Not until the mid 1950s, when General Electric reintroduced the material, did polycarbonate start gaining in popularity, according to The Plastics Web.
Production Disadvantages
Producing polycarbonate requires high processing temperatures, making it more costly to manufacture, according to The Plastics Web. Consequently the price of polycarbonate exceeds that of standard acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) general purpose plastic resin. Also, polycarbonate is susceptible to degradation when exposed to processing equipment for an extended period.
Chemical Resistance
Polycarbonate possesses only fair resistance to chemicals, according to PolymerTechnology & Services, LLC. Because of this lower resistance factor, polycarbonate deteriorates when exposed to many organic solvents.
Durability
Polycarbonate material exhibits aromatic sensitivity or is prone to absorb odors, according to The Plastics Web. Although polycarbonate rates high for impact strength when compared to ABS, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or acrylic, it is subject to stress cracking.
The Drip Cap
- When carbon is bonded to three oxygen molecules by a condensation polymerization process, the resulting product is a polycarbonate material.
- Producing polycarbonate requires high processing temperatures, making it more costly to manufacture, according to The Plastics Web.
- Because of this lower resistance factor, polycarbonate deteriorates when exposed to many organic solvents.