Plastic sheet

What are the advantages of polycarbonate sheets compared to laminated glass?
To answer this question, it depends on the specific application. Polycarbonate sheets are primarily used as materials for canopies or industrial components. They offer excellent light transmittance, impact resistance, UV protection, flame retardancy, bendability, sound insulation, energy efficiency, and thermal insulation.
Generally, polycarbonate sheets maintain stable physical properties even in harsh environments. On the other hand, laminated glass offers higher safety, as it is less likely to be penetrated upon impact, and fragments do not easily detach. It also provides certain levels of earthquake resistance, theft prevention, energy efficiency, and sound insulation. The prices of polycarbonate sheets and laminated glass are similar. The advantage of polycarbonate sheets is that, at the same thickness, they are lighter. Another difference is that polycarbonate sheets have excellent impact resistance and are unbreakable, earning them the nickname "unbreakable glass."

Characteristics of polycarbonate panels:
(1) Light transmittance: PC panels can achieve up to 89% light transmittance, comparable to glass. UV-coated panels do not easily yellow, fog, or lose transmittance when exposed to sunlight. After ten years, the light transmittance loss is about 10%, while PVC loses 15–20%, and fiberglass loses 12–20%.
(2) Impact resistance: The impact strength is about 250–300 times that of ordinary glass, 30 times that of acrylic sheets of the same thickness, and 2–20 times that of tempered glass. They are nicknamed "unbreakable glass" and "resonant steel."
(3) UV protection: One side of the PC panel is co-extruded with a UV-resistant coating, while the other side has an anti-condensation treatment, combining UV resistance, thermal insulation, and anti-fogging functions. It blocks UV rays, making it suitable for protecting valuable artworks and exhibits from UV damage.
(4) Lightweight: The specific gravity is about half that of glass, reducing costs for transportation, handling, installation, and support frameworks.
(5) Flame retardancy: According to the GB50222—95 standard, PC panels are classified as flame-retardant (B1 grade). The self-ignition point of PC panels is about 580°C, and they self-extinguish when removed from fire. They do not produce toxic gases when burning and do not contribute to the spread of flames.
(6) Bendability: They can be cold-bent on-site according to design drawings to form arches, semi-circular roofs, and windows. The bending radius is about 175 times the panel thickness, and they can also be heat-bent.
(7) Sound insulation: PC panels provide significant sound insulation, outperforming glass and acrylic sheets of the same thickness. Under the same thickness conditions, PC panels improve sound insulation by 5–9 dB compared to glass. They are the material of choice for sound barriers on highways.
(8) Energy efficiency: They keep interiors cool in summer and warm in winter. PC panels have a lower thermal conductivity (K-value) than ordinary glass and other plastics, with thermal insulation efficiency 7–25% higher than glass of the same thickness. The thermal insulation of PC panels can reach up to 49%, significantly reducing heat loss, making them suitable for buildings with heating systems.
(9) Temperature adaptability: PC panels do not become brittle at -40°C and do not deform at 125°C. Their mechanical and physical properties remain largely unchanged even in harsh environments.
(10) Weather resistance: PC panels maintain stable physical properties within a temperature range of -40°C to 120°C. After 4,000 hours of artificial weathering tests, the yellowing index is 2, and the light transmittance loss is about 0.6%.
(11) Anti-condensation: At an outdoor temperature of 0°C and an indoor temperature of 23°C with indoor relative humidity below 80%, the inner surface of the material does not condense. Condensation flows along the surface of the panel without dripping.
Yongxin PC structural panel categories: General-purpose polycarbonate sheets (single-layer panels), single (double)-sided UV-resistant polycarbonate sheets, textured panels, frosted panels, transparent soundproof panels for sound barriers, scratch-resistant panels, corrugated sheets, general-purpose multi-layer panels, single (double)-sided UV-resistant multi-layer panels, crystal-clear panels, anti-drip multi-layer panels, easy-clean multi-layer panels, anti-drip + easy-clean multi-layer panels, multi-layer panels, and PC tiles. PC structural panel varieties: General-purpose single-layer panels, impact-resistant panels, transparent panels for sound barriers, scratch-resistant panels, and weather-resistant multi-layer panels. The products are mainly used for canopies in various building spaces, daylighting greenhouses, sound barriers for highways and railways, thermoformed skylight domes, etc.