What is polycarbonate, its advantages and disadvantages. Polycarbonates (PC): characteristics, production methods, processing technology, applications Physical properties of the material

Polycarbonate is a colorless hard polymeric plastic. In production it is used in the form of granules. It is characterized by lightness, high strength, transparency, plasticity, frost resistance and durability.

Also given material is a good dielectric. From a chemical point of view, polycarbonates are synthetic polymers.

The special properties of polycarbonate are achieved due to the unique structure of its macromolecules. Since polycarbonate is a thermoplastic (thermoplastic polymer), when it hardens, it is able to restore its properties.

It is worth noting that such material can be subjected to repeated processing, which makes it environmentally attractive. Polycarbonate is made from polycarbonate granules according to the extrusion principle. The applied UV protective layer provides reliable protection against direct sun rays.

Polycarbonate sheets are very popular for the device, due to their unique performance properties, as well as a wide range of applications. The main advantages of polycarbonate include:

• ease;
• transparency;
• simple installation;
• strength;
• flexibility;
• ease of processing;
• resistance to negative effects of the environment and chemical elements;
• sound and heat insulation;
• safety.

Polycarbonate is cellular and monolithic. Cellular polycarbonate is widely used in construction, as it is quite light, but at the same time durable material. Sufficient ductility and high impact resistance make it possible to obtain products with thin walls without losing their basic properties.

Monolithic polycarbonate is considered less common. It is a solid plate, which is used when facing various building objects. The products are strong enough to withstand various impacts and eliminate the need to use a metal frame.

Due to their flexibility, polycarbonate sheets are an ideal material for covering even the most geometrically complex structures. Installation of polycarbonate plates is not difficult. Comfortable polycarbonate profiles, which have the same color scheme and mechanical properties. Sheets can be perfectly processed with ordinary cutting tools.

Polycarbonate granules are the main raw material for the manufacture of PC sheet. Resin sheet is widely used in the production of lighting technology, clutch parts, mechanical engineering parts and electrical parts.

Also, the use of polycarbonate cannot be dispensed with in construction, furniture production, the manufacture of weapons, protective equipment and sporting goods, information media, etc. Very often polycarbonate is used as a substitute for glass. Summer residents use such material for equipment and greenhouses.

Polycarbonate has high strength and can be of varying degrees of transparency and different colors. Polycarbonate products are characterized by a high degree of fire safety. During the impact of fire on the polymer, it does not burn, but melts and at the same time, without releasing toxic substances.

It is completely environmentally friendly material. It is created on the basis of salts of carbonic acid, which is unable to harm the environment. When interacting with fire, heavy metal vapors and other harmful substances are not emitted into the air. The safety of the polymer is explained by the fact that it is used in industries such as medicine and the food industry.

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In industrial and private construction, polymer products began to be used as early as the 70s of the last century. Half a century of practice has proved and in fact confirmed the numerous advantages of using synthetic products. However, not everyone is still familiar with its weighty priorities.

Moreover, there are people who have no idea at all what polycarbonate is, what technical characteristics and technological advantages it attracts builders, how not a new, but not yet well-known material works in structures and structures.

To get full answers to the questions of interest, it is worth understanding the specifics of the polymer product and the features of its production.

The popularity and demand for polycarbonate in construction is justified by a number of priority qualities that are unique to polymeric materials. Its extraordinary lightness is combined with sufficiently high strength and resistance to a number of external influences.

The polymer sheet actively displaces the fragile and heavy silicate glass. It is much more actively and more readily used in the glazing of building structures.

Using polycarbonate, they equip terraces and greenhouses, build canopies, visors over entrance groups and gazebo roofs. Serves roofing, light guide element panoramic windows, wall cladding.

Polycarbonate, unlike glass, can hold quite an impressive load without cracking and deformation. It is suitable for covering large spans, does not create risky situations that arise when large-scale panoramic glazing is destroyed.

Material of synthetic origin does not require extremely careful handling during transportation, delivery to the place of work and production installation work. Easy to process, does not create complications in cutting. While working with it, there are practically no wastes and spoiled pieces that are not suitable for further use.

According to structural indicators, sheet polycarbonate is divided into two subspecies, these are:

• Monolithic. Material with a monolithic structure and equal characteristics throughout the thickness. When cut, the sheet looks like the glass we are used to, but it is 200 times stronger. It bends, however, to the limits specified by the manufacturer.
• Cellular. Material with characteristic "honeycombs", if you look at its cut. In fact, these are two thin sheets, between which there are remote longitudinal partitions. They form a honeycomb structure, and also serve as stiffeners.

