Polycarbonate is a thermoplastic polymer that is strong and tough and can be easily moulded and thermoformed, in other words shaped by heating. Polycarbonate sheet can be made clear or can be tinted to different shades and moulded into sheets with a variety of thicknesses.
What makes Multiwall Polycarbonate so distinctive is the variety of thicknesses and number of walls that can be formed during the manufacturing process. Multiwall Polycarbonate is produced by taking pellets of polycarbonate resin which are then heated until they melt. In this melted state they are then forced through a form or mould to create anything from a solid flat sheet to a multiwall sheet which can be up to 60mm thick. Strengthening walls can be added onto the mould which gives the sheet its distinctive design and robustness. The machine or extruder is normally 2.1 metres wide and sheets are generally extruded to this width with sealed edges. These are then cut down at a later date to suit.
By heating the polycarbonate pellets and forcing it through a form, this allows for other materials to be added during the process. Multiwall polycarbonate sheets are extruded with a UV inhibitor which aids longevity and resists the damaging effects of ultra violet rays from sunlight. The key advantage of this co-extrusion means the UV protection is moulded together with the polycarbonate resin rather than the old method of layering it on the top. This means that the UV Inhibitor will remain within the sheet giving it a longer life.
As the UV inhibitor is concentrated on the top of the sheet there is clear marking on polycarbonate sheet that is supplied to the end user as to which way up the sheet should be installed. It is important that this advice is followed otherwise incorrectly installed sheets can have a much reduced life expectancy, and the guarantee will not be valid.
Different polycarbonate sheet thicknesses and colours give different levels of light transmission and strength, as well as having different applications. Polycarbonate is