PC
Polycarbonate
Handles 125 °C heat and takes impacts that crack stiffer plastics. Good for hot environments, impact loads, or both.
Polycarbonate is a rigid plastic that holds up at 125 °C and takes a beating most plastics can't. Stiff and dimensionally stable, with transparent grades available when light has to pass through the part.
The surface finish is semi-gloss with visible layer lines. Parts machine, drill, tap, and sand without trouble. Acetone doesn't touch PC, so vapor smoothing won't work. Two-part epoxies bond well.
Specifications
- Heat deflection (0.45 MPa)
- 125 °C
- Tensile strength
- 63 MPa
- Charpy impact (unnotched)
- 60 kJ/m²
- Density
- 1.19 g/cm³
- Price tier
- $$$
When to use
Parts that see sustained heat above about 85 °C, repeated impact loads, or both. Electronics enclosures near heat sources, structural brackets, tooling — anywhere a part needs to keep its shape when things get hot or get hit.
When not to use
Unstabilized PC yellows and embrittles under sustained sunlight — not the right pick outdoors. It's also one of our more expensive materials. If the part doesn't need PC's heat or impact tolerance, a cheaper option will get the job done.
Where this material fits
Functional prototypes
FDM functional prototypes in engineering plastics. Verify form, fit, and function in days, not weeks.
Jigs and fixtures
FDM jigs and fixtures in engineering plastics — assembly aids, drill guides, CMM nests, EOAT, gauges.
Short-run manufacturing
Low-volume FDM production, 10 to a few hundred parts, in engineering plastics — without mold tooling.