XANTAR® PRODUCT SELECTOR

One of the most critical steps in the design of a plastic product is the selection of the material. The combination of transparency, high impact resistance, intrinsic flame retardancy, high temperature resistance and excellent electrical properties are united in XANTAR® Polycarbonate.

Where transparency is not required and a lower temperature resistance is acceptable, polycarbonate blends are a good choice.

XANTAR® C (PC/ABS blends) offers improved flow and ESCR (Environmental Stress Crack Resistance). Combined with the ductility of XANTAR® C, this makes it an excellent material for Information & Communication Technology (ICT) and automotive interior parts.

XANTAR® E (PC/Polyester blends) combines outstanding ductility at very low temperatures and very low emission of volatiles. For this reason it has been successfully used in very critical automotive interior applications.


However, making the right choice requires knowledge beyond comparing data sheets.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT XANTAR® GRADE

XANTAR® polycarbonate is available in grades ranging from an average molecular weight between 18000 and 27000.

Many of the properties that are commonly used to describe a plastic do not vary with molecular weight in polycarbonate. This applies to tensile modulus, light transmittance, HDT or Vicat etc. In fact, most of the properties quoted in brochures do not change with variations in molecular weight. However, some important properties are largely influenced by molecular weight. Viscosity is a good example: the higher the molecular weight, the higher the viscosity (less flow). Also the engineering or long-term performance of polycarbonate improves with increased molecular weight. A grade with a higher molecular weight has a higher critical strain and is less notch sensitive.

In other words: a high-molecular weight polycarbonate has more 'body' than a low molecular weight grade.

Selecting the right product depends on the environment as well as the long-term performance requirements of the application.

A low molecular weight product will process more easily than a high molecular weight polycarbonate. However, for injection moulding applications, select the grade with the highest molecular weight that can be processed in the specific mould and moulding equipment. This will provide the best long term performance although this strategy may appear to run contrary to the philosophy of selecting the material that is easiest to process.

Extrusion applications follow the same rule, although in extrusion processes the melt strength determines the material's processibility. In general, the material with the highest viscosity is the optimal grade.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT XANTAR® GRADE

Selecting the right product depends on the environment as well as the long-term performance requirements of the application. See the Table below for general guidelines. Do not hesitate to consult and discuss the possibilities with your Application Development contact, or contact our Technical Centre.

Selecting the right product depends on the environment as well as the long-term performance requirements of the application