Can polycarbonate be drilled?

Yes, polycarbonate drills easily and is far more forgiving than acrylic. Use a standard HSS twist bit at moderate speed with light pressure. Always allow at least one and a half times the bolt diameter clearance around fixings so the sheet can expand and contract with temperature without splitting.

Is polycarbonate the same as Lexan?

Yes. Lexan is the original trade name for polycarbonate created by General Electric (now owned by Sabic). Makrolon is the equivalent Bayer (now Covestro) brand. We supply Lexan, Makrolon and other quality polycarbonate brands depending on the application and thickness required.

Will polycarbonate yellow in the sun?

Polycarbonate without UV protection will yellow noticeably after a few years outdoors. UV protected polycarbonate, which has a coextruded UV blocking layer on one or both surfaces, will hold its clarity for 10 to 15 years in most Australian climates. We supply UV protected polycarbonate as standard for any outdoor application.

Can you laser cut polycarbonate?

Thin polycarbonate up to around 6 mm can be laser cut, but the edge will typically have a slight amber tint and may carry some haze. For appearance critical edges or thicker sheet, we recommend CNC routing. We will advise on the best cutting method for your specific job at quote time.

How thick does polycarbonate need to be for security glazing?

For shopfront safety glazing against opportunistic vandalism, 6 to 10 mm solid polycarbonate is usually enough. For bullet resistant glazing, multilayer laminates of 25 mm and above are required, and the build up is rated against specific firearms and projectiles. We can discuss your security requirements and recommend a build that meets the relevant Australian standards.

Polycarbonate (Lexan)

Name: Associated Plastics
Address: 1 Birdwood Ave, Moonah, Tasmania, 7009, AU
Telephone: 1300 198 924
Price range: $$

The toughest clear plastic in everyday use, polycarbonate is the go to choice when you need glass clarity with serious impact resistance.

Overview

About Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate is characterised by an excellent combination of toughness, transparency, heat and flame resistance and dimensional stability. It is used as an alternative to acrylic when impact, flammability and durability properties are the primary considerations. It is also available in an abrasion resistant sheet.

Solid polycarbonate suits machine guards, safety shields, security glazing and inspection windows. Multiwall polycarbonate is the lighter, insulating option for roofing, greenhouse and patio glazing. Quality sheet carries a co-extruded UV protective layer, which is what keeps it clear outdoors.

We cut polycarbonate to your exact dimensions and fabricate guards, screens and covers to suit your equipment. Ask us and we will recommend the right grade and thickness for the job.

Key Properties

Polymer family: Polycarbonate, PC
Light transmission: Around 88 to 90 percent (clear)
Density: Around 1.20 g/cm3
Max service temperature: Approximately 115 to 120 C continuous
Impact strength: Roughly 250 times glass, 30 times acrylic
Common thicknesses: 1.5, 2, 3, 4.5, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 15 mm

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Key Features

What makes Polycarbonate useful

Near unbreakable, with impact strength far above any other clear engineering plastic

Excellent optical clarity, only slightly behind acrylic

Stays tough at low temperatures down to roughly minus 40 C

Withstands service temperatures up to about 120 C

Cold formable, so it can be curved on site without heating for shallow bends

Available with UV protected, anti scratch, anti fog and tinted surface treatments

Applications

Common uses for Polycarbonate

Machine guards and safety screens

Security glazing for shopfronts and banks

Riot shields, helmets and face shields

Greenhouse and pergola roofing (multiwall and solid sheet)

Skylights and architectural glazing

Sound barriers along highways

Boat windows and dodgers

Light covers and signage in vandal prone areas

Bullet resistant glazing laminates

Headlight and tail light lenses in vehicles

Protective covers over electrical equipment

Hockey rink and sports field surrounds

Pros and Cons

The honest picture

Every material has trade offs. Here is where Polycarbonate shines and where it falls short.

Pros

Virtually unbreakable in everyday use, which often justifies the higher cost over acrylic
Handles a much wider temperature range than acrylic, both hot and cold
Can be cold curved into gentle radii without thermoforming equipment
Lighter than glass while delivering far better impact performance
UV protected grades are available for outdoor service over many years

Limitations

Scratches much more easily than glass or acrylic unless an anti scratch hard coat is specified
Solvents, ammonia and many cleaning chemicals will attack the surface and cause crazing
Significantly more expensive than acrylic in equivalent thicknesses
Edge quality after laser cutting is poor compared to acrylic, so CNC routing is usually preferred

Comparisons

Polycarbonate versus the alternatives

Acrylic

Polycarbonate is roughly 17 to 30 times more impact resistant than acrylic and tolerates higher temperatures, but acrylic is clearer, harder to scratch, easier to laser cut and cheaper. Choose polycarbonate when safety or impact matters, acrylic when appearance is the priority.

PETG

PETG is tougher than acrylic and easier to thermoform than polycarbonate, but does not match polycarbonate for outright impact strength or temperature performance. For machine guards and security glazing, polycarbonate is still the standard.

Glass

Polycarbonate is about half the weight of glass and roughly 250 times more impact resistant, but it scratches far more easily and is much more expensive in thicker sections.

Our Services

How we work with Polycarbonate

The fabrication methods best suited to Polycarbonate, and what we do with them in our Moonah workshop.

CNC Router Cutting

CNC routing is our preferred method for polycarbonate, producing clean edges without the melting that laser cutting tends to cause on thicker sheets.

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Laser Cutting

Thin polycarbonate up to around 6 mm can be laser cut, although a slightly amber edge is normal. For appearance critical edges, we recommend CNC.

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Custom Fabrication

We cold bend, drill and assemble polycarbonate into machine guards, safety screens, dodgers and architectural covers.

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Cut To Size

Cut to size polycarbonate in clear, tinted, UV protected and anti scratch grades, available in solid sheet or multiwall configurations.

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FAQ

Polycarbonate FAQs

Need Polycarbonate for Your Project?

Talk to our team about how we can cut, fabricate or repair Polycarbonate for you. Free quotes, expert advice and Australia wide delivery from our Moonah workshop.

Get a Free Quote Call 1300 198 924