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If you need a durable option for protecting your company’s sensitive equipment from harsh environmental or industrial elements, polycarbonate enclosures from Polycase may be the perfect solution. But how strong are they, and what are their benefits?
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Polycarbonate is a transparent thermoplastic material that is used in a variety of industries. Polycarbonate is produced via the chemical reaction of bisphenol A (BPA) with phosgene COCl2. The result is a polymer, which is then extruded into sheets and can be molded to create various shapes. More recently, BPA-free polycarbonates have become available.
As polycarbonate is both strong and durable, its features make it useful in vehicle parts, medical devices, eyeglasses, lighting fixtures, DVDs and more. There are different types of polycarbonate sheets, too. You can find Makrolon® clear GP sheets, Makrolon® clear SL sheets and polycarbonate mirror sheets.
One of the features that separates polycarbonate from other materials is its strength. Due to its high-impact resistance, it is a great choice for products that need to be durable, such as vehicle headlights, bullet-resistant glass, LED light pipes and electrical enclosures.
As a comparison, polycarbonate is about 30 times stronger than acrylic and about 250 times stronger than glass. Polycarbonate enclosures can withstand 900 pounds of impact. Because polycarbonate is so much stronger than these other materials, it is more resistant to breaking under pressure or impact. Polycarbonate can also withstand high temperatures without melting and is known for its resistance to many chemicals.
Polycarbonate enclosures, such as the ZH Series boxes, are a popular choice because they offer more benefits besides their strength. This material’s advantages include its:
Polycarbonate enclosures have key features that make them useful for many applications. These cases are:
Polycarbonate enclosures are durable, lightweight and transparent. These properties make them ideal for a variety of situations:
Choosing the material for your enclosure will depend on how you plan to use it, what elements you will be exposing it to and what you plan to store inside. Here is how polycarbonate enclosures compare to other enclosures.
Although both stainless steel and polycarbonate enclosures are strong and durable, the protection they offer differs. While polycarbonate offers many benefits over stainless steel, if the enclosure will be exposed to high temperatures, a stainless steel enclosure might be a better choice.
Stainless steel enclosures tend to be much heavier than polycarbonate enclosures. This difference becomes evident during transport or installation. Stainless steel enclosures are also significantly more expensive. You can purchase stainless steel enclosures for roughly $130 per unit, while you can find polycarbonate enclosures as low as $4 per unit.
As stainless steel enclosures are made from metal, they are not transparent. Polycarbonate provides the option to be a transparent material that lets you see the enclosure’s contents without needing to open it. Also, polycarbonate enclosures can be easily customized with CNC machining without the use of expensive tools.
Waterproof enclosures are specifically designed to protect against intrusion from water, even under pressure or prolonged submersion. They can be made from various materials, including polycarbonate, aluminum, ABS or fiberglass.
At Polycase, we offer waterproof boxes made from polycarbonate. Although fully waterproof enclosures tend to be a bit more expensive than standard polycarbonate enclosures, the final price of the unit will depend on its design and material.
Fiberglass is made from glass fibers embedded in resin. It is often called glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) or glass-fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP). While fiberglass and polycarbonate enclosures both offer great protection, key differences exist.
Polycarbonate is made from plastic, so it is easy to modify with CNC machining. Cutting polycarbonate results in small curls of plastic that are easy and safe to clean up. On the other hand, cutting fiberglass results in fine dust that is dangerous to inhale. This limits the customization possibilities of fiberglass enclosures.
The impact resistance of polycarbonate enclosures is roughly four times greater than that of fiberglass enclosures. Also, fiberglass enclosures don’t do well when exposed to UV light for long periods. Long exposure to the sun causes their fiber material to deteriorate. In contrast, polycarbonate enclosures resists UV light and holds up well when exposed for longed periods of time.
Fiberglass enclosures offer a robust material that is resistant to denting and is a good option when the enclosure will not be exposed to direct UV light for long durations.
In conclusion, if you’re looking for a durable material with high impact resistance, a polycarbonate enclosure can be a great choice. However, the right enclosure for your company’s needs will depend on factors such as the environment and what it is housing. You will also need to make your decision based on whether corrosion and rust resistance are critical and whether the enclosure will be exposed to high temperatures or water.
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