Polycarbonate
The polycarbonate resin supplied by Chelora Chemicals — a high-clarity, high-impact engineering thermoplastic used across optical, glazing and electronic applications — exported from Indonesia as virgin pellet with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What Polycarbonate is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the resin's amorphous, rigid-chain structure, how that structure gives it exceptional impact resistance, and the grades Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
Polycarbonate is an amorphous engineering thermoplastic whose backbone alternates rigid aromatic rings (from bisphenol A) with flexible carbonate linkages, a structural combination that gives the polymer an unusual pairing of properties: high stiffness and a high glass transition temperature from the rigid aromatic segments, together with exceptional impact resistance and toughness from the way the carbonate linkages allow local chain mobility to absorb impact energy without fracturing. That combination of properties, well above what any other clear commodity or engineering plastic offers, is the single biggest reason buyers specify it.
At room temperature it is supplied as a clear, highly transparent pellet, with light transmittance exceeding most clear plastics and approaching that of glass at equivalent thickness, while weighing roughly half as much and resisting impact that would shatter glass outright. Because it is amorphous, it has no sharp melting point, softening instead gradually above its glass transition temperature.
Where it fits in the value chain
Polycarbonate's combination of clarity and impact resistance makes it the material of choice for safety glazing, riot shields, machine guards and eyewear lenses, applications where glass-like transparency and shatter resistance must coexist. Its high heat resistance and electrical properties make it a leading resin for electronic housings and connectors, while optical-grade material, produced to exceptionally tight purity and consistency standards, is used for compact discs, DVDs and optical lenses. It is also widely alloyed with ABS (PC/ABS) to balance its own cost and processability against the heat resistance polycarbonate alone provides.
Grades we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers Polycarbonate in general-purpose, optical-grade, flame-retardant and glass-reinforced formulations across standard melt-flow-rate ranges. Each grade is supplied with a batch-wise certificate of analysis covering melt flow rate, light transmittance and impact strength.
How Polycarbonate is produced
An overview of the production route for orientation purposes. Our manufacturing partners' own process parameters and in-process controls are proprietary and are not disclosed beyond what is needed to interpret the certificate of analysis.
Polycarbonate is produced by one of two commercial routes. The traditional interfacial (phosgenation) process reacts bisphenol A with phosgene at the interface between an aqueous caustic solution and an immiscible organic solvent, building up the carbonate linkage directly and continuously removing by-product salt into the aqueous phase; this remains the dominant global route for high-molecular-weight, general-purpose resin. The newer melt (transesterification) process instead reacts bisphenol A with diphenyl carbonate in the melt phase under vacuum, releasing phenol as the condensation by-product, avoiding phosgene entirely and lending itself particularly well to the very high purity required of optical-grade resin.
Bisphenol A, the key building-block monomer for either route, is itself produced from phenol and acetone, both of which trace back to benzene (via cumene, for phenol) as the ultimate aromatic feedstock. Reaction conditions, catalyst choice and chain-stopper (end-capping agent) level together set the finished resin's molecular weight and, through that, its melt flow rate and the balance between processability and mechanical performance.
Industries and processes that use it
Polycarbonate is consumed across safety glazing, electronics housings, optical media and automotive lighting. The fields below account for most of the demand we see through our export desk.
Safety Glazing & Sheet
Extruded into flat or multiwall sheet for skylights, machine guards, riot shields and impact-resistant glazing where glass-like clarity and shatter resistance are both required.
Electronics & Electrical Housings
Injection-moulded into housings, connectors and components for electronics and electrical equipment, valued for heat resistance and electrical insulating properties.
Optical Media & Lenses
Precision-moulded, in optical grade, into compact discs, DVDs, eyewear lenses and optical components requiring exceptional clarity and dimensional consistency.
Automotive Lighting & Glazing
Moulded into headlamp lenses, interior trim and, increasingly, automotive glazing where weight reduction over glass is valued.
How the resin is typically converted forward
The rigid-chain, amorphous structure governs almost all of Polycarbonate's further processing behaviour. The categories below account for most of the ways it is converted into a finished part.
Injection Moulding
Melted and injected into a mould cavity under pressure to form housings, lenses and technical components; requires thorough pre-drying given the resin's hygroscopic, hydrolysis-sensitive nature.
Sheet Extrusion
Extruded into flat or multiwall sheet for glazing applications, often with a UV-stabilised co-extruded surface layer to protect against outdoor weathering.
Precision Optical Moulding
Optical-grade resin is injection-moulded under tightly controlled conditions to produce compact discs, lenses and optical components meeting exacting dimensional and clarity tolerances.
Blending with ABS (PC/ABS)
Melt-blended with ABS resin to produce PC/ABS alloys that trade some of polycarbonate's heat resistance for ABS's lower cost and easier processability.
Polycarbonate against related engineering resins we supply
Buyers sourcing polycarbonate often also need a related engineering resin to alloy with it, or for a different part of the same assembly. A quick reference to what else is on our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polycarbonate | 24936-68-3 | Bisphenol-A engineering resin | The product on this page — a clear, high-impact engineering thermoplastic. |
| ABS Resin | 9003-56-9 | Rubber-toughened styrenic terpolymer | Commonly alloyed with polycarbonate (PC/ABS) to balance cost against heat resistance — see its product page. |
| PET Resin | 25038-59-9 | Aromatic polyester | A related clear engineering/packaging resin, used where lower cost outweighs polycarbonate's higher heat resistance — see its product page. |
| Benzene | 71-43-2 | Aromatic hydrocarbon | The ultimate aromatic feedstock, via cumene and phenol, for the bisphenol A this resin is built from — see its product page. |
Exact physical constants and processing specifications are confirmed per batch on the certificate of analysis — treat the notes above as a sourcing guide, not a specification sheet, for products other than Polycarbonate.
Safety classification at a glance
Based on GHS classification as commonly listed for this substance. This is a summary for orientation only — always work from the current safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch.
Not classified as hazardous under GHS in solid pellet form.
Combustible; pellets and especially fine dust can support combustion once ignited, though polycarbonate is inherently more flame-resistant than many hydrocarbon-only resins.
Minimise accumulation of polymer dust/fines, which present a greater ignition risk than pellets.
Processing equipment handles the resin molten at comparatively high temperature; standard hot-surface and fume-extraction precautions apply at the extruder/moulding machine.
Standard gloves and eye protection are sufficient for routine handling of pellets.
Not a safety hazard, but a critical process-quality factor; always dry before processing per the technical data sheet.
Not classified; refer to the batch MSDS for grade-specific guidance.
This product has a low hazard profile in its solid pellet form and is not classified as hazardous under GHS. The principal handling precautions concern combustible-dust accumulation from fines generated during conveying and bagging, and standard hot-surface precautions during melt processing at the resin's comparatively high processing temperature. Full first-aid, storage, spill and PPE guidance is in the MSDS issued with every shipment, and should be read in full before this material is handled.
Keeping it on spec between delivery and use
General storage guidance for this grade. Site-specific storage rules, segregation requirements and re-test intervals should follow your own EHS procedures and the MSDS issued with your batch.
Store in a dry, ambient-temperature warehouse in the original moisture-barrier packaging, since polycarbonate, like PET, is hygroscopic and subject to hydrolytic degradation if processed with excess residual moisture. Keep bags sealed until immediately before processing, and always pre-dry per the technical data sheet. Re-check melt flow rate on material held past its retest date before use, since hydrolytic degradation from inadequate drying typically shows up as an unexpected rise in melt flow rate.
How it ships from Indonesia
Standard packing and export terms for this product. Confirm exact figures against your order — they vary slightly by destination and quantity.
What travels with every batch
Specification is agreed before the purchase order, not discovered on arrival. Every shipment of Polycarbonate leaves with a documented, checkable paper trail.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-wise assay, colour and key physical constants, issued against the agreed specification so your QC team can check it, not just file it.
Safety Data Sheet
GHS-format SDS in English covering hazard classification, handling, storage, first-aid and spill response for the exact grade shipped.
Technical Data Sheet
Reference physical and chemical properties, recommended storage and typical applications, for internal circulation to your process or R&D teams.
Certificate of Origin
Confirms Indonesian origin for customs clearance and any preferential-duty claim at your destination port.
Dangerous Goods Declaration
UN packing group, classification and shipper's declaration prepared ahead of loading so documentation never holds up customs.
Third-Party Inspection
Independent pre-shipment inspection and re-sampling can be arranged on request, at your cost, for buyers who require it as a matter of policy.
Frequently asked questions
What buyers most often ask our sales desk about this grade.
01What is Polycarbonate used for?+
02What is Polycarbonate made from?+
03How is Polycarbonate produced?+
04What grades does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
05Is Polycarbonate hazardous?+
06Why is Polycarbonate so much tougher than glass or acrylic at similar clarity?+
07What packing options are available?+
08How long does delivery take?+
09Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
10Do you supply ABS Resin for PC/ABS blending as well?+
Need Polycarbonate on spec, on time?
Send us your required grade, melt flow rate, clarity/impact requirement and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.