Tekra Fundamentals - What is Polycarbonate Material?

Understanding the properties of polycarbonate film

What is Polycarbonate Material?

Polycarbonate material is a thermoplastic film that excels in having strong, transparent, and thermoformable properties. This thermoplastic film is used in a variety of industries such as graphic, electrical, automotive, appliance, consumer electronics, display, signage, and many more! Due to its versatility, polycarbonate is one of the most common plastic films in the market. Follow along as we break down the basics of polycarbonate plastic film.

Properties of Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate film is used in many industries and applications, and for good reason. Here are some of the key characteristics and properties of polycarbonate film.

  • Good optical clarity
  • Thermoformable - applicable for in-mold decoration
  • Outstanding dimensional stability
  • Extreme durability
  • Good printability without pre-treatment
  • Excellent embossability
  • Excellent die-cutability

What is LEXAN™?

LEXAN™ is the line of polycarbonate film products offered by SABIC Innovative Plastics. Tekra is an authorized distributor for LEXAN™ polycarbonate film products. With technical support and development services, the LEXAN™ film portfolio provides polycarbonate films in a wide range of gauges and finishes to deliver top-quality performance and unlimited versatility. By providing consistent printability and ease of processing, LEXAN™ films support many applications ranging from labels to in-mold decoration (IMD) for interior automotive to outdoor menu boards. Through our partnership, Tekra can offer best-in-class service in order to fulfill your plastic film needs.

Types of Polycarbonate

Through our partnership with SABIC, we can offer a wide variety of polycarbonate films that fit various application needs. Within the LEXAN™ film portfolio, Tekra customers have access to a variety of polycarbonate films in areas including:

  • Clear, graphic, and optical films
  • Electrical films
  • Hardcoated films
  • Medical films
  • Anti-fog films
  • Weatherable films
  • ID and security films

Printing on Polycarbonate

Printing on polycarbonate material is possible and a great option for many applications due to its ability to maintain good printability without a pre-treatment. There are various ways that Polycarbonate film can be printed on. The most common print methods include:

With a fully staffed Research and Development department of chemists and engineers, Tekra has the ability to custom coat a specific construction to fit your needs. For more information on Tekra’s coating capabilities, visit here.

Call Tekra today at 1-866-468-4024 to find out which polycarbonate film is best suited for your application.

Image of Polycarbonate used in car dashboard

Search form

×