Why engineers choose Polycarbonate (PC)
PC appears in protective housings, lenses, machine guards, electrical components and structural plastic parts. It can absorb significant impact energy compared with many commodity plastics.
Manufacturing routes
Polycarbonate (PC) is commonly encountered in Injection molding · extrusion · FDM/FFF grades. The process route matters because material condition, anisotropy, tolerances, surface finish and residual stress can differ substantially between molding, machining and additive manufacturing.
Design considerations
Mold design should account for material drying, shrinkage, flow length and residual stress. Sharp internal corners should be avoided. For printed PC, enclosure temperature and moisture control are important.
Environment and durability
Unstabilized PC can degrade under UV exposure and may require coatings or UV-stabilized grades. Chemical compatibility should be checked carefully because some cleaners and solvents can cause stress cracking.
Relative engineering profile
These 1–5 ratings are deliberately qualitative. They help shortlist materials but must not replace grade-specific datasheets, testing or supplier guidance.
What to compare before specifying it
Compare PC with ABS/PC blends for processability, PMMA when optical clarity and scratch behavior dominate, and PEEK only when much higher temperature/chemical performance is justified.