What are Polycarbonate Sheets?

Compared to acrylic plastic, polycarbonate has a higher impact strength and is more durable than acrylic, making polycarbonate the preferred form of plastic for many. Not only is polycarbonate incredibly light, but it’s also virtually impossible to break and has excellent resistance to many forms of damage.

No matter what project you’re using polycarbonate for, our polycarbonate sheets can be cut-to-size to make sure it’s the perfect fit to match your specifications.

If you’re struggling to decide between using polycarbonate or acrylic plastic sheets, you may find this guide useful. We explain what polycarbonate sheets are, their common uses and the main differences between polycarbonate and acrylic.

Why Use Polycarbonate?

Polycarbonate is a thermoplastic that comes in a transparent sheet and offers unique durability and is resistant to water and impact damage with its tough quality and minimal moisture absorbance. They also have excellent heat resistance, stability and are flame-retardant and chemical resistant.

Working with polycarbonate sheets is easy and the material can effortlessly cut and fixed with screws, nuts and bolts. Using thermoforming and machining, polycarbonate can be shaped and sized with ease.

When heated at its melting point of 155 degrees celsius, polycarbonate becomes a liquid and can be cooled and reheated continuously without significant degrading, making it easy to recycle or have injection moulded.

With its resistance and strength, polycarbonate is highly suitable for applications whereby safety and security are paramount.

What Are the Uses of Polycarbonate Sheets?

With UV protection and weather resistance, polycarbonate sheets are ideal for indoor and outdoor use as well as commercial and DIY projects. Polycarbonate plastic is often used by manufacturers for different purposes. As an example, polycarbonate is commonly used in the production of CD’s, DVD’s, mobile devices and laptops.

Our solid polycarbonate sheeting is perfect for use in the roofing industry and outdoor use as the high-quality material lasts year after year and is virtually unbreakable. Common uses of polycarbonate include:

Canopy roofs
Conservatory roofs
Construction
Components for automotive and aircrafts
Glazing
Greenhouse roofing
Lighting
Machine guards
Protective sneeze guards
Security components
Signage
Skylights

How Do You Fit Polycarbonate Sheets?

If you’re planning on using polycarbonate for an upcoming project, you may be wondering how you can fit polycarbonate sheets. Whilst we do recommend using sealants, you can drill the material, providing that you are careful.

If you do decide to drill the sheet, to avoid cracks or any other damage, you will need to ensure that the sheet is firmly supported underneath and that you do not drill within 4mm of the edges of the sheet.

When cutting the polycarbonate sheets, you should only use a hand saw or a fine-tooth circular saw whilst the sheet is secured in place. To prevent unwanted ingress of moisture, dust or insects, we advise applying sealants in any exposed gaps within the material. Please note we have roofing accessories available for multiwall, they can be found here.

What Are the Differences Between Polycarbonate and Acrylic?

Polycarbonate sheets have 30 times the impact strength of standard acrylic sheets and over 250 times the impact strength of glass (with the equivalent thickness), which is why polycarbonate is favoured over other forms of plastic.

Polycarbonate is heavier than acrylic plastic and can be slightly more expensive, with the material being much more durable than acrylic. Despite polycarbonate being slightly heavier in weight, it is easy to handle, transport and install.

Choosing Your Polycarbonate Sheets From Sheet Plastics

If you have decided to purchase our solid polycarbonate sheets, you will need to think about the sheet thickness and colour, which is dependent on the project and usage. Please bear in mind that the thicker the polycarbonate sheet, you will have a reduced amount of heat transferred and conducted through. The transmission of light is also reduced as the polycarbonate thickness increases, so you may prefer to choose a sheet which isn’t as thick in size.

We offer a range of sizes, including: