Exceptional Impact Resistance: Offers extremely high impact strength, approximately 200-300 times that of glass of the same thickness and over 30 times that of acrylic sheets. It is often called "unbreakable glass" or "glazing steel."

Excellent Optical Properties: Features high light transmittance of up to 89%, comparable to glass. When coated with a UV-resistant layer, it effectively blocks ultraviolet light transmission and prevents the sheet from yellowing and hazing due to exposure to sunlight.

Lightweight: Has a low density, only about half that of glass, which reduces transportation, handling, and installation costs, and places less load on supporting structures.

Good Weather Resistance: Maintains stable physical properties across a wide temperature range from -40°C to 120°C (and even short-term higher), without becoming brittle. It exhibits good long-term anti-aging performance for outdoor applications.

Flame Retardancy: Has a high ignition point and is self-extinguishing upon removal of a flame. It does not produce toxic gases when burning. Its flame retardancy rating can reach Class B1, making it a flame-retardant engineering plastic.

High Heat and Cold Resistance: Retains good mechanical strength, rigidity, and dimensional stability in both high and low-temperature environments.

Bendability: Possesses good plasticity and flexibility, allowing for cold-curving at room temperature, making it suitable for arched structures like skylights.

Thermal Insulation and Sound Insulation: Multi-wall and hollow cell structures significantly reduce thermal conduction, offering better insulation than glass of comparable thickness. They also effectively reduce noise transmission.

Anti-Condensation: Under certain conditions (e.g., with multi-wall sheets), the interior surface temperature is higher than that of glass, helping to reduce condensation formation.

Chemical Resistance: Resists weak acids, weak alkalis, alcohols, aliphatic hydrocarbons, and other chemicals. (Note: Resistance is poor against strong acids, strong alkalis, and some organic solvents.)

Electrical Insulation: Serves as an excellent electrical insulator with good dielectric strength.

Ease of Fabrication: Can be easily processed using standard tools for cutting, drilling, and cold bending, facilitating simple installation.

I. Construction & Architecture

Skylights & Domes: Used in arched, sloping, and barrel-vaulted roofs for large commercial buildings, airports, train stations, sports arenas, and greenhouses.

Curtain Walls & Facades: Employed as non-load bearing exterior walls, interior decorative walls, partitions, and transparent noise barriers for elevated roads, offering both light transmission and aesthetic appeal.

Canopies & Shelters: Ideal for entrance canopies for residences, malls, banks, and hotels, as well as for bicycle and carport shelters due to their durability.

Interior Design: Used for transparent guardrails in shopping malls, staircase panels, bathroom partitions, lightbox panels, and various decorative signage.

II. Agricultural & Horticultural Applications

Modern Greenhouses: The primary covering material for large multi-span greenhouses, botanical gardens, nursery greenhouses, and flower markets, providing insulation, light transmission, and impact resistance.

Livestock Farming: Used for roofing in poultry farms, piggeries, and stables to create well-lit, hygienic, and easy-to-clean environments.

III. Industrial & Equipment Applications

Equipment Windows/Guards: Serves as observation windows, protective covers for machinery, and safety barriers for automated equipment.

Electronics & Appliances: Used for microwave oven fronts, refrigerator liners, coffee machine panels, and audio equipment faces.

Advertising & Display: Fabricated into outdoor advertising lightboxes, exhibition stands, product display cases, and protective shields.

Transportation: Applied in aircraft windows, internal partitions for trains and ships, as well as automotive sunroofs, side windows, and interior components.

IV. Safety & Security Applications

Bullet-Resistance & Security: Used in banks, jewelry stores, museums, and for riot police shields as a replacement for bulletproof glass in high-security applications.

Industrial Safety: Utilized for explosion-proof, shatter-resistant observation windows, protective screens in mines, oil fields, and chemical plants, and for visors on safety helmets.

V. Other Specialized Applications

Noise Barriers: Transparent soundproof barriers installed alongside highways, railways, and overpasses.

Medical Devices: Used for housings or components of medical equipment that require transparency and resistance to frequent disinfection.

1. Basic Knowledge

Q1: What is a Polycarbonate (PC) Sheet?
A: A Polycarbonate sheet is a high-performance, durable engineering plastic known for its:

Exceptional Impact Resistance: (Up to 250 times stronger than glass and 30 times stronger than acrylic).

Light Weight: Approximately half the weight of glass.

