June 7, 2023
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What Is Polycarbonate?
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.Strength of Polycarbonate
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.
Benefits of a Polycarbonate Enclosure
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:- Lightweight: Although polycarbonate enclosures are strong and can withstand a lot of wear and tear, they are surprisingly lightweight, which makes them easier to handle and move around.
- Durability: Polycarbonate enclosures are both lightweight and durable, making them ideal for many applications. They can withstand harsh temperatures, impact and UV rays.
- Chemical resistance: Polycarbonate enclosures are resistant to many solvents and chemicals. This is especially useful if your equipment must be in an environment where chemicals are present.
- Transparency: One of the major benefits of polycarbonate enclosures is that they can be transparent. This is helpful if you need to see and monitor your electronic or electrical equipment from outside.
- Customization: Another benefit that polycarbonate enclosures offer is their malleability. They can be customized and designed to meet specific size and shape requirements. This is useful for businesses that must customize a polycarbonate enclosure to meet their unique needs.
- Affordability: Since polycarbonate enclosures are lightweight and made from plastic, they are more affordable than most metal enclosures. At Polycase, we offer polycarbonate enclosures for as little as $3.88 per unit.
What Are the Specific Features of Polycarbonate Enclosures?
Polycarbonate enclosures have key features that make them useful for many applications. These cases are:- Impact resistant: As mentioned earlier, the polycarbonate material is designed to be impact resistant and can take on 900 pounds of impact.
- UV resistant: Polycarbonate enclosures don’t discolor or degrade when exposed to sunlight, so they are ideal for outdoor applications.
- Temperature resistant: Although lightweight and transparent, these enclosures can withstand extreme temperatures ranging from -40 degrees Celsius to 120 degrees Celsius. This makes them useful in both cold and hot environments.
- Waterproof: If you need a waterproof enclosure, polycarbonate enclosures offer a reliable solution when fitted with the appropriate seals and go through the proper testing. At Polycase, we offer waterproof polycarbonate enclosures of various sizes.
- Customizable: Enclosures can be customized with CNC machining to a company’s specific needs for cutouts and threaded screw holes.
- Chemical resistant: Polycarbonate enclosures are highly resistant to many chemicals and solvents, making them ideal for applications where chemical exposure is a concern.
What Kinds of Environments Are Polycarbonate Enclosures Suited for?
Polycarbonate enclosures are durable, lightweight and transparent. These properties make them ideal for a variety of situations:- The electrical industry: Because polycarbonate enclosures have electrical insulation properties, they are suitable for storing electrical equipment or electronics. They can protect electrical equipment from chemicals, liquids and harsh weather.
- Outdoor environments: Since these enclosures are resistant to UV radiation, you can use them to store sensitive electrical equipment that will be fully exposed to sunlight. Outdoor events like concerts are examples of environments these enclosures are well suited to.
- The medical industry: Polycarbonate enclosures are great in medical environments as they can withstand chemicals, disinfectants and sterilizers.
- Harsh environments: These enclosures can be used in harsh industrial environments where they’re subject to impact or exposure to corrosive materials.
How Do Polycarbonate Enclosures Compare to Other Enclosures?
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.Polycarbonate vs. Stainless Steel 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. Polycarbonate vs. Other Waterproof Enclosures
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.
Shop Our Waterproof BoxesPolycarbonate vs. Fiberglass Enclosures
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.Choosing the Best Enclosure for Your Needs
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.Image CreditsArtMari/Shutterstock.comIIIerlok_xolms/Shutterstock.comFine Art/Shutterstock.com0 Comment