Designations of polycarbonate sheets
Polycarbonate is a thermoplastic polymer, known commercially under various names. From A-Z, these are Arla, Axxis, Caliber, Lexan, Lexan, Lexgard, Margard, Makrofol, Makrolon, Panlite, Quin, Radilux. Whatever you call it, it’s all the same plastic sheet.
Polycarbonate is a thermoplastic polymer and it is one of the few plastics that can withstand high temperatures. It is a tough material and its most important quality is its high impact resistance. Polycarbonate sheets are 250 times stronger than regular glass, while only weighing half as much. Making polycarbonate a popular material for security and vandalism proof glazing. Even though polycarbonate is a tough material, it is still widely applicable and easy to work with.
Applications of polycarbonate sheets
Due to its strength, polycarbonate is often used for heavy duty tasks like security glazing. It is also suitable for applications such as vandalism and burglary proof glazing, glazing for bus stops, bicycle parking, telephone booths and light advertising. Furthermore, the material is ideal for industrial purposes: from machine construction to the food industry. Polycarbonate sheets are extremely difficult to break or crack, and can resist high temperatures as well as high pressure. But don’t let the tough qualities scare you off, because it is also suitable for more common practises. For example, it can be used to replace boat and shed windows or to create canopies, balcony screens, greenhouses and secondary glazing. Polycarbonate is not only strong, it is also diverse and multifunctional.
The characteristics of polycarbonate sheets
Polycarbonate is a thermoplastic polymer. It is a tough material and its most important quality is its high impact resistance. Polycarbonate sheets are 250 times stronger than regular glass. The sheets are available in a variety of colours, but the most popular colour is crystal clear. Clear polycarbonate sheets has a light transmission of 92%, which is significantly higher than regular glass. This is the main reason that thick polycarbonate sheets are visibly clearer than glass, thick glass sheets often show discolouration. Another advantage when comparing polycarbonate to regular glass, is its weight: a polycarbonate sheet weighs half as much as a glass sheet. Additionally, all polycarbonate sheets in our range are UV resistant. All these qualities make polycarbonate a popular replacement for glass. In contrast to acrylic sheets, polycarbonate has a fire class B-s1,d0, making it both heat and fire resistant as well as being self-extinguishing.
Types of polycarbonate sheets
Polycarbonate sheets are available online in two different types: solid and channel sheets. Multiwall sheets have many, small hollow areas in the centre of the sheet saving a large amount of weight without reducing the strength of the panel. In our webshop, we only sell solid polycarbonate sheets. These sheets are, as their name suggests, massive and super strong. Because of these properties, polycarbonate is often used for “heavy” work, such as safety glazing. In addition to the regular solid polycarbonate sheets, there are also so-called channel sheets. These are extruded sheets that are used for light-transmitting (roofing) constructions or greenhouses. Channel polycarbonate sheets have “bulkheads” over the entire length that obstruct a clear view. We do not supply polycarbonate channel sheets, but only solid (monolithic) polycarbonate.
Variants and colours
This question does not have an easy answer. Even the thinner polycarbonate sheets are very strong, so it really depends on the purpose of the sheet. If it is used as security glazing, we recommend using a minimum sheet thickness of 4 mm. For aquatic applications, like aquariums, we strongly suggest a minimum of 5 mm. A sheet thickness of 6 mm is the absolute minimum if the sheet is used as a window that is 1.5 square metre or larger. If you are not sure what sheet thickness suits your specific project, please don’t hesitate to contact our customer service team for advice.
Thicknesses
Regarding the thickness, you can choose from sheets ranging from 2 to 15 millimetres thick. To easily work out which sheet thickness is suitable for your application, we have developed the thickness calculator. Choose a vertical or horizontal installation and look up the length and width that you have in mind in the table. This will give you the thickness that you need.
Processing options
Despite its very solid product properties, polycarbonate sheets are very easy to machine. Not only for the professional, but also for the home handyman. With standard DIY tools, drilling, sawing and polishing polycarbonate is no problem at all.
Polycarbonate sheets may seem tough, but they are easy to handle for any (inexperienced) handyman. The run of the mill do-it-yourself tools will work fine for drilling, sawing and polishing the sheets. If you have any experience in working with acrylic sheets, it is good to know that handling polycarbonate sheets is very similar: the proper tools and precautions are almost the same. In fact, polycarbonate is actually easier to handle than acrylic since the chance of the material breaking is a lot smaller.
Order polycarbonate sheets
You can order polycarbonate sheets from us easily and quickly online. We will saw these for you and deliver them to you as soon as possible. You will be kept informed of the ordering process via e-mail.