High Light Transmission: Excellent clarity.

Superior Weather Resistance: When equipped with a UV-protective layer.
Common types include solid sheets (often called "multi-wall" or "solid polycarbonate") and hollow multi-wall sheets (often called "polycarbonate panels").

Q2: What is the difference between Polycarbonate (PC) and Acrylic (PMMA) sheets?
A: This is a common question. Key differences are:

Impact Strength: PC is vastly more impact-resistant and shatterproof than acrylic.

Flexibility: PC is highly flexible (can be cold-curved), while acrylic is rigid and brittle.

Heat Resistance: PC has a higher heat deflection temperature (~120°C / 250°F) than acrylic (~80°C / 176°F).

Surface Hardness: Acrylic has a harder surface and is much more scratch-resistant. Standard PC sheets are prone to scratching without a protective coating.

Cost: PC is typically more expensive than acrylic.

Q3: What are the main types of Polycarbonate Sheets?
A:Solid Sheets: Single, solid layer. Offers the highest clarity and impact resistance. Used for security glazing, machine guards, and protective barriers.

Multi-Wall / Hollow Sheets: Feature 2+ walls with flutes (ribs) between them. Provide excellent thermal insulation and are lightweight. Ideal for roofing, skylights, greenhouses, and canopies.

Corrugated Sheets: Wave-like profile. Typically solid. Used for industrial roofing and siding where high strength and weather resistance are needed.

2. Properties & Applications

Q4: What is the lifespan of a PC sheet?
A: The lifespan is primarily determined by the quality of its co-extruded UV protective layer. High-quality PC sheets come with a UV-blocking coating on one or both sides.

Sheets with a 10-year warranty typically last 10-15 years or more before noticeable yellowing or brittleness occurs.

Sheets with a 5-year warranty have a shorter expected lifespan.

Unprotected PC sheet will degrade quickly (yellow and become brittle) under direct UV exposure.

Q5: Is Polycarbonate fire-resistant?
A: Polycarbonate is inherently a self-extinguishing material. Standard PC sheets typically carry a UL94 Flammability Rating of V-2, and specific grades can achieve a higher V-0 rating. It will melt and deform under extreme heat but does not support combustion easily and will stop burning once the flame source is removed. Always check the manufacturer's specifications for the exact fire rating.

Q6: Where are PC sheets commonly used?
A: Applications are vast and include:

Architectural Glazing: Skylights, roof lights, curtain walls, walkways.

Greenhouses & Agricultural Buildings: Provides excellent diffused light and insulation.

Noise Barriers: Along highways and railways.

Security & Safety: Security windows, bank teller screens, police riot shields, machine guards.

Signage & Displays: Lightbox panels, protective covers.

Retail & Residential: Canopies, patio covers, garage doors, partitions.

3. Installation & Maintenance

Q7: What are the key considerations for installing PC sheets?
A: Proper installation is critical to prevent damage and leakage.

Correct Side Out: The side with the UV-protective coating must face the sun. The protective film is usually printed with this information (e.g., "UV side" or "This side out").

Thermal Expansion/Contraction: PC expands and contracts significantly with temperature changes. You must:

Use oversized drill holes.

Use specialty EPDM or neoprene washer-headed screws.

Never over-tighten screws.

Sealants: Use only neutral cure silicone sealants (e.g., Dow Corning 795). NEVER use acrylic, ammonia-based, or solvent-based sealants as they cause chemical stress cracking and will destroy the sheet.

Bending: Sheets can be cold-curved only along the direction of the flutes (for multi-wall) or lengthwise. Do not bend across the flutes. The minimum bending radius is typically 150-200 times the sheet thickness.

Q8: How do I clean and maintain PC sheets?
A：Rinse with lukewarm water or a mild soap (pH-neutral) solution.

Gently wipe with a soft, non-abrasive cloth, microfiber, or sponge.

Rinse thoroughly with clean water and wipe dry with a soft cloth.

NEVER USE:

Abrasive cleaners, brushes, or cloths.

Strong solvents, ketones, gasoline, or aggressive chemicals

Alkaline or ammonia-based cleaners.

Q9: What if the sheet gets scratched?
A: While highly impact-resistant, standard PC is susceptible to scratching. Minor scratches can sometimes be polished out with specialized plastic polish, but this is not always perfect. For applications where scratching is a major concern, specify anti-scratch or co-extruded hard-coated polycarbonate.