Polycarbonate strength

Polycarbonate is a material that is particularly strong and durable for use in roofing. This adaptable plastic is well-known for its resilience to harsh weather, which makes it a popular option for a range of roofing applications. Because of its special composition and structural characteristics, polycarbonate offers many benefits in applications whether it is used in residential, commercial, or industrial settings.

One kind of thermoplastic polymer with a strong resistance to impact is polycarbonate. Because of its superior strength over glass and acrylic, it is perfect for settings where toughness is essential. This material is resilient enough to withstand minor impacts, heavy snow loads, and even hailstorms without breaking or cracking. Due to its resistance to physical harm, it is a dependable choice in regions that frequently experience severe weather or unintentional collisions.

Polycarbonate is prized for its lightweight qualities in addition to its strength. Polycarbonate is substantially lighter than conventional roofing materials like metal or concrete tiles, which lessens the load on the building’s structure. This weight advantage lowers construction costs, facilitates installation, and opens up more creative design options for architects.

Polycarbonate’s resistance to UV light is another noteworthy characteristic. UV stabilizers are applied to a lot of polycarbonate sheets to prevent deterioration from prolonged sun exposure. Because of its UV protection, the material will always remain clear and structurally sound, making it a durable option for outdoor applications.

Monolithic polycarbonate: Features of processing and use

A sheet material made of polycarbonate is called monolithic polycarbonate. It is distinct from other varieties of this material due to its high density and required lack of voids. Polycarbonate monoliths make a great alternative to silicate glass. Its properties are even more advantageous for certain uses.

Monolithic polycarbonate, for instance, weighs half as much as glass but is more than 200 times stronger!

About 88% of monolithic polycarbonate is transparent. This is less than that of organic glass and quartz glass (the latter having a transparency of up to 100%), but it is comparable to the indicators of other transparent polymers, such as PVC, PET, polystyrene, and others.

Because of this amazing quality, leaf polycarbonate can be widely used to glaze a variety of structures, including lightboxes, lamps and other lighting fixtures, large letters and figures, and other illuminated advertising structures.

The strength of monolithic polycarbonate

When it comes to impact resistance, monolithic polycarbonate exhibits the best performance. It is ten times higher than that of plexiglass and 250 times higher than that of window glass. This enables producers to mark polycarbonate sheets with legible labels. Furthermore, this is not hyperbole.

For this reason, polycarbonate is used to make a wide range of fences, including stops, sides for hockey platforms, and anti-vandal guards for different gadgets.

Polycarbonate is also utilized in fire helmets and police shields, as well as in particular anti-jet glazing for trains, planes, yachts, and other vehicles. To put it succinctly, for everything that could be struck.

Other beneficial properties of the material

Strength is not polycarbonate’s final great quality. Its strong resistance to frost should also be mentioned. He can tolerate ambient temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius without shock load. Additionally, monolithic polycarbonate sheets retain their properties at 40 degrees even when loaded.

It can tolerate extremely high temperatures as well as extremely low ones; its upper operating temperature threshold is 120 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, polycarbonate is a self-adjacent material that is difficult to ignite.

With all of this, polycarbonate sheets are a great material to use in places with challenging weather.

How to treat polycarbonate?

It produces monolithic polycarbonate with 2.05 and 3.05 meters of width. Thickness of sheet: 2 to 12 mm.

It can be processed by any metalworking or woodworking tool, and it effortlessly saws with both a disk or tape saw and a hacksaw. However, during processing, overheating from friction may result in the material’s edge melting.

As a result, avoid using high-speed saws made for cutting metal. Take precautions to prevent overheating when processing at high speeds, such as using only sharp cutting surfaces and taking cooling breaks.

Polycarbonate can be cut with a laser, but doing so results in a distinctive melted edge. Additionally, it is advised to anneal products for one or two hours at 130 degrees after laser cutting.

The purpose of this is to reduce internal stress. Cut sheets with a guillotine as well, but only up to 5 mm thick. On an adjusted hydromechanical machine, good outcomes are achieved.

The ability of sheet polycarbonate to bend without heating is a very handy feature. The formula to calculate the minimum radius of a bend is r = t x 175 (t – sheet thickness), which is dependent on the thickness of the bend. Thus, a sheet with a thickness of 10 mm can be bent to a 1750 mm radius.

It is possible to adhere polycarbonate sheets to one another or to other materials using a variety of adhesives. The adhesive seam’s requirements determine which glue to use. The only thing to do is avoid using glue that is based on solvents.

The polycarbonate sheet is destroyed by this type of glue, though these changes take time to manifest. Polyamide glue is an option (for small products).

Opaque silicone glue should be used on large glued surfaces, such as the aquarium walls. Use isopropyl alcohol to clean and degrease the surface before adhering. If the product must meet strict specifications for strength of bond, transparency, impact resistance, and chemical resistance, use two-component polyurethane adhesives like He 17017 from Engineering Chemical.

You can construct a weather-resistant visor using monolithic polycarbonate to cover the entrance group of a private home or cottage. Moreover, monolithic polycarbonate is a great material for a variety of structures, including car canopies, indoor pool pavilions, visors over balconies and terraces, and many more.

Take into account the thermal expansion when using it on external structures, glazing, etc. The material will expand by about 4 mm per meter in the summer with an annual temperature difference of 60 degrees.

Use polycarbonate sheets with UV openings for anything that is directly exposed to the sun, such as glazing, coating, and outdoor advertising. This ensures that the material’s strength, color, and transparency will last for a very long time.

The same guidelines that apply to glueing polycarbonate also apply to painting it: stay away from solvent-based paints and stick to polyurethane or epoxy. Remove any grease before applying isopropyl alcohol to the surface.

You can use the dishwasher or specialized cleaning aerosols with paraffin to clean polycarbonate surfaces. The compositions containing ammonia are the only items that don’t require washing. Polycarbonate is spoiled by them.

Examining polycarbonate’s strength reveals that it is a superior material for roofing because of its outstanding resilience to impact and durability. Polycarbonate, in contrast to conventional roofing materials, provides a special blend of long-lasting clarity and strong structural integrity in a lightweight package that can withstand severe weather. This article explores the unique qualities of polycarbonate that make it a desirable material for contemporary roofing applications, emphasizing its durability, adaptability, and environmental advantages."

Universal polycarbonate – the main types and characteristics of the material

It’s hard to overstate polycarbonate’s current level of popularity. This contemporary building material flawlessly combines strength, lightness, elasticity, durability, and lightness with the capacity to transmit solar radiation. Usually, it consists of two or three layers of panels with stiffeners or glass-like monolithic structures. It appears that this is the perfect option for setting up a roof over a canopy. But which kind of polycarbonate, out of the many available, should be used when constructing hinged structures? It makes sense to comprehend this problem in great detail.

Cellular and monolithic polycarbonate – what is the difference?

Any novice builder faced with the decision of whether to use cellular or monolithic polycarbonate sheets for a canopy will have to make.

They already look different, specifically:

• Cellular polycarbonate includes two or three sheets, between which stiffeners are located. Thus, air channels are formed inside the material, which increase thermal insulation properties. In addition, this type of polycarbonate is characterized by less weight with high strength rates.

An image of polycarbonate cells

• Monolithic polycarbonate has no internal cavities and resembles ordinary glass. Thanks to this structure, it bends better and is characterized by higher strength and durability.

An image of a monolithic polymer

Cellular polycarbonate is typically utilized in the assembly of standard hinged structures due to its low cost, light weight, and ease of use. Monolithic sheets are suggested for use with enhanced loads.

The dimensions of the cellular and monolithic polycarbonate

Knowing the parameters of polycarbonate sheets is crucial because, when installing a canopy, it’s necessary to assess the material’s consumption. The latter typically come in standard sizes.

The sheets of this material are always 2,100 mm wide. There are two types of lengths available: 6,000 and 12,000 mm. Why are the sheets of polycarbonate so long? since the production of awnings and visors is the industry in which they are most frequently used.

Cellular polycarbonate comes in thicknesses ranging from 4 to 16 mm. The following table provides the material’s weight and bending angle in relation to its thickness.

The primary properties of polycarbonate cells

Both greenhousesand greenhouses

Arbors, visors, and canopies

Industrial buildings’ roofs

Cellular polycarbonate has the advantage of having multiple internal structure options. Each of them is shown in the figure that follows.

An image of the cellular polycarbonate’s interior structure

Because of their much greater flexibility, monolithic sheets have a length of 3 050 mm and a width of 2 050 mm. This kind of polycarbonate has a thickness that varies from 2 to 12 mm.

Because polycarbonate is so strong, it can be used for canopies with a thickness of only 2-4 mm when using monolithic sheets.

The colors of cellular and monolithic polycarbonate

Cellular polycarbonate has a very vibrant color palette. It affects the range of sheet material.

The range of applications for mobile polycarbonate in various shades

Both greenhousesand greenhouses

Visors over the veranda

Gates and fences, car canopies

Greenhouses and awnings on the gazebo’s house

Market stalls and park gazebos

The most common appearance of monolithic polycarbonate is that of transparent glass. Varieties in shades of milky white, bronze, and smoky-brown are less common. Use it to create intricately shaped visors and arbors with unique design elements.

Advantages and disadvantages of cellular polycarbonate

The most common material used for installing hinged structures is cellular polycarbonate. Builders place a high value on these benefits. How?

• Light weight, which forms an insignificant load on the racks of the canopy;
• Significant thermal insulation, which is achieved due to the presence of air channels in the structure of the material;
• Stability resistance, due to the presence on the polycarbonate of a special coating in the form of a protective film;
• Resistance to fire, which allows the use of material in the construction of pavilions for smoking.

Apart from all of the above, cellular polycarbonate stands out for its affordable price and range of colors.

Image structure derived from cellular polymer

The drawbacks of polycarbonate cells Its brittleness in low temperatures and shortened service life in the presence of moisture are taken into consideration. For this reason, end sections of sheets are sealed with special plugs and hinged structures are never installed in the winter.

Advantages and disadvantages of monolithic polycarbonate

Partitions, awnings, and visors are among the other common uses for monolithic polycarbonate. This is connected to these benefits in this instance, How:

• Increased stability resistance: It is difficult to break it even with a hammer;
• Significant flexibility and elasticity, which allow you to create the most intricate constructions;
• Lower cost compared to glass, with significant external resemblance.

It looks very respectable when the material is monolithic. For this reason, it is frequently utilized in the construction of windows, including transparent roofs with the most inventive designs and windows with stained glass.

An image of a monolithic polycarbonate structure

Furthermore, this lovely and flexible material has some drawbacks of its own, such as:

• Sensitivity to temperature drops – the material begins to deform already at +40 degrees, which requires the formation of gaps between sheets and frames;
• When exposed to aggressive chemicals, it is prone to clouding, the formation of microcracks and scratches;
• Exposure to ultraviolet cure, under the influence of which it acquires a yellowish tint.

The final disadvantage is removed by applying a unique protective film over the side that faces the sun.

Varieties of polycarbonate in which the material’s operational properties dramatically differ from its chemical composition. This implies that the characteristics of their actual application dictate whether to use monolithic or cellular sheets.

It’s hard to overstate polycarbonate’s current level of popularity. This contemporary building material flawlessly combines strength, lightness, elasticity, durability, and lightness with the capacity to transmit solar radiation.

The choice of polycarbonate thickness for the construction of greenhouses and awnings

At the moment, polycarbonate It is arguably the greatest option when it comes to selecting a material for structures like summer verandas, greenhouses, and awnings. The material is simple to work with and works well for both installation and ongoing structure operation.

Cellular type polycarbonate is typically utilized in the construction of structures falling under this category of responsibility. It makes sense to use a more costly, monolithic polymer in structures that need a higher level of dependability.

The following are the fundamental specifications for the enclosing structures of greenhouses and light canopies:

• sufficient strength;
• the necessary level of natural light;
• Ease of maintenance;
• durability;
• Reasonable cost.

Too thin

A responsible approach to choosing the material’s thickness is required to guarantee that these requirements are met. Polycarbonate is less expensive the thinner it is. Savings cannot always be achieved, even when selecting polymer sheets with the lowest possible thickness.

In order to prevent deformation of the enclosing structures under the influence of loads, it is necessary to reduce the step of the runs on which the polycarbonate falls as its thickness decreases.

In certain instances, the improper selection of polycarbonate thickness resulted in the necessity to reconstruct the built structure, involving modifications to the step of runs and racks as well as an increase in the cross section of the metal frame elements. This led to the structure’s final cost exceeding the budget’s initial allocation by double.

Furthermore, polycarbonate sheets that are less than 4 mm thick and not meant for external use do not block ultraviolet light and do not require additional processing. Operating in the open air causes such a material to gradually lose its strength and transparency.

Too thick

Opting for highly thick polycarbonate can also have unfavorable effects. First, the weight of the surrounding structure itself rises. One square meter of polycarbonate that is six millimeters thick weighs only 1.3 kg, whereas one square meter that is ten millimeters thick weighs 1.7 kg.

In this instance, a stronger frame design may be necessary in addition to the cost of the material itself.

Second, the greater the thickness of the polymer sheet, the less well it fits and bends into arched structures with a small radius, such as greenhouses and awnings. Furthermore, the transmitted characteristics of the polycarbonate sheet decrease as its thickness increases. The ability of the enclosing structures to skip light is the most important characteristic during greenhouse construction, if this indicator is not dictating for the canopy device.

The choice of polycarbonate thickness

An indication of strength adequate to withstand the loads from wind and snow is one of the factors influencing the polycarbonate sheet’s thickness. In turn, snow and wind loads are determined in compliance with SNiP 2.01.07-85* "Loads and influences" and are contingent upon the construction region. 9.5 kg of pressure per square meter of area on a layer of newly matured snow that is 5 cm thick. The pressure of the snow rises to 40 kilograms if it is moist and cervical.

Depending on its speed, the wind’s static load per square meter of the vertical surface can range from 2 to 95 kilograms.

The selection of polycarbonate sheet thickness also influences the step of the runs on which the sheets are laid. The middle strip’s climate is such that, with the support structures one meter below the ground, the polycarbonate canopy’s thickness is 8 millimeters. A step of runs is lowered to 0.7 meters with a thickness of 6 millimeters.

In the event that the construction of an arched structure is planned, the radius of the arch’s bending must be considered when determining the polycarbonate thickness. The maximum thickness of the cellular polycarbonate sheet should be 6 millimeters for a bending radius of 1 meter and 10 millimeters for a radius of 1.75 meters, respectively.

Generally speaking, the thickness of the polymer sheets is determined by the following factors, which also depend on the purpose and features of the structures:

• Polycarbonate up to 4 millimeters thick is used for small greenhouses or advertising structures;
• The thickness of the polycarbonate for a medium -sized greenhouse is taken from 6 to 10 millimeters. This range of polycarbonate thicknesses is the most popular and in private construction;
• Polycarbonate panels with a thickness of 10 mm and higher are used in the construction of industrial facilities, when requirements for increased strength and resistance to mechanical loads are presented to the enclosing structures.

Without compromising the technical qualities of its surrounding structures, the right choice of polycarbonate thickness can drastically lower the cost of construction.

What is the strength of polycarbonate for bending

Development never stops, and as time goes on, an increasing number of new, cutting-edge materials are developed that have technical properties better than their predecessors. The "family" of polycarbonates is one such example of a universal innovation; they work well in situations where glass might not be able to support the weight. Polymers are also strong enough to break as well as bend.

One instance of this type of application is the glazing of polycarbonate panels:

The main types of panels

A relatively new material that is frequently used in modern construction is polycarbonate, which is separated into:

• monolithic or leaf;
• cellular or cellular.

A sizable range of colors are available in these profiled two- or three-layer panels.

Use in greenhouse construction

Polycarbonate sheets have been widely used by manufacturers to build greenhouses in recent times. Furthermore, these designs are highly well-liked by prospective customers due to their strength.

This design involves the material’s strength during bending, making it a structural or cell option for a greenhouse. Arched constructions are possible, so don’t be afraid to use them. The material’s "Achilles fifth" can only be described as its moderate sensitivity to strong winds or a lot of snow.

In this sense, the thickness of cellular polycarbonate greatly influences its strength. As a result, responsible producers utilize polycarbonate panels in a range of thicknesses for diverse building kinds. For instance, a sheet that is 16 mm thick is appropriate for roofing structures, while a panel that is 4 mm thick is better suited for the production of windows. The ideal plastic cell variant thickness for the greenhouse will be 6 mm. There is a maximum of 95 as its bending strength limit.

Manufacturers and summer homeowners alike occasionally attempt to select a 4 mm-thick polycarbonate for a greenhouse in an attempt to save costs. However, as the saying goes, "the stingy pays twice." The panels in such a greenhouse will eventually collapse due to the snow-light loads. Granted that a thin sheet of cellular polycarbonate bends beautifully, the weight of the snow cover and the strong wind gusts during the winter can cause the greenhouse’s panels to deteriorate more quickly.

Using monolithic polycarbonate

Monolithic polycarbonate has an extremely high strength that extends to bending. These panels work well for building large-scale structures like domes and awnings. They also work well for building barriers beside highways because of their noise-absorbing qualities. These panels stop animals from escaping by blocking their path in addition to absorbing noise.

Monolithic polycarbonate panels have a high strength to mechanical influences, which makes them ideal for safe glazing, the construction of different protective structures in buildings, and personal protective equipment like police shields.

Not everyone is aware that monolithic polycarbonate is used for items like these because of its strength:

• store windows;
• large -scale pedestrian crossings;
• anti -shut -off windshields for cars;
• transparent elements of street lighting;
• advertising stands of various areas;
• headlights scattering lights for cars and much more

The bending strength ranges from 90 to 110 sc.

For what the building material is worth

This building material’s strength attributes, which include the following, make it extremely valuable, particularly for greenhouses:

• Polycarbonate is stronger than glass by almost 200 times;
• The service life can reach 20 years;
• excellent light permeability;
• heat resistance;
• The stiffness of this material allows you to create high -strength structures that have light weight;
• Plasticity – this material without loss can be bent along a small radius.

Furthermore, cellular polycarbonate, which ranges in thickness from 4 to 10 mm, has twice the heat resistance of glass, while panels between 16 and 32 mm have thermal insulation comparable to three glass layers.

Advantages	Lightweight and durable
Disadvantages	Vulnerable to scratching

Renowned for its extraordinary strength, polycarbonate is a material that works well for a variety of modern roofing applications. Its exceptional combination of qualities, such as high impact resistance and flexibility, accounts for its longevity. In contrast to conventional roofing materials like glass or acrylic, polycarbonate provides exceptional strength without being brittle, which makes it an excellent choice for locations that frequently experience extreme weather.

The molecular structure of polycarbonate is responsible for its resilience to severe impacts, which is one of its main advantages. This resilience guarantees longevity, lowering the need for frequent replacements in addition to providing protection against hailstorms and falling debris. Additionally, because it is lightweight, installation procedures are made easier and less structural support is needed, which makes

Video on the topic

Krassh Polycarbonate test 🎯 Strength test

Check monolithic polycarbonate for strength!

Check for strength profiled and cellular polycarbonate (punch with a hammer: sharp side)

Polycarbonate vs acrylic (plexiglass). Stress test. The thickness is 4mm.

Checking monolithic polycarbonate for strength