polycarbonate sheet supplier

Where to Buy Polycarbonate Sheets

There are numerous online sites claiming to be the best place of where to buy strong Polycarbonate resin sheets. And a quick online search also reveals one of the two large building supply store’s in America – Home Depot -- which sells the Sabic manufactured Lexan brand of Polycarbonate solid sheets either as single sheets or in packages of 10. Digging into the keywords of internet search also reveals that Lowes also offers the Lexan plastic resin sheets that are resistant to many household products to include detergents, acidity from fruit juices – even coffee and wine.

The tough, highly impact-resistant material is great for creating everything from hockey ring walls to shelving to smart phones. The thermoplastic polymer also is malleable and can be worked, formed, and thermoformed into numerous types of containers at TAP Plastics (tapplastics.com). This business also accepts cut-to-size special orders.
For online direct wholesale sheet suppliers, look to sales@exeliteplas.com, for direct manufacturing discounts. Also, OnlineMetals.com accepts anything from small to large quantity orders as does the mega United States Plastic Corporation located in Lima, Ohio, and online at usplastic.com. U.S. Plastic Corp. offers 25,000 different resin plastic items to its more than 85,000 customers.

For individuals or companies looking to use the Polycarbonate sheets for agriculture ventures, Greenhouse Megastore (greenhousemegastore.com) and Growers Supply (growerssupply.com), a division of FarmTek, offers the Bayer brand of Makrolon polycarbonate tubular panels that offer an embossed U-lock system for ease of construction, hollow sheets and corrugated sheets for greenhouses to light-weight thin walled roll sheets for numerous agriculture needs.

And for the customer wanting a company with a sense of humor, Freckle Face (freckleface.com) is the place to shop for all your Makrolon Polycarbonate sheets. And you might need a sense of humor that is like the Polycarbonate sheets that are 250 times stronger than glass, because this site also sells an I just love to fart cookbook.

And when looking online for anything, there is one giant who did not forget to offer Polycarbonate sheets – Amazon.com. Yes, even they are a great place of where to buy resin Polycarbonate sheets that include Lexan, Makrolon, Excelite, Makroclear and arcoPlus. 

Why Should You Consider a Twin-wall Polycarbonate R-value

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The polycarbonate panels play a crucial role in the agricultural market place. This is because they are used to construct garden centers and greenhouses. Their ability to allow abundant light into the interior spaces, light weight and easy to install properties have been the key pillars for their popularity. A hard and durable greenhouse can offer a long-term cost saving. This equipment is not only used to protect the plants; but, it is also used as a state-of-the art equipment.

There quite a number of polycarbonate profiles available in the market; however, when it comes to the insulation value of polycarbonates, a twin-wall polycarbonate sheet is preferred. What is a twin-wall polycarbonate R-value?

The R-value of a twin-wall polycarbonate sheet is the measure of resistance to heat flow between the two walls of the polycarbonate sheets (the two PC walls with an air space in between them). Theoretically, a higher R-value will imply higher thermal resistance. This is one of the numerous factors manufacturers consider during the products life cycle.

When people talk about the twin-wall polycarbonate R-value, they mainly tend to focus on the movement of heat across the polycarbonate layer where heat is transferred through conduction (across the PC wall). The degree of insulation based on R-value does not put much emphasis on air infiltration, convection and radiation yet; heat can be transferred via these mechanisms.

To calculate the twin-wall polycarbonate R-value, you need to consider the following key factors: amount of heat loss, temperature difference, cross-sectional area and time. You can determine this value only if you are in a position to measure these key elements. In most cases, this process is carried out in an industrial setup. It is calculated using the following formula:

Thus, it is quite evident that a change in any of these parameters will ultimately affect the twin-wall polycarbonate sheet R-value. For instance, a 4mm thick twin-wall polycarbonate sheet will have an R-value of about 1.43 while a 10mm thick twin-wall polycarbonate sheet will have an R-value of about 1.9. This can translate to about 15% energy efficiency. Therefore, there are higher chances that the sheet will pay for itself within two years since the cost of energy shall have been reduced.

A multi-wall polycarbonate sheet (say 3 or 4 walls) will save even more energy since they will have a higher R-value. Take for instance an 8mm PC sheet with four walls which has an R-value of about 2.08. You can discuss this with your polycarbonate sheet manufacturer or supplier.

