Polycarbonates (PC) are a group of thermoplastic polymers containing carbonate groups in their chemical structures. Polycarbonates used in engineering are strong, tough materials, and some grades are optically transparent. They are easily worked, molded, and thermoformed. Because of these properties, polycarbonates find many applications.
Polycarbonate is a durable material. Although it has high impact-resistance, it has low scratch-resistance. The characteristics of polycarbonate compare to those of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA, acrylic), but polycarbonate is stronger and will hold up longer to extreme temperature. Polycarbonate is highly transparent to visible light, with better light transmission than many kinds of glass.
Polycarbonate has a glass transition temperature of about 147 °C, so it softens gradually above this point and flows above about 155 °C.
Brandnames: Makrolon ®, Axxis ®, Calibre ®, Panlite ®, Radilux®, Sinvet ®, Lexan ®, Lexan Exell ®, Lexgard ®, Makrofol ®,Margard ®.