Both varieties are suitable for forming rounded surfaces, which is completely impossible when using glass. But those who want to realize interesting idea the bending radius must be taken into account, which must be indicated by the material manufacturer in the technical documentation.

Both types of materials are obtained as a result of polycondensation of two chemical components: definilopropane chloride and carbonic acid. As a result, a viscous plastic mass is created, from which a monolithic or cellular polycarbonate is formed.

In order to get a complete picture of both varieties, we will deal with the specifics of their production and application features.

Monolithic polycarbonate sheets

The starting material for the production of a monolithic thermoplastic polymer is supplied in pellet format. Production is carried out according to extrusion technology: the granules are loaded into the extruder, where it is mixed and melted.

The softened uniform mass is pressed through the die of the extruder - a flat-slot device, at the output of which a polymer plate of equal thickness is obtained at all points. The thickness of slab polycarbonate varies from 1.5 mm to 15.0 mm. Simultaneously with the thickness of the plate, the required dimensions are given.

Monolithic polymer plates are produced in an extensive range, they differ in:

• Light transmitting properties. They are transparent, transmitting up to 90% of the light flux, and matte, practically not conducting light.
• By relief. They are flat and wavy. Polymer transparent and non-conductive slate is one of the varieties of monolithic polycarbonate.
• By color. In the abundance of trading positions offered to buyers, there are materials of various colors.

Among positive qualities monolithic polycarbonate means zero moisture absorption. It does not absorb atmospheric water and household fumes at all, therefore it does not die and does not create conditions for the settlement of fungal colonies.

The monolithic version is not afraid of low and high temperatures, works great over a wide range. In hot weather, like all polymers, it is prone to linear expansion, which is required in without fail take into account when designing and carrying out installation work.

Honeycomb polycarbonate panels

The production of a honeycomb polymer material differs from the production of a monolithic counterpart only in the shape of the die. When punching through it, a multilayer material is created with long longitudinal channels of small cross section.

There is air in the channels formed by the spinneret, due to which the insulating qualities of the polymer product are significantly increased, at the same time, the weight is significantly reduced.

Positions from the cellular assortment differ:

• By the total thickness of the panel. Architects and designers now have honeycomb material available in thicknesses ranging from 4.0 mm to 30.0 mm. Naturally, the thicker the sheet, the worse it bends and is less suitable for the formation of rounded planes.
• By color and light-transmitting qualities. Due to the peculiarities of the structure, cellular polycarbonate cannot conduct more than 82% of light rays. The colorful range is not inferior to the monolithic nomenclature.
• By the number of layers and the shape of honeycombs. Layers in a honeycomb panel can be from 1 to 7. The stiffening ribs, which are at the same time spacers and walls of the air channels, can be located strictly perpendicular to the upper and lower surfaces of the sheet or be at an angle to them.

The channels created by the jumper ribs can be safely attributed to both the pluses of the material and its minuses. Despite the complete inability of polycarbonate itself to absorb water, they, on the contrary, can “suck” moisture from nearby soils and plants, easily let household fumes into themselves.

In order to prevent water from penetrating into the channels, which, by the way, significantly reduces the priority insulating qualities of cellular polycarbonate, during installation work they should be covered with flexible profiles - linear mounting parts. They are used both to protect the edge and to connect adjacent sheets into one structure.

Optimization of qualitative characteristics

Polycarbonate panels are an excellent building material, but still it is not without drawbacks. It transmits ultraviolet of groups A and B. The minus is the sensitivity to sunlight, the tendency to unevenly scatter rays and the ability to sustain combustion.

Let's consider what methods manufacturers of polymer sheets are struggling with negative properties. So we will understand what you should pay attention to when choosing polycarbonate for private construction.

Apply UV protection

It is not in vain that the ability to transmit the ultraviolet component of solar radiation, which is harmful to, for example, plants in a greenhouse, is recognized as a significant disadvantage of plates made of polycarbonate. It is far from useful for vacationers under a canopy, and for those who swim in a pool with a polymer pavilion.

In addition, UV has a negative effect on the polycarbonate sheet itself, which turns yellow, becomes cloudy, and eventually collapses. In order to protect the material and the space equipped with it outer side It is supplied with a layer that plays the role of a reliable barrier against destructive rays.

Previously, the protective layer was performed lacquered, the disadvantage of which was the uneven application, the ability to crack and quickly become cloudy. It can still be found on counterfeit products, since manufacturers of such products have neither the equipment nor the compositions to perform proper protection from UV.

High-quality polycarbonate is not covered with a protective shell, it is, as it were, fused into its upper layer. This method of application is called co-extrusion. As a result of mixing two substances on molecular level creates a shield impenetrable to ultraviolet radiation.

The thickness of the layer created by fusing is only a couple of tens of microns. In fact, it is the same polycarbonate, but enriched with a UV stabilizer. During operation, the layer does not crack, does not crumble or crumble, and faithfully serves the owners as much as the polycarbonate panel is used.

Note that the presence of a stabilizer is not determined visually, its presence is confirmed only by the technical documentation from the manufacturer, who values ​​\u200b\u200bhis own reputation. In order to be able to determine this substance in polycarbonate, an optical additive is also added during its fusing.

You can consider an optical additive under an ordinary ultraviolet lamp, but you will never see the stabilizer itself. Therefore, it is better to buy material in responsible stores that purchase polycarbonate from trusted suppliers. Only in this case it will be almost impossible to “run into” counterfeit goods.

Also remember that the UV stabilizer is not applied to the entire thickness of the sheet. Such a concentration is simply irrational, and the price of the product would have grown hundreds of times. Therefore, the assurances of the seller or manufacturer of the material that the stabilizing agent has been applied to its full potential can be rightfully regarded as a deception and a desire to sell a fake.

The side from which the stabilizer is fused is indicated on the material as "upper". It is necessary to install polycarbonate sheets only so that it creates an external surface and meets the sun's rays first. Only in this case, UV protection will completely fulfill its duties.

Light Diffusion Additive

The ability to scatter light is a property that is very useful in greenhouses. Therefore, attention should be paid to it if polycarbonate sheets are bought for the construction of a greenhouse.

Light scattering provides a more complete coverage of the illuminated area by redirecting the sun's rays, guarantees a uniform supply of light to all plants located in a closed object. In addition, scattered rays inside the greenhouse are additionally reflected from various surfaces, which further enhances the flow of light.

The property of evenly distributing the sun's rays from monolithic sheets is much higher than that of honeycomb panels. And since the cellular version is mainly used in the arrangement of greenhouses, it is necessary to inquire about the percentage of light scattering from the seller or find information about it in the product passport.

You need to remember that:

• In a honeycomb transparent material, this property usually does not exceed 70-82%.
• For opaque color modifications, it varies from 25 to 42%.

Polycarbonate begins to refract and scatter light after introducing into the composition of the diffuser LD - microscopic particles that form the indicated effect.

This additive is introduced during the production of transparent panels, due to which the light transmission of monolithic sheets increases to 90% (data for a material with a thickness of 1.5 mm). It is added in the manufacture of white polycarbonate, the light transmission capacity of which ultimately varies in the range from 50 to 70%.

Introduction of flame retardant

Like all polymer compounds, polycarbonate without the use of specific additives will support fire. After the introduction of inhibitors, this quality decreases significantly. Monolithic sheets and honeycomb panels resist fire for a long time and do not emit toxic toxins during combustion.

Standard monolithic polycarbonate belongs to the G2 group in terms of ignition parameters, cellular to G1. Those. monolithic sheets are moderately combustible, and honeycomb panels are slightly combustible.

At the request of customers, monolithic sheets can also be manufactured in accordance with the requirements of group G1. The buyer in this case must obtain a certificate for a product with the appropriate characteristics. In terms of flammability, the ability to spread fire and toxicity, there can also be variations.

Exclusion of the phenomenon of internal rain

Cellular polycarbonate is very popular in the construction of greenhouses, verandas, covered pavilions for swimming pools, greenhouses, terraces. The use of polymer panels virtually eliminates the movement of air or significantly reduces its speed. The situation is aggravated by the specific fasteners used in construction, which ensure tightness.

Despite the presence of ventilation components in structures made of polycarbonate, condensation is almost impossible to completely eliminate. Natural evaporation and condensate settle on inner surface, reduce light transmission.

Condensation and vaporous water have a negative effect on plants, contribute to their decay in sealed greenhouses. The negative impact is on wooden details structures, on the surface of which a destructive fungus settles. Indoor pools create an unhealthy atmosphere.

How to eliminate fogging? Yes, by applying an anti-fog coating, which has received the technical term Antifog (anti-fog). After its application on the inner surface of polycarbonate structures, evaporation and condensate do not linger due to a change in tension on the surface of the drops.