Polycarbonate sheets have greater natural light diffusion and better thermal efficiencies. These have been some of the main reasons why they’re a perfect choice in most greenhouse construction. Ideally, the utility costs directly affect the energy efficiency. That is; for a greenhouse, the amount of energy which is lost across the wall and the roof will ultimately affect the cost of energy. This is a common scenario where you may be required to heat the greenhouse due to the cold weather.

Generally, the insulation capability of a PC sheet plays a significant role in reducing energy consumption and it is a factor worth considering.

Why You Should Say NO to Uncertified Polycarbonate Glazing Suppliers

There are a number of polycarbonate glazing suppliers with only a few who have been certified. The certified suppliers meet the threshold required for manufacturing quality and reliable polycarbonate products which meet the required standards by the regulatory authorities.

How can you buy a product whose quality and performance is anonymous? Or, what should you deal with a company with mysterious credentials whish cannot afford to offer after sales services?

Of course, certification encompasses so many factors which range from producing quality and reliable polycarbonate products; the general safety within the plant and customer service. It is these key qualities that uncertified polycarbonate glazing suppliers lack or they don’t meet the required threshold.

The reasons why you should say NO to uncertified suppliers include:

There is a high possibility of purchasing poor quality polycarbonate products

Once a supplier has not been certified by the regulatory authorities then it implies that their quality standards is not known. Purchasing such products will be like gambling since you can trust even the validity of their warranty. To make it worse, they may not be accountable in case of any damage. This implies that any transaction you conduct with the company you shall be a loser from the word go.

In addition to these, as s structural engineer; if the structure collapses because you used substandard polycarbonate glazing sheets then you’ll face legal action. To exacerbate your situation; you license or certificate to practice as an engineer will be revoked by the relevant authorities.

They lack professionalism

Over 90% of uncertified polycarbonate glazing suppliers lack professionalism. This is not only evident from how they go about their business, but also; how their customer care or sales representatives treat their customers. There’re very slim chances that all your concerns will be responded to promptly. Processing an order may take weeks rather than days. If you opt for such companies or suppliers then you should be prepared for a series of disappointment.

Privacy

These companies do not value the private details about their customers. It is not astonishing to find these polycarbonate glazing companies doing their business in unsecure platforms more so with an era where cybercrime is the order of the day. They transmit unencrypted data which can be intercepted by a third party. This implies that doing business with such company is basically risking you sensitive information such as the credit or debit card details.

Unrealistic promises and offers

They understand one main weakness of human beings; they like cheap products which can provide tons of benefits. These polycarbonate glazing suppliers offer unbeatable prices with a wide range of aftersales services which they do not actually provide. This strategy is mainly meant to help them sell their products without following the due procedure as required by the law.

To stay safe at all times, you need to deal with only those suppliers which have been certified to offer quality products. They must provide a proof of this since they can decide to indicate this on their websites to increase the conversion rates.

Will Polycarbonate Sheet be Broken?

Polycarbonates are durable plastics which are known for their ability to: possess excellent impact resistance; maintain their toughness in most applications; be dimensionally stable and maintain their electrical properties within a wide range of temperature. Moreover, their machinability, corrosion resistance and low weight have been some of the main reasons why they are popularly used in most industrial and domestic applications. They come in a wide range of shapes and sizes; thus, the variation in prices.

Polycarbonates (PCs) are known for their high impact resistance property. Engineers and equipment designers are always interested in this intrinsic property of PCs since it affects their performance. Remember, a high performance material can be used as a perfect alternative in high temperature and harsh chemical environment applications.

Generally, polycarbonate sheets are used to make safety glasses, green houses and compact discs due to their exceptional properties such as tensile strength, optical clarity, impact resistance and dimensional stability. It is considered a special type of plastic material.

The chemical and physical properties of PCs solely depend on their molecular structure. The most basic molecule of a polycarbonate sheet is formed by reacting a carbonic acid and alcohol. During this chemical reaction, molecules of water are given off. The various molecules of the PCs are held together by strong covalent bonds, which are also responsible for their strength and durability. Nevertheless, this reaction alone is not enough; it is used as a copolymer in a polymerization reaction with a number of phthalates to make it heat resistant. At the same time, to achieve other desirable properties such as a high degree of flexibility and fracture resistance; it can be blended with other plastic materials such as Anhydride, ABS, PET, amongst other materials.

