Polymer materials today are widely used in the construction of buildings and structures for various purposes. Among them, polycarbonate is a panel that consists of two or three layers, between which there are longitudinally oriented stiffeners. Due to the cellular structure, it was possible to achieve the mechanical strength of the canvas with little weight.
Description of polycarbonate
Cellular polycarbonate in cross section resembles honeycombs, which can be triangular or rectangular in shape. The raw material for this material is granular polycarbonate, which can be obtained by the condensation of dihydroxy compounds and polyesters of carbonic acid. The material is produced in accordance with TU-2256-001-54141872-2006, however, the dimensions prescribed in these rules may vary depending on the wishes of the customer. The parameters of the stiffeners are determined by the manufacturer, the maximum allowable deviation is notinstalled.
Temperature conditions of use
Cellular polycarbonate is highly resistant to adverse environmental conditions. The temperature regime of use depends on the brand of material, compliance with the rules of technology and the quality of raw materials. For most types of panels, this indicator varies from -40 to +130 degrees. Some types of the described material can withstand extremely low temperatures, which are equal to -100 degrees. In this case, the structure is not destroyed. When exposed to high temperature or cooling, changes in linear dimensions may occur. The allowable expansion should not be more than 3 millimeters per 1 meter, with regard to the width and length of the sheet. Due to the fact that the polycarbonate material is characterized by a large thermal expansion, it must be mounted with appropriate clearances.
Chemical resistance
When using finishing panels, it is necessary to take into account that they are exposed to all kinds of destructive factors. Polycarbonate is one material that has excellent resistance to a number of chemicals. However, sheets are not recommended if they can be attacked by insecticidal sprays, cement mixtures, PVC-plasticized substances, concrete, strong detergents, halogen and aromatic solvents, ammonia, acetic acid and alkali based sealants, ethyl alcohol solutions.
Sustainabilitypolycarbonate to chemical compounds
Polycarbonate is the material that will endure the effects of s alt solutions with a neutral acid reaction, as well as concentrated mineral acids. The panels are not afraid of reducing agents and oxidizing agents, as well as alcohol solutions, methanol is an exception. When installing canvases, it is necessary to use silicone sealants and sealing elements specially produced for them.
Mechanical strength
Polycarbonate is able to undergo significant mechanical stress. It must be taken into account that the surface can be subjected to abrasive action during prolonged contact with small elements such as sand. In this case, the formation of scratches is possible when exposed to rough materials that have sufficient hardness. The mechanical strength will depend on the structure and brand. If we talk about the tensile strength, then the premium product has a parameter equal to 60 MPa. The yield strength of the same grade is 70 MPa. The impact strength is 65 kJ/mm. The manufacturer provides a 10-year performance guarantee, provided that the sheets have been installed correctly and using special fasteners.
Thickness parameters and specific gravity
The technology involves the possibility of manufacturing polycarbonate of different sizes. Currently on the marketbuilding materials, you can find sheets whose thickness varies from 4 to 25 millimeters. Each of these types has a different internal structure. The density of polycarbonate is 1.2 kilograms per cubic meter. For canvases, this indicator depends on the number of layers, the thickness of the panels and the distance between the stiffeners. With a sheet thickness of 4 mm, the number of walls is limited to two, while the distance between the stiffeners is 6 mm. With a thickness of 25 millimeters, the number of walls is 5, while the pitch between the ribs is 20.
Sun resistant
Polycarbonate is the material that can guarantee reliable radiation protection. In order to achieve this effect, a layer of stabilizing coating is applied to the sheet during the production process. This technology provides a service life of 10 years. There is no chance of peeling off the protective coating from the material itself, since the polymer is reliably fused to the base. When installing the sheet, it is necessary to take into account the fact that the coating designed to protect against solar radiation should be facing outward. Light transmission depends on the color, for example, unpainted sheets have this indicator in the range from 83 to 90 percent. Transparent colored fabrics transmit no more than 65 percent, but the transmitted light is well scattered.
Heat insulation characteristics
When building a polycarbonate greenhouse, what kind of material it is, you should know in advance. Hehas excellent thermal insulation properties. The thermal resistance of this material is achieved due to the air contained inside and for the reason that the canvas has a significant thermal resistance. The heat transfer coefficient will depend on the structure and thickness of the sheet. This parameter varies from 4.1 to 1.4 W/(m² K). The first number is correct for a web that is 4mm thick, while the second number is for a 32mm sheet. Polycarbonate is a plastic that can be used when it is necessary to combine excellent thermal insulation properties and high transparency.
Fire resistant
Polycarbonate is considered resistant to high temperatures, it belongs to category B1, which, according to the European classification, means a flame-retardant and self-extinguishing material. When burning, it does not emit toxic gases and is not dangerous to humans. With the described thermal effect, as for an open flame, the processes of formation of through holes and destruction of the structure begin. The material begins to shrink in area.
Lifetime
Monolithic polycarbonate is the material whose manufacturers guarantee the preservation of the quality characteristics of the material for 10 years. This is true if the installation and operation rules are followed. If you do not allow damage to the outer surface, you can extend the life of the panel. Otherwise, premature destruction of the web will occur. In areas where there is a risk of mechanical damage,sheets with a thickness of 16 mm or more must be used. During installation, it is necessary to take into account the exclusion of the possibility of contact with substances that can cause damage in the form of destruction.
Noise isolation performance
The honeycomb structure provides a very low acoustic transmission, which indicates that the panels have excellent sound absorption properties, which depend on the type of sheet and its internal structure. Thus, if we are talking about multilayer cellular polycarbonate, the web thickness of which is 16 millimeters or more, the attenuation of the sound wave occurs in the range from 10 to 21 dB.
Conclusion
It can be said that plexiglass is a polycarbonate with less outstanding quality characteristics. The second type of material has a higher strength and reliability; for these and many other quality characteristics, a honeycomb structure is chosen much more often. This is also due to the fact that polycarbonate is used in many areas, including construction, as well as repairs. Private consumers choose it to create canopies, greenhouses, gazebos and much more. Structures from it are obtained light and do not require the construction of a special foundation. This reduces the cost of the process and simplifies the work.
