TABLE OF CONTENTS [1]
Bisphenol A (BPA) based polycarbonate (PC) is one of the most versatile and widely used engineering thermoplastics on the market. This amorphous material offers
Outstanding impact strength even at low temperatures
Good mechanical properties over a broad temperature range
Excellent dimensional stability, even at elevated temperatures
Outstanding optical properties
Low birefringence [for compact disc (CD) manufacture]
Natural water-clear transparency
Ability to be integrally colored to form transparent, translucent, or opaque parts in virtually any hue and a wide variety of special effects for parts with high aesthetics
Amenability to plating, painting, and in-mold decoration
Product purity and safety for food-contact and medical applications (many BPA-PC grades have agency compliance around the globe)
Good thermal stability [ relative thermal index (RTI) to 125 C]
Good electrical insulating properties (although it can be made electroconductive via additives)
Good ultraviolet (UV) stability and weatherability
Very good flame retardance
Good processability with fast cycle times
As such, polycarbonate is used in at least 27 major industry segments, ranging from telecommunications components, to eyewear, to health care devices, to optical storage discs. A more extensive description of markets and applications is provided later in this chapter.
Initially, just two major resin manufacturers in North America and Europe produced polycarbonate. The industry has since expanded to include a half-dozen other suppliers in Europe, Asia/Pacific, and North America. Currently, polycarbonate is produced on four continents. Demand for this...
