Polycarbonate is a building material that has been on the market for about 20 years. This is a polymer that belongs to the family of thermosetting plastics and looks very attractive. Among its main characteristics, it is worth highlighting high strength. Today, different types of this material are used in many areas of construction, which can be both private and industrial. But the rich colors and variety of sizes allow you to embody any bold ideas.
Varieties of polycarbonate
Considering the types of polycarbonate, you can understand that the structure of the material can be cellular or solid. The first type on the cross section has a peculiar pattern that resembles a honeycomb. They form stiffeners that are installed straight or obliquely. As a result, the manufacturer receives rectangular or triangular cells that contain air inside and give polycarbonate properties such as strength, thermal insulation andnoise isolation.
Types of cellular polycarbonate
Having visited the store, you can find some types of polycarbonate that have honeycombs in their composition. For example, 2H is a panel consisting of two layers, and inside there are rectangular honeycombs. The thickness can vary from 0.4 to 1 centimeter, while the stiffeners are represented by ordinary partitions. The 3X variety is three-layer sheets that have inclined straight stiffeners. The first of these are additive. Another type of three-layer sheets is indicated by the 3H marking and can have a thickness of 6 to 10 mm. 8 millimeters are used as an intermediate value.
Five-layer sheets are referred to as 5W or 5X. In the first case, rectangular honeycombs are located inside, the thickness of which varies from 16 to 20 millimeters. The second variety also has inclined ribs, and the thickness can reach 25 millimeters.
Characteristics and properties of cellular polycarbonate
Polycarbonate, the types and properties of which are described in this article, is used everywhere today. However, if you decide to use cellular polycarbonate to create various kinds of structures, then you should familiarize yourself with its qualitative characteristics in more detail. The temperature range of operation of canvases can vary from -40 to +120 degrees. The density of the material is 1.2 grams per cubic centimeter, while the tensile strength is 60 MPa.
Quite often, professional builders are interested in such a characteristic as elongation at break, it is expressed as a percentage and for cellular polycarbonate it ranges from 95 to 120. The material will soften at 150 degrees, but the stability temperature under load is 136-144 degrees.
Polycarbonate is one of the leaders in transparency and strength among thermoplastic materials. He is able to withstand the blows of stones and hammers while maintaining his physical characteristics. Polycarbonate, the types and dimensions of which will help you decide on the features of the frame, when it comes to building a greenhouse, has an impact strength that is 250 times higher than this characteristic inherent in glass. This allows you to protect structures from unauthorized entry and vandalism.
Characteristics of monolithic polycarbonate
If you are considering types of polycarbonate, then it is worth considering that this material is also represented by a monolithic material, which, in turn, can be straight or profiled. It can be compared in characteristics with silicate glass, but it is quite difficult to break, even if a stone is used for this. This property is a definite advantage. As practice shows, it is also quite difficult to scratch the surface of this polycarbonate, and in the context such sheets are represented by a solid array, they can be translucent or completely transparent. Profiled panels are shapedwaves, they are characterized by increased strength and are perfectly combined with profiled roofing materials like metal tiles.
Use of some grades of monolithic polycarbonate
Types of polycarbonate monolithic type are indicated by a certain marking. It allows you to select a material for a specific purpose. Thus, PC-5 is used for medical purposes, while PC-6 is a polymer with impressive light transmission. It can be used in optics, as well as lighting engineering in the manufacture of various parts of devices. Sheets that are characterized by the least friction are designated by the manufacturer as PK-M-1, but PK-M-2 is a material that is unique in its kind and excellently resists cracking. In addition, he is not at all afraid of the effects of the flame. Impressive thermal stability is typical for the material marked PK-LT-18-m, but the polymer PK-LST-30 has a filler in the form of quartz or silicon glass.
Sheet dimensions
If you are interested in the types of polycarbonate, photos, as well as their descriptions, you can find in the article, this will allow you to purchase the material that will meet your needs. Cellular polycarbonate has a width that is standard for this material and is 210 centimeters. The length is also generally accepted and is equivalent to 6 or 12 meters. Sometimes the weight of the sheet is also important for work, so a 6-meter sheet,the thickness of which is 0.4 centimeters, will weigh approximately 10 kilograms. This is true when polycarbonate has a density of 800 grams per 1 square meter. The thickness varies from 0.5 to 2.5 centimeters.
Dimensions of monolithic polycarbonate
Polycarbonate, the types and characteristics of which are presented in the article, can be monolithic, while its length is standard and is 305 centimeters. The width is 205 centimeters, while the thickness varies from 0.2 to 0.6 centimeters. If necessary, the supplier can order the production of thicker sheets, this parameter will vary from 0.8 to 1.2 centimeters.
Which type of polycarbonate for a greenhouse is better to choose
Types and applications of polycarbonate have been described above, however, in private construction, as a rule, this material is used to equip greenhouses. At the same time, the summer resident is faced with the question of which type of polycarbonate is best to choose - cellular or monolithic. Cellular polycarbonate, which has a hollow structure, is best suited for such requirements. If we compare it with a monolithic one, then the honeycomb one has a lower specific gravity with the same web thickness. Thus, 1 square meter of a panel with a thickness of 10 millimeters is almost an order of magnitude lighter than a solid sheet of the same chemical composition. Among other things, cellular polycarbonate has a lower thermal conductivity, which is a decisive factor when choosingcoverage.
What thickness of polycarbonate to choose for the greenhouse
Having considered the types of polycarbonate for the greenhouse, you will understand that this material differs in thickness. Wanting to save money, the customer quite often purchases the most inexpensive and thin sheet for arranging a greenhouse. This decision may entail the need to increase the load-bearing elements of the frame system, which will compensate for the insufficient strength of the panel. Among other things, cheap material does not correspond to the declared thickness, which does not contribute to the improvement of technical characteristics. You should not go to the other extreme, using the maximum thickness of polycarbonate. A thick panel can reduce light transmission by increasing the specific weight of the sheet. As practice shows, the limit from 4 to 10 millimeters acts as the optimal thickness for the material when arranging greenhouses.
Choice of polycarbonate for a canopy
If you are interested in the types of polycarbonate for a canopy, then you should know what is the recommended sheet thickness for these structures. If the canopy is relatively small, then 4 mm thickness with a significant radius of curvature should be preferred. When creating a structure that will be subjected to significant snow and wind loads during operation, it is worth choosing a thickness ranging from 6 to 8 millimeters. When building a canopy that will be exposed to extreme mechanical and climatic influences of the external environment, it is worth increasing the thickness to 10 millimeters.
Conclusion
Most often consumers are interested intypes of polycarbonate for a greenhouse, which one is best to choose when visiting a store, was described above. Before purchasing this material, you should remember that it has a high resistance to various kinds of chemically active media, which makes these products leading in terms of quality characteristics among analogues. After all, other covering materials fail after a season or two.
