10 years. For injection-molded outdoor parts, UV-stabilized grades or UV-protective coatings are recommended to maintain clarity and mechanical performance.
The largest market for polycarbonate is electrical and electronics (enclosures, connectors, LED lighting), followed by automotive (headlamp lenses, interior trim, glazing), construction (sheets for roofing, glazing, noise barriers), medical devices (surgical instruments, dialysis housings, drug delivery devices), and consumer goods (eyewear, water bottles, food containers). The automotive lighting segment is one of the fastest-growing applications due to the shift to LED and adaptive headlamp technologies.
Yes, polycarbonate is fully recyclable through mechanical recycling processes. Post-industrial scrap (sprues, runners, off-spec parts) is routinely reground and reprocessed, often blended at 20–30% with virgin resin without significant property loss. Post-consumer recycling of polycarbonate is growing, particularly from optical media (CDs, DVDs), water bottles, and automotive components. Chemical recycling methods are also under development to recover bisphenol A monomer for closed-loop production.
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Specifications
| Density | 1.20g/cm³ |
|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | 55–70MPa |
| Heat Deflection Temperature | 130–145°C |
| Impact Resistance (Izod, Notched) | 600–900J/m |
| Light Transmission | 88–90% |
| Flexural Modulus | 2,300–2,400MPa |
| Shrinkage | 0.5–0.7% |
| Water Absorption (24h) | 0.12–0.15% |
Industry Standards & Compliance
Polycarbonate resins comply with ASTM D3935 specifications for polycarbonate molding and extrusion materials. Select grades meet FDA 21 CFR 177.1580 for food-contact applications, USP Class VI for medical devices, and UL 94 V-0 classification at thicknesses as low as 0.5 mm for electrical and electronic applications. Optical grades conform to ASTM D1003 for light transmission and haze measurements.
ASTM D3935
Standard specification for polycarbonate (PC) molding and extrusion materials.
FDA 21 CFR 177.1580
U.S. food-contact approval met by select polycarbonate grades.
USP Class VI
Biocompatibility classification met by select grades for medical devices.
UL 94 V-0
Flammability classification achieved by flame-retardant grades at thicknesses as low as 0.5 mm.
ASTM D1003
Light transmission and haze test method to which optical grades conform.
Applications
- Automotive headlamp lenses, light guides, and exterior lighting assemblies
- Safety glazing, riot shields, and bullet-resistant laminates
- LED lighting diffusers, lenses, and architectural light panels
- Consumer electronics housings, smartphone components, and laptop bezels
- Medical devices, surgical instrument handles, and dialysis equipment housings
- Electrical enclosures, battery covers, and telecom equipment housings (UL 94 V-0)
- Reusable water bottles, food storage containers, and baby bottles (FDA grades)
- Optical media substrates (CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray discs)
- Automotive instrument clusters, interior trim, and panoramic sunroof panels
- Greenhouse panels, architectural glazing, and noise barriers
- Safety helmets, face shields, and protective eyewear lenses
- Multi-wall and solid sheet for roofing, skylights, and canopy structures