The multicomponent composition creates the conditions for uniform distribution water on the polymer surface. Water interacts with it, and not with neighboring analogous molecules. As a result, evaporation and condensate do not turn into large drops that pose a threat to plants and people when they fall out, but quickly evaporate.

Accounting for thermal expansion

In order for the structure constructed using polycarbonate not to deform, it must be taken into account that as a result of thermal exposure, sheets and panels can increase in size.

Polycarbonate building material is designed for normal work in the temperature range from -40º C to +130º C. Naturally, with positive values, the polymer will change in a linear direction.

Accounting for thermal expansion is mandatory at the stage of project development, and information about the linear size of thermal expansion is extremely important for the designer.

The average values ​​of thermal expansion for polymer panels are:

• 2.5mm each running meter for transparent, milky material for and products close to the milky color of light tones;
• 4.5 mm for dark color material: blue, gray, bronze samples.

In addition to designers, the ability to thermal expansion must be taken into account by installers, as fasteners must be installed in a special way. In order for sheets and panels to be able to move, holes for self-tapping screws are drilled larger than the diameter of their trunk, and hardware with large hats and compensators is also used.

Honeycomb panels and monolithic polymer sheets are laid so that there is a gap between them. Then, when expanding, the polymer elements will have a reserve, thanks to which they will not “push out” each other, resting on the edges. This gap is closed in the structures by a flexible profile.

If thermal expansion is taken into account when designing and assembling structures, the structures will serve without problems longer than the period guaranteed by the manufacturer. Components built using polycarbonate sheets and panels will not crack or collapse under tension or overstress.

Independent home builders should also be aware of the tendency of polymer sheets and panels to expand under thermal exposure, both direct and indirect, that is, occurring in conditions of increasing degrees in the surrounding space.

Video number 1 will help you visually familiarize yourself with the types of polycarbonate and understand what are the differences:

Video #2 will present tips for choosing honeycomb polycarbonate panels for greenhouse construction:

Video No. 3 will briefly introduce the sizes and scope of cellular polycarbonate:

The information we offer does not just acquaint interested visitors with popular building materials and the specifics of its use.

We tried to explain to you how to choose a product worthy of your attention, which will last a guaranteed period and, probably, much longer. Consideration of the criteria and advice given in the description is necessary to achieve a positive result, both in the acquisition and in the construction.

Silicate glass has long been a traditional material for creating translucent structures (windows, greenhouses, greenhouses, decorative elements). It has a high degree of translucency, however, fragility and specifications glasses severely limited the possibilities of application. The opposite of this expensive but unreliable material is polycarbonate. This term unites a whole group of transparent synthetic thermoplastics, which have high strength, high load-bearing capacity, and ductility. This article will talk about what polycarbonate is and how it is used for construction.

All types of polycarbonate belong to the group of thermoplastic synthetic polymers. This material was not developed by scientists on purpose, it was discovered during research on painkillers when chemists noticed a strong, transparent reaction by-product. The secret of the strength of this compound lies in the special structure of the molecule, which is obtained in the following ways:

1. The method of transesterification of diphenyl carbonate under vacuum with the introduction of complex bases into the composition of the substance under the influence of a stepwise increase in temperature. This method is good in that no solvent is used in production, however, to obtain material in this way good quality will not work, since in any case a small amount of catalyst remains in the composition.
2. By the method of phosgenation of A-bisphenol in a solution with the presence of pyridine at a temperature not exceeding exactly 25 degrees. Positive side This method is that the production takes place at low temperature in the liquid phase. However, the high cost of pyridine makes this method uneconomical for the manufacturer.
3. Method of interfacial polycondensation of A-bisphenol with phosgene in organic and alkaline solvents. The described reaction is low temperature, which is good for production. However, washing the polymer consumes a lot of water, which is discharged into water bodies, polluting the environment.

Interesting! With excellent technical characteristics, low cost, high load-bearing capacity and translucency that is not inferior to silicate glass, some types of polycarbonate were reluctantly used for a long time. Since exposure to ultraviolet radiation led to clouding of the material. The introduction of an ultraviolet absorber into the composition of the substance brought polycarbonate to new level, making it the most rational solution for creating translucent structures and vandal-proof glazing.

Kinds

The term "polycarbonate" combines a large group of synthetic linear polymers that are derivatives of phenol and carbonic acid. The molecular structure of the granules of this material is an inert, translucent, stable granule. Various conditions production (high pressure, temperature, environment) give the substance different technical characteristics, allowing you to create polycarbonate with different properties. Currently, 2 main types of this building material are produced:

Important! Manufacturers produce transparent, translucent and matte polycarbonate, which can be colorless or colored. A colorless transparent material with a translucency of 84-92% is used for the construction of greenhouses and greenhouses. And translucent and matte color are suitable for decorative glazing of commercial and administrative buildings.

Dimensions and properties

Different types of polycarbonate plastic have different performance and technical characteristics, including impact resistance, load-bearing capacity, thermal insulation qualities and translucency. The properties of the material also depend on the structure and thickness of the sheet. When choosing polycarbonate, the following parameters should be considered:

1. The width of cellular polycarbonate plastic is 210 cm, and monolithic - 2.05 m.
2. Manufacturers produce cellular polycarbonate plastic in the form of sheets up to 12 m long, which is convenient for the installation of greenhouses and greenhouses. Monolithic polycarbonate is produced with a length of up to 6 m.
3. Cellular polycarbonate is produced with a sheet thickness of 4 mm, 6 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm, 16 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm, it depends on the shape of the cells and the number of layers in the composition of the material. The thickness of monolithic type polycarbonate is 6 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm or 16 mm.
4. Monolithic polycarbonate weighs more than a cellular counterpart, 1 square meter of such a coating is 4.8 kg, however, it is still 2 times less than the weight of glass of the same area. Cellular polycarbonate weighs 0.8 kg/m2.
5. The heat resistance of both types of material is 145 degrees, despite this, it belongs to the class of self-extinguishing.
6. The impact resistance of monolithic polycarbonate is more than 400 J, which is ten times more than impact-resistant glass. The cellular polycarbonate sheet has an impact resistance of more than 27 J.

Note! Cellular and monolithic polycarbonate have different light transmission coefficients. The light transmission coefficient of monolithic polycarbonate plastic is 91%, for comparison, this figure for glass is 87-89%. Cellular polycarbonate has a translucency of 80-88%.

Advantages

The operational and technical characteristics of polycarbonate plastic make it possible to use this material in many areas of construction. A light weight, the impact resistance and transparency of polycarbonate and the low cost of production made it possible to compete with silicate glass. The undeniable advantages of this material are:

• A light weight. Monolithic plastic is 2 times lighter than glass, and cellular plastic is 6 times lighter, which allows you to create lightweight structures that are not weighed down by unnecessary supporting elements.
• Strength. High load-bearing capacity gives polycarbonate resistance to intense snow, wind or weight loads.
• Transparency. The monolithic appearance of the material transmits even more light than silicate glass, and the cellular polycarbonate plastic transmits up to 88% of the visible spectrum.
• insulating qualities. Polycarbonate, especially cellular, is an excellent material for sound and noise insulation.
• Safety. When breaking polycarbonate, sharp fragments are not formed that cause injury.

Please note! All types of this material do not require serious maintenance, they are washed with water with the addition of soap or dishwashing detergent. In no case should ammonia be used for cleaning, which destroys its structure.

Video instruction

Polycarbonate is called a whole group of thermoplastics, which has a common formula and a very extensive scope of use. Due to the fact that polycarbonate has good impact strength and has a high degree of strength, this material is used to create various structures in various industries. At the same time, in order to improve the mechanical properties of polycarbonate, compositions from it are usually filled with fiberglass.

Polycarbonate is widely used in the manufacture of lenses, CDs, and construction. Peaks and awnings are made from this material, fences are built, gazebos are erected, roofs are made, etc.

Compared to glass, polycarbonate has many advantages as a transparent material.

It is not entirely correct to compare polycarbonate and glass, but both materials are often used in architecture and construction precisely due to the presence of optical properties. Even if glass could be as strong as polycarbonate, it would still be inferior to this material, as it has a much greater weight. At the same time, polycarbonate loses to glass in terms of hardness, transparency, resistance to aggressive influences, and durability. However, all the shortcomings are more than offset by its strength, flexibility and low thermal conductivity.

Methods for producing polycarbonate and its composition

Currently, polycarbonates are produced in 3 ways:

1. By transesterification of diphenyl carbonate in a vacuum with the addition of complex bases (for example, sodium methylate) to the composition with a stepwise increase in temperature. The process is carried out in the melt according to the periodic principle. The resulting viscous composition is removed from the reactor, cooled and granulated. The advantage of this method lies in the absence of solvent during production, and the main disadvantage is that the resulting composition is of poor quality, since it contains catalyst residues. With this method, it is impossible to obtain a composition that will have a molecular weight of more than 5000.
2. Phosgenation in a solution of A-bisphenol in the presence of pyridine at a temperature below 25 ° C. A composition containing anhydrous organochlorine compounds is used as a solvent, and a composition containing monohydric phenols. The advantage of this method is that all processes occur at low temperatures in a homogeneous liquid phase, the disadvantage of the method is the use of expensive pyridine.
3. Interfacial polycondensation of phosgene with A-bisphenol, which occurs in an environment of organic solvents and aqueous alkalis. The advantages of this method lie in the low temperature reaction, in the use of only one organic solvent, in the possibility of obtaining a high molecular weight of polycarbonate. The disadvantages of the method are high water consumption when washing the polymer, and hence large volumes Wastewater polluting the environment.

The composition that contains UV absorber and polycarbonate has become a real invention in the industry. Such a composition has been successfully used for the manufacture of products for glazing, creating bus stops, billboards, car windows, ceilings, corrugated boards, signs, protective screens, solid boards, cellular boards and cellular profiles.

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Types of polycarbonate and its properties

Polycarbonate is a complex linear polyester of phenols and carbonic acid, which belongs to the class of synthetic polymers. Manufacturers of polycarbonate boards receive material that has the appearance of inert and transparent granules. There are mainly 2 types of polycarbonate sheets on the market: honeycomb and monolithic sheets of various thicknesses. Cellular polycarbonate sheet is produced with a thickness of 4, 6, 8, 10 or 16 mm, a width of 2.1 m and a length of 6 or 12 m. A monolithic polycarbonate sheet has a thickness of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 mm , width 2.05 m and length 3.05 m.

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Monolithic polycarbonate

Monolithic polycarbonate appearance looks like acrylic glass. In terms of mechanical properties, this material has no analogues among the polymeric materials used. It combines transparency, good impact resistance and high temperature resistance. Monolithic sheets of this material are called shock-resistant glass by some experts.

Due to its high strength combined with excellent optical properties, monolithic polycarbonate is used for protective glazing (in the manufacture of shields, fences and protective screens for law enforcement services, in the glazing of industrial and residential buildings, in the construction of hospitals, covered parking lots, shops, agricultural facilities, sports structures, etc.). Helmets and goggles are made from this material, they are used in the glazing of aircraft, buses, trains and boats.

Polycarbonate is used in the construction of winter gardens and verandas, the installation of skylights, in the manufacture of lighting equipment, the installation of protective barriers from noise on highways, in the manufacture of signs and signboards.

Monolithic polycarbonate is considered an ideal material for creating curved elements that can be obtained by thermoforming. Thanks to this material, it is possible to create various domes with a rectangular, square or round base, modular trailing skylights of various lengths, as well as separate sections large domes, which reach 8-10 m in diameter. Many experts consider monolithic polycarbonate unique material, but it is very rarely used to create horizontal overlaps. Most often, this is due to high cost, which greatly exceeds the cost of cellular polycarbonate - a more popular material in construction. In addition, the honeycomb material provides great thermal insulation.

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Cellular polycarbonate

Polycarbonate honeycomb plastic is called multi-layer impact-resistant polycarbonate plates. Cellular polycarbonate, which is widely used in private construction, is a polymer profiled into panels that have several layers and internal longitudinal stiffeners. It is obtained by extrusion, in which the granules are melted, and then the resulting mass is extruded through a special device, the shape of which determines the design and structure of the sheet.

In recent years, cellular polycarbonate has gained great popularity. This material was originally developed to be resistant to snow loads and hail roof structures- transparent, strong and at the same time light. Today it is used not only for vertical and roof glazing of houses and buildings, but also for creating greenhouses, greenhouses, winter gardens, shop windows, various decorative and protective, profile and flat partitions, as well as for creating various elements with internal illumination. Properly selected color of the material and the imagination of designers will provide a variety of decorations for the created interiors.

According to the European classification, cellular polycarbonate belongs to class B1 - these are hardly flammable materials. When using it in building structures, the same building rules and regulations are observed that are observed when using materials of the above-mentioned degree of flammability. Polycarbonate sheets have high resistance to temperature fluctuations from -40 to +120 ° С and to the negative effects of solar radiation.

