Polycarbonates impact strength

The flow limit of polysulfone is 71.5 MPa, the permanent strain after rupture is 50-100%. At the same time the elasticity modulus (25.2 MPa) points on sufficient rigidity of material, which is comparable to that of polycarbonate. Impact strength on Izod is 7-8 kJ/m at 23 °C with notch. 

Thermal Properties. ABS is also used as a base polymer in high performance alloys. Most common are ABS—polycarbonate alloys which extend the property balance achievable with ABS to offer even higher impact strength and heat resistance (2). 

Fig. 26. Qualitative compatison of substrate materials for optical disks (187) An = birefringence IS = impact strength BM = bending modulus HDT = heat distortion temperature Met = metallizability WA = water absorption Proc = processibility. The materials are bisphenol A—polycarbonate (BPA-PC), copolymer (20 80) of BPA-PC and trimethylcyclohexane—polycarbonate (TMC-PC), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), uv-curable cross-linked polymer (uv-DM), cycHc polyolefins (CPO), and, for comparison, glass.

Medical and health-care related appHcations consume about 21,000 t of polycarbonate aimuaHy. Polycarbonate is popular because of its clarity, impact strength, and low level of extractable impurities. Special grades have been developed to maintain clarity and resistance to yeHowing upon gamma radiation sterilization (qv) processes. Leisure and safety appHcations are many and varied, accounting for about 22,000 t of consumption aimuaHy. The... 

Polycarbonate—polyester blends were introduced in 1980, and have steadily increased sales to a volume of about 70,000 t. This blend, which is used on exterior parts for the automotive industry, accounting for 85% of the volume, combines the toughness and impact strength of polycarbonate with the crystallinity and inherent solvent resistance of PBT, PET, and other polyesters. Although not quite miscible, polycarbonate and PBT form a fine-grained blend, which upon analysis shows the glass-transition temperature of the polycarbonate and the melting point of the polyester. 

Polycarbonates. Polycarbonates (qv) are pardy crystalline thermoplastics with some disorder in the crystalline part and considerable order in the amorphous part. This disorder conveys high impact strength which, combined with its good transparency and outdoor exposure resistance, makes polycarbonates usefiil for vandal-resistant glazing and outdoor lighting. It is easily processed by extmsion and injection mol ding. Various uv and dame-retardant agents are often added. 

Energy to break per unit width of sample. (In notched specimens this is taken as the energy to break unit width of notch. In this case the results are quoted in such units as ft lb per inch of notch or joules per millimetre. The values obtained depend on the notch width. For example, it has been found that on reducing the notch width from V" to X the impact strength of a polycarbonate increased by a factor of 5.4 and that of unplasticised PVC by 3.1.)... 

Blends of ABS with polycarbonates have been available for several years (e.g. Bayblend by Bayer and Cycoloy by Borg-Wamer). In many respects these polymers have properties intermediate to the parent plastics materials with heat distortion temperatures up to 130°C. They also show good impact strength, particularly at low temperatures. Self-extinguishing and flame retarding grades have been made available. The materials thus provide possible alternatives to modified poly(phenylene oxides) of the Noryl type described in Chapter 21. (See also sections 16.16 and 20.8.)... 

To enhance the resistance to heat softening his-phenol A is substituted by a stiffer molecule. Conventional bis-phenol A polycarbonates have lower heat distortion temperatures (deflection temperatures under load) than some of the somewhat newer aromatic thermoplastics described in the next chapter, such as the polysulphones. In 1979 a polycarbonate in which the bis-phenol A was replaced by tetramethylbis-phenol A was test marketed. This material had a Vicat softening point of 196 C, excellent resistance to hydrolysis, excellent resistance to tracking and a low density of about l.lg/cm-. Such improvements were obtained at the expense of impact strength and resistance to stress cracking. 

Polycarbonates with superior notched impact strength, made by reacting bisphenol A, bis-phenol S and phosgene, were introduced in 1980 (Merlon T). These copolymers have a better impact strength at low temperatures than conventional polycarbonate, with little or no sacrifice in transparency. These co-carbonate polymers are also less notch sensitive and, unlike for the standard bis-phenol A polymer, the notched impact strength is almost independent of specimen thickness. Impact resistance increases with increase in the bis-phenol S component in the polymer feed. Whilst tensile and flexural properties are similar to those of the bis-phenol A polycarbonate, the polyco-carbonates have a slightly lower deflection temperature under load of about 126°C at 1.81 MPa loading. 

The polymer has an impact strength between that of a polycarbonate and a polysulphone. 

Certain polymers have come to be considered standard building blocks of the polyblends. For example, impact strength may be improved by using polycarbonate, ABS and polyurethanes. Heat resistance is improved by using polyphenylene oxide, polysulphone, PVC, polyester (PET and PBT) and acrylic. Barrier properties are improved by using plastics such as ethylene vinyl alchol (EVA). Some modem plastic alloys and their main characteristics are given in Table 1.2. 

A use is for internally illuminated signs in which any color can be introduced. Its dii sional stability recommends it for many optical uses. Acrylics are modified by copoly-mf ition to improve impact strength at the loss their extreme transparency.. An example is aci -modified polyvinyl chloride sheet, which is tougher than aciylonitrile-butadiene-styrene and polycarbonate and is suitable for corrosion-resistant pans, aircraft parts and materia idling equipment. 

Heterogeneous compatible blends of preformed elastomers and brittle plastics are also an important route for the development of blends of enhanced performance with respect to crack or impact resistance. Polycarbonate blends with preformed rubber particles of different sizes have been used to provide an insight into the impact properties and the fracture modes of these toughened materials. Izod impact strength of the blends having 5-7.5 wt% of rubber particles exhibits best overall product performance over a wide range temperature (RT to -40°C) [151-154]. 

Lexan, a polycarbonate prepared from diphenyl carbonate and bisphenol A, is another commercially valuable polyester. Lexan has an unusually high impact strength, making it valuable for use in telephones, bicycle safety helmets, and laptop computer cases. 

Polycarbonates are condensation polymers made from phosgene and bisphenol A. They have high impact strength and are used in glazing, helmets, and appliance casings. 

Impact strength (impact resistance), 10 177 of polycarbonates, 19 810-811 of styrene-based plastics, 23 362-363 Impact testing, 19 580 Impact tests, for polymer blends, 20 352... 

PET can be blended with PBT or polycarbonate (PC) to make blends or alloys. Polycarbonate is a high Tg (150 °C) ductile, high-impact-strength polymer but has rather poor solvent resistance because of its amorphous nature. PET/PC blends have therefore proved advantageous because they combine the solvent-resistance... 

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