{"id":1534,"date":"2020-01-21T17:56:57","date_gmt":"2020-01-21T17:56:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.becgroup.com\/?p=1534"},"modified":"2025-08-27T11:02:59","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T10:02:59","slug":"polycarbonate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.becgroup.com\/material-of-the-month\/polycarbonate\/","title":{"rendered":"Material of the Month: Polycarbonate"},"content":{"rendered":"

Polycarbonate:\u00a0 Strong, shatter proof and out of this world<\/strong><\/h3>\n

What do astronaut visors and bullet-resistant glass have in common?\u00a0 No, they\u2019re not bullet proof, they\u2019re both made from polycarbonate!<\/p>\n

Invented in the late 1950\u2019s, this transparent, non-toxic but extremely strong polymer was originally used as a by-product of the space race.\u00a0 Because it\u2019s clear, tough and very light it was perfect for astronaut\u2019s visors but today it\u2019s more commonly used in the making of DVD\u2019s and lenses.\u00a0 With these distinct properties, our product testers, engineers and quality control team often recommend polycarbonate to customers as an excellent alternative to glass.\u00a0 We\u2019d go so far as to say that for impact strength, it\u2019s one of the best materials available.<\/p>\n

Often approached by product designers and product engineers keen to get their new products to market, we take immense pride in helping turn their exciting and sometimes innovative ideas into saleable products<\/a> they can be proud of.\u00a0 Helping our customers stay ahead of the competition by working with them at every stage of NPI (New Product Introduction).\u00a0 Combining our valuable design, tool and moulding expertise with manufacturing and material knowledge to help them decide on the most suitable material selection<\/a> for their finished product.<\/p>\n

But how does a product designer or product engineer know when or what to use polycarbonate for?<\/p>\n

We look at what it needs to do, to be fit for purpose.\u00a0 Does it need to be: heat resistant, shatterproof, light, strong, flexible or easy to overprint and\/or decorate?\u00a0 Polycarbonate was the obvious material choice for one customer, 3M, when we moulded their ear protection bands.<\/p>\n

\"EAR<\/p>\n

When it comes to material selection, it\u2019s just as important to know a polymer\u2019s good points as its bad, so here\u2019s a quick overview of polycarbonate\u2019s pros and cons:<\/p>\n

Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00b7<\/span><\/span> \u00a0 Impressive impact strength – one of the best materials available
\n\u00b7<\/span><\/span> \u00a0 Clarity, similar to glass but shatter resistant (used in lenses, PPE)
\n\u00b7<\/span><\/span> \u00a0 Additives available, (FR, UV, Glass filled)
\n\u00b7<\/span><\/span> \u00a0 Wide temperature range (heat resistance & dimensional stability)
\n\u00b7<\/span><\/span> \u00a0 Glass alternative, (lighter, stronger, more flexible, cheaper)
\n\u00b7<\/span><\/span> \u00a0 Easy to print and decorate<\/p>\n

Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00b7<\/span><\/span> \u00a0 Low chemical resistance
\n\u00b7<\/span><\/span> \u00a0 Contain BPA
\n\u00b7<\/span><\/span> \u00a0 Can scratch easily (coatings available)<\/p>\n

Did you know?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Polycarbonate is used for fighter jet cockpits.<\/b><\/p>\n

Perhaps polycarbonate is the right material for your new product or invention? If you\u2019re ready to turn your product idea into a tangible product<\/a> to take to market, our team of plastic injection moulding experts would love to help (and we love a challenge!) so give us a call on: 01425 613131 or email <\/b>hello@becgroup.com<\/b><\/a><\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What do astronaut visors and bullet-resistant glass have in common? Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1554,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1534","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-material-of-the-month"],"yoast_head":"\nPolycarbonate: BEC Group's Material of the Month<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"BEC's head of Design and Innnovation, Paul Holland, can help you decide whether polycarbonate is the right material selection for your NPI.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.becgroup.com\/material-of-the-month\/polycarbonate\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" 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