Sometimes the material is coated with a special inseparable protective layer from ultraviolet radiation or a layer that prevents the formation of drops on the inner surface of the panel (in this case, moisture is distributed in a thin layer over the surface of the sheet, thereby not disturbing the light transmission of the material). The warranty period of the material is 10-12 years.

In addition, experts emphasize an important feature of sheet polycarbonate, thanks to which it has gained wide popularity - profitability. The use of double-layer panels also provides significant energy savings - up to 30% (compared to single-layer glass).

Cellular polycarbonate is also called cellular, structural and channel. All these names indicate the hollowness of the material. It consists of 2 or more planes connected by transverse stiffeners separating cavities (honeycombs, channels, cells). The stiffening ribs additionally perform the function of air locking, due to which the thermal conductivity of cellular polycarbonate sharply decreases. A material with a thickness of 16 mm can completely replace a double-glazed window.

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The main properties of polycarbonate

1. As mentioned above, one of the most important properties material is its very high impact strength. Polycarbonate, unlike silicate glass and other organic glasses, does not shatter. With a sufficiently powerful impact, the material can only crack. The viscosity of the material allows it to deform under sharp impacts. A crack can appear only when a load exceeds its deformation threshold. Roofs made of cellular polycarbonate withstand hail with a diameter of 20 mm. The material is so strong that it can withstand even a direct hit by a bullet. There are very few materials that physically compare to polycarbonate. It can be safely used to create a solid roof at home.
2. Polycarbonate is very light, with the same thickness, it is 16 times lighter than silicate glass and 6 times lighter than acrylic. Hence, support structures less powerful ones are built for it. However, such lightness can also be a disadvantage: with an illiterate installation of a canopy, it is able to fly away from strong wind. In fact, a polycarbonate panel can withstand quite large snow and wind loads. bearing capacity material determines its thickness.
3. Polycarbonate is a fireproof material. The critical temperatures at which it begins to lose its strength are outside the operating temperatures. The material is characterized by a low flammability coefficient. It does not ignite in an open fire and does not contribute to the spread of flames. In a fire, it melts and flows down in fibrous threads. The combustion process is not supported, and no toxic substances are released during melting.
4. Polycarbonate has excellent optical properties. Its light transmission reaches 93%, but the honeycomb design can reduce optical properties by up to 85%. Light transmission is reduced due to the presence of transverse stiffeners in the design. However, these same baffles, by reflecting light, compensate for some of the lost light transmission and provide a good degree of dispersion. This property makes polycarbonate a very suitable material for the construction of greenhouses and greenhouses. Thanks to him, softer sunlight, which has a very beneficial effect on the vital activity of greenhouse plants.
5. Polycarbonate is a wear-resistant material. Its outer shell filters out the ultraviolet spectrum of sunlight, thereby extending the life of the material itself. It does not age and does not lose its original strength for 30 years.
6. Polycarbonate has a high noise absorption coefficient and does not conduct electricity. Structures with a cellular structure have excellent thermal insulation properties.

Polymeric materials today are widely used in the construction of buildings and structures for various purposes. Among them, polycarbonate is a panel that consists of two or three layers, between which there are longitudinally oriented stiffeners. Due to the cellular structure, it was possible to achieve the mechanical strength of the web at low weight.

Description of polycarbonate

Cellular polycarbonate in cross section resembles honeycombs, which can be triangular or rectangular in shape. The raw material for this material is granulated polycarbonate, which can be obtained by the condensation of dihydroxy compounds and polyesters of carbonic acid. The material is produced in accordance with TU-2256-001-54141872-2006, however, the dimensions prescribed in these rules may vary depending on the wishes of the customer. Parameters are determined by the manufacturer, maximum tolerance not installed.

Temperature conditions of use

Cellular polycarbonate has a high resistance to adverse conditions environment. use depends on the brand of material, compliance with the rules of technology and the quality of raw materials. For most types of panels, this indicator varies from -40 to +130 degrees. Some types of described material can withstand extreme low temperatures, which are equal to -100 degrees. In this case, the structure is not destroyed. When exposed to high temperature or cooling, changes in linear dimensions may occur. The allowable expansion should not be more than 3 millimeters per 1 meter, with regard to the width and length of the sheet. Due to the fact that the polycarbonate material is characterized by a large, it is necessary to mount it with the appropriate gaps.

Chemical resistance

Using finishing panels it is necessary to take into account that they are exposed to various destructive factors. Polycarbonate is one material that has excellent resistance to a number of chemicals. However, it is not recommended to use canvases if they can be affected by insecticidal aerosols, cement mixtures, PVC-plasticized substances, concrete, strong detergents, halogen and aromatic solvents, sealants based on ammonia, acetic acid and alkali, ethyl alcohol solutions.

Resistance of polycarbonate to chemical compounds

Polycarbonate is the material that will endure the impact of salt solutions with a neutral acid reaction, as well as concentrated mineral acids. The panels are not afraid of reducing agents and oxidizing agents, as well as alcohol solutions, methanol is an exception. When installing canvases, you must use silicone sealants and sealing elements specially produced for them.

Mechanical strength

Polycarbonate is able to undergo significant mechanical stress. It must be taken into account that the surface can be subjected to abrasive action during prolonged contact with small elements such as sand. In this case, the formation of scratches is possible when exposed to rough materials that have sufficient hardness. Mechanical strength will depend on the structure and brand. If we talk about the tensile strength, then the premium product has a parameter equal to 60 MPa. the same brand is 70 MPa. is 65 kJ/mm. The manufacturer guarantees the preservation operational qualities within 10 years, provided that the sheets were installed correctly and using special fasteners.

Thickness and Specific Gravity Options

The technology involves the possibility of manufacturing polycarbonate different sizes. Currently on the market building materials you can find sheets whose thickness varies from 4 to 25 millimeters. Each of these types has a different internal structure. The density of polycarbonate is 1.2 kilograms per cubic meter. For canvases, this indicator depends on the number of layers, the thickness of the panels and the distance between the stiffeners. With a sheet thickness of 4 mm, the number of walls is limited to two, while the distance between the stiffeners is 6 mm. With a thickness of 25 millimeters, the number of walls is 5, while the step between the ribs is 20.

Sun resistance

Polycarbonate is the material that can guarantee reliable radiation protection. In order to achieve this effect, a layer of stabilizing coating is applied to the sheet during the production process. This technology provides a service life of 10 years. Detachment probabilities protective coating from the material itself, since the polymer is reliably fused to the base. When installing the sheet, it is necessary to take into account the fact that the coating designed to protect against solar radiation should be facing outward. Light transmission depends on the color, for example, unpainted sheets have this indicator in the range from 83 to 90 percent. Transparent colored canvases transmit no more than 65 percent, but the transmitted light is well scattered.

Heat insulating characteristics

When building a polycarbonate greenhouse, what kind of material it is, you must find out in advance. It has excellent thermal insulation qualities. The heat resistance of this material is achieved due to the air contained inside and for the reason that the canvas has a significant thermal resistance. The heat transfer coefficient will depend on the structure and thickness of the sheet. This parameter varies from 4.1 to 1.4 W/(m² K). The first number is correct for a web that is 4mm thick, while the second number is for a 32mm sheet. Polycarbonate is a plastic, the use of which is advisable when it is necessary to combine excellent thermal insulation qualities and high transparency.

fire resistance

Polycarbonate is considered resistant to high temperatures, it belongs to category B1, which, according to the European classification, means a flame-retardant and self-extinguishing material. When burning, it does not emit toxic gases and is not dangerous to humans. With the described thermal effect, as for an open flame, the processes of formation of through holes and destruction of the structure begin. The material begins to decrease in area.

Lifetime

This is the material whose manufacturers guarantee the preservation of the quality characteristics of the material for 10 years. This is true if the installation and operation rules are followed. If you do not allow damage to the outer surface, you can extend the life of the panel. Otherwise, premature destruction of the web will occur. In areas where there is a risk of mechanical damage, sheets with a thickness of 16 millimeters or more must be used. During installation, it is necessary to take into account the exclusion of the possibility of contact with substances that can cause damage in the form of destruction.

Noise isolation characteristics

The honeycomb structure provides a very low acoustic transmission, which indicates that the panels have excellent sound absorption properties, which depend on the type of sheet and its internal structure. Thus, if we are talking about multilayer cellular polycarbonate, the web thickness of which is 16 millimeters or more, the attenuation of the sound wave occurs in the range from 10 to 21 dB.

Conclusion

We can say that plexiglass is a polycarbonate with less outstanding quality characteristics. The second type of material has higher strength and reliability, according to these and many others. quality characteristics honeycomb structure is chosen much more often. This is also due to the fact that polycarbonate is used in many areas, including construction, as well as repairs. Private consumers choose it to create canopies, greenhouses, gazebos and much more. Structures from it are obtained light and do not require the construction of a special foundation. This reduces the cost of the process and simplifies the work.