It is important to note that its flexibility is one key property which is also responsible for the superb impact resistance feature which is a key feature in polycarbonate sheets.  This does not imply that this material is strong in all aspects; PCs do not scratch. They must be coated with a scratch resistant coating.

Although a number of people tend to believe that polycarbonate materials have high impact resistance and hence they cannot be broken; the possibility of cracking must not be overlooked.  When PCs are exposed to higher magnitude of stress corrosion, unexpected cracking may be experienced. This stress could be either residual stress or applied stress. At times, cracking can also be due to the two types of stresses (when they act simultaneously). Therefore, you need to examine the polycarbonate sheet to be sure that none of these types of stresses exist. You can use a polarized filter or a polarized sunglasses to check the presence of residual stress.

This may at times call for failure analysis. You can examine the PC using an optical microscope. This involves analyzing this product for crack, hydrolysis and chemical attack. It is important to note that even though these materials can withstand a lot of impact; the PC’s vulnerability to certain chemical and solves besides its hygroscopic nature should be scrutinized keenly at all times. 

How to Cut a Polycarbonate Sheet

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How to Cut a Polycarbonate Sheet

Polycarbonates (PC) are impact resistant and light weight plastic material which come in either single or multi wall versions. The thickness of these plastic materials is in millimeters. They are lightweight and possess some of the best thermal insulation properties. PCs which are available in the market are coated with ultra-violet protected since these materials are vulnerable to ultraviolet radiation. They turn yellowish without this treatment. They are versatile and flexible materials which are used for a wide range of applications, more so in the construction industry where they are used as roofing materials.

Normally, polycarbonates are manufactured in large sheets which need to be cut to the correct size for a project. Resizing these plastic materials is one of the biggest challenges to most people since they cannot figure out how to cut a polycarbonate sheet to meet their specific needs. Cutting polycarbonate sheets is so simple a process that you can easily accomplish without necessarily hiring some else to go about the process.

How do you cut polycarbonate sheets without wasting much of it?

First, you need to have all the essential tools which you’ll use during the process. Some of the most basic equipment you need to acquire include:

1.Cutting tool

the choice of cutting tool will depend on the thickness of the PC sheet you would wish to cut. In most cases, it is advisable to go for circular saw since it is one of the most efficacious cutting. You can have a small hand saw to make cuts onsite.

2.Measuring equipment

how will you determine the correct size of PC sheet you would wish to cut? You can use a tape measure for this process.

3.Marker

 after taking accurate measurements, you need to mark the points which you will cut. The marker should be visible – that is, for clear polycarbonate sheets, you can use a colored marker.

Clamp; to make accurate cuts, you’ll have to clamp the PC sheet to avoid unnecessary movements during the cutting process.

4.Safety equipment

 safety is paramount in this process. You should wear goggles and gloves too.

Secondly, you need to prepare the working bench. Since polycarbonates, are not intrinsically scratch resistant, you need to clean the working bench to remove all debris which can scratch the PC sheet.

It is recommended that you use a fine-tooth circular saw blade. Any carbide blade with between 60 and 80 teeth can do a good job here. It is also important to set the speed of the saw. It should be between 6,000 and 8,000 feet per minute. A cutting machine within this range can do a good job.

When taking measurements, you need to be very keen since this is where most people find themselves wasting a lot of PC sheets. You must learn how to cut a polycarbonate sheet accurately. If the sheet should overlap by some amount length, it should be considered too.

Now that you have gone through all these process, how do you cut polycarbonate sheets then? Clamp the polycarbonate sheet to reduce vibrations and you can begin the cutting process. In situations where you need to cut quite a number of PC sheets; just stack a few together since this will help you to realize a better cut.

How to construct a greenhouse Using Polycarbonate Sheet

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How to construct a greenhouse Using Polycarbonate Sheet

There are quite a number of materials which can be used as glazing materials in the greenhouse construction such as glass, polyethylene, polycarbonate and acrylic. To design and construct a greenhouse, you have to choose a glazing sheet which will optimize the greenhouse’s performance. This may range from having a longer lifespan, ability to control various environmental factors such as UV rays and low maintenance costs. In the recent past, most farmers have been opting for polycarbonate sheets for greenhouse due to the numerous benefits they offer such as lightweight, strength and ability to withstand harsh environmental conditions.

There are a number of factors you need to consider when you are planning to design and construct this important equipment using a polycarbonate sheet for greenhouse:

Choosing a panel

 polycarbonate sheet for greenhouse comes in single, double or multi wall designs. The number of the panel’s wall will determine the amount of heat within the greenhouse and the sunlight energy which can penetrate through the walls of the greenhouse. For instance, a double-wall polycarbonate sheet can filter about 5% of the available sunlight while saving approximately 30% more heat than the single-wall polycarbonate panels. There are certain polycarbonate materials which have been treated with special substances thereby, improving some of these properties. A good example of such products is opal which can block over 50% of direct sunlight which can cause the burning effect. The remaining amount of sunlight energy is diffused within the greenhouse to be used by plants.

Some of the most common panels are about 48 by 72 inches however; you can have special order where you can indicate the size of greenhouse panel you would wish to construct.

Installation tips

a polycarbonate sheet for greenhouse is lightweight in nature. For this reason, you can opt for do-it-yourself process. You should install only those panels with UV protection since pure polycarbonate materials are vulnerable to UV radiation. The panel should be capped since this is the only way to prevent moisture buildup. All joints should sealed using a sealant. A good company will recommend for you the best sealant. The nature or the number of process during this stage will determine the total cost of the installation process. Under normal circumstances, the ribs which separate the PC layers should run vertically. This will ensure that water drains properly from the panel.

Cutting polycarbonates

you should use a circular saw to cut larger PC sheets and a utility knife for smaller portions. You should have a tape measure since it’s only by taking accurate measurements that you will be able to avoid wastages which may due to approximation. As you cut the polycarbonate sheet for greenhouse, you need to hold it tight or if possible; use a clamp. This will avoid vibrations hence, high level of accuracy will be guaranteed.

In case you find it impossible to go about this process, then you should hire a greenhouse professional. Polycarbonates are expensive so you should avoid making any mistakes which will increase the cost of constructing a greenhouse.

How to Bend Polycarbonate Sheet

How to Bend Polycarbonate Sheet

Polycarbonate materials are used in a number of applications and at some point, you will be required to bend these materials. There are a number factors you must have in mind whenever you are bending polycarbonate sheets.

To bend a polycarbonate sheet, you need to know the thickness of the sheet and the required radius. The minimum radius which can be realized will depend on the thickness of the polycarbonate material. During the bending process, the section to be bent is subjected to a given amount of force. In situations where the material cannot withstand these forces, it will break or develop some cracks. The outer surface will be subjected to a stretching force which will depend on the stiffness of the material, bent radius and thickness of the material.

This process may affect the polycarbonate materials in very many ways. Apart from developing cracks, it is important to note that polycarbonates become less resistant to certain chemical agents when they are subjected to a given magnitude of stress. That is, as stress increases, it becomes less resistant to quite a number of chemicals. Ideally, for polycarbonate materials, high stress is any value which is above 1500psi. How to bend polycarbonate sheets with this precaution in mind can be a simple process.

Of course, bending is one of the most common forming process.  Polycarbonate materials can be bent through the following:

Break bending; through this process, PC sheets can be bent to attain angles of about 90° though it is not suitable for heavier gauges. Heavier gauges may break or crack either during the bending process or at a later stage. This is mainly due to high magnitude of stress which the bend area is subjected to. For heavier gauges, you need to go for heat bending.

Cold bending; in this process, the bending radius will be determined by the thickness of the polycarbonate sheet. For instance, a PC sheet with a thickness of about 1/8” can have a minimum bending radius of about 12.5”; those with a thickness of about 3/16” can have a minimum bending radius of about 18.7” while those with a thickness of ¼” can have a minimum bending radius of about 25.0”. You can refer to the PC’s data sheet or contact your supplier.

Polycarbonates are thermoplastics and at times, when cold bending fails, heat may be required for the process. When you’ve opted for DIY process, you will require heat strip, worktable, tape measure, plywood, permanent market and leather gloves.

It is a simple process where you will:

1.      Prepare the worktable to ensure that it is clean and take the appropriate measurements.

2.      The plywood should be stuck on both sides of the heat strip and set the temperature to about 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

3.      Remove the protective coating, mark the location you would wish to bend and put on the gloves.

4.      The region you would wish to bend should be aligned with the center of the heat strip. Hand test the softness of that region you had marked. If it is soft, you can remove it from the heat strip and bend the PC sheet and allow it to cool.