Polycarbonate
The transparent, impact-resistant engineering plastic — chosen wherever glass-like clarity has to survive impacts that would shatter glass.
Chelora Chemicals supplies polycarbonate resin to moulders and sheet extruders worldwide, with full documentation and consistent pellet quality on every consignment.
Product identity
- CAS (commonly cited)
- 25037-45-0 / 24936-68-3
- Polymer family
- Amorphous engineering thermoplastic
- Repeat unit
- Bisphenol-A carbonate
- Glass transition (Tg)
- ~147 °C
- Flow / processing temp
- ~155 °C and above
- Density
- 1.20-1.22 g/cm³
- HS Code
- 3907 40*
* No single CAS number is universally assigned to this polymer class. Confirm the correct identifier for your specific grade, HS classification and import regulatory status with your own regulatory affairs team.
What Polycarbonate resin is used for
Polycarbonate (PC) is an amorphous engineering thermoplastic supplied to converters as clear or coloured pellet. Built from bisphenol-A carbonate repeat units, it is one of the few clear plastics that approaches glass-like optical clarity while offering exceptional impact resistance — markedly higher than glass or most other transparent plastics at equivalent thickness.
That combination of clarity, toughness and heat resistance drives its core markets: safety glazing and impact-resistant sheet (riot shields, machine guards, skylights), optical media and lenses (historically compact discs and DVDs, and ophthalmic/optical lenses), electronics and appliance housings where dimensional stability under heat matters, and automotive lighting lenses and glazing components. Medical-device grades are also available where sterilisable, transparent, impact-resistant plastic is required.
Grades and processing routes
- General-purpose injection grade for housings, components and general moulded parts.
- Optical/lens grade higher optical clarity and lower stress-birefringence for lenses and optical media.
- Flame-retardant grade for electronics and electrical enclosure applications.
- Glass-filled grade for structural components needing higher stiffness.
Handling character
Polycarbonate resin pellet is not classified as hazardous under GHS for normal handling and use. As with any engineering thermoplastic, fine dust from machining and molten polymer during processing present handling considerations addressed through standard practice — see the Safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Clear to coloured pellet |
| Melt flow index | Per grade (general-purpose to high-flow) |
| Moisture content | < 0.02% after drying |
| Light transmission | ~88-90% (clear grade, 3 mm) |
Important: the figures above are indicative of commercial material and are offered for planning only. The batch certificate of analysis / technical data sheet is the governing document.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | Amorphous thermoplastic pellet — no sharp melting point |
| Glass transition (Tg) | ~147 °C |
| Heat-deflection temperature | ~140 °C |
| Density | 1.20-1.22 g/cm³ |
| Impact resistance | Very high (notched Izod, grade-dependent) |
| Water absorption | Hygroscopic — requires drying before melt processing |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for bisphenol-A polycarbonate resin and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put this resin to work
The engineering plastic of choice wherever clarity has to survive impact.
Safety glazing & sheet
Formed into impact-resistant sheet for riot shields, machine guards, skylights and security glazing.
- General-purpose & UV-stabilised grades
- Bulk & bag supply
- Technical desk review on request
Optical media & lenses
Moulded into optical discs, ophthalmic and optical lenses needing high clarity and low birefringence.
- Optical/lens-grade specification
- Documented batch traceability
- Contract & spot supply
Electronics & appliance housings
Injection moulded into enclosures and housings needing dimensional stability under heat.
- Flame-retardant grades available
- Full analytical documentation available
- Retained sample held against the lot
Automotive lighting & glazing
Used for headlamp lenses, glazing components and interior/exterior trim requiring impact resistance.
- Automotive-grade specification
- Documented batch traceability
- Technical desk review on request
Medical devices
Medical-device grades supplied where sterilisable, transparent, impact-resistant plastic is required.
- Medical-grade specification
- Full documentation supplied
- Technical desk review on request
Contract & scheduled supply
Moulders and sheet extruders running continuous consumption are supported with scheduled bulk delivery.
- Annual contracts with scheduled call-off
- Price held across the contract period
- Second source held in reserve
How we supply Polycarbonate resin
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. Consistent optical clarity and melt flow are critical to moulding and sheet-extrusion quality — that shapes how we manage this line.
We place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your required grade, your price point and your delivery window, and confirm your jurisdiction's import and application-specific requirements before booking.
We keep a second qualified source on this line, so a single-plant disruption never becomes your production problem.
- Melt flow and optical clarity confirmed before we quote. Consistency matters to downstream moulding quality.
- Application-specific compliance managed end to end. Automotive, electronics and medical-grade documentation confirmed before booking.
- Moisture-barrier packaging specified. Pellet shipped dried and sealed to minimise re-absorption in transit.
- Scheduled call-off scheduling. We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
- Batch traceability to the producing plant. Full chain of custody documentation on request.
- Export machinery handled in-house. Classification, approved packing, labelling, freight booking and customs paperwork are ours to manage.
Packed the way your plant receives it
Bag, octabin or bulk — tell us your preferred format and we will quote and classify to it.
25 kg moisture-barrier bags
Sealed bags sized for converter order volumes and manual handling.
Bulk octabin (~1 tonne)
Lined octabins for high-volume injection-moulding lines, reducing bag-handling labour.
Large-volume bulk shipment
Hopper-truck or flexible container-liner bulk shipment for continuous-consumption plants.
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to, with documentation filed before booking.
Trial / sample quantities
Small packs dispatched for process trials before a commercial order is placed.
Contracted call-off supply
We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
Not classified as hazardous — standard housekeeping applies
Polycarbonate resin pellet does not carry GHS hazard classification for normal handling and use. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet and technical data sheet supplied with your specific batch are the authoritative documents.
Handling considerations
DUSTFine dust generated during machining or regrind can present a combustible-dust hazard.THERMMolten polymer during processing presents a thermal burn hazard; standard PPE applies at extrusion/moulding equipment.MOISTHygroscopic — undried resin can cause processing defects (hydrolytic degradation and visual splay) rather than a safety hazard.
No GHS pictogram or signal word applies to this product in pellet form. Always read the SDS/TDS issued with your specific batch and follow standard combustible-dust housekeeping practice where fines are generated.
Storage
Store in sealed, moisture-barrier packaging in a cool, dry area away from direct sunlight to prevent moisture pickup before processing.
Handling
Use standard dust-extraction and housekeeping practice where regrind or fines are generated. Dry resin to the specified moisture content before melt processing to avoid hydrolytic degradation and surface defects.
Transport
Not regulated as dangerous goods for transport. Standard commercial packing and documentation apply; we confirm exact requirements for your specific shipment and destination.
Every batch, documented
We verify documentation before dispatch so there are no surprises at your incoming-goods bench.
Specification agreed
Melt flow, optical clarity and grade confirmed against your process requirement before order placement.
Producer batch testing
The producing plant tests each batch against the agreed specification before release.
Documentation review
COA, TDS and transport paperwork checked by our desk before the shipment is booked.
Traceable dispatch
Each shipment is traceable to its producing batch, with full chain-of-custody records on request.
How polycarbonate is made
Polycarbonate is produced industrially by the reaction of bisphenol A with a carbonate-forming reagent, a long-established route in engineering-polymer chemistry, followed by purification and pelletising to the required processing grade.
We do not publish operating process parameters here; this is background only. Full technical documentation accompanies every shipment, and any process-specific detail you need is best confirmed directly with our technical desk.
| Polymer family | Amorphous engineering thermoplastic |
|---|---|
| Monomer input | Bisphenol A + carbonate-forming reagent |
| Processing routes | Injection moulding, extrusion (sheet/film), blow moulding |
| Related materials | ABS resin (often blended as PC/ABS), PET resin, Nylon 6 (PA6) |
Explore the wider resin range
Polycarbonate, answered
What is polycarbonate resin used for?
Does polycarbonate have a single CAS number?
Is polycarbonate resin hazardous?
What grade do you supply?
What packing do you offer?
Do you manufacture this yourself?
Get a quote on Polycarbonate today
Send us your required grade, pack size and delivery window. We will come back with a firm quote, lead time and full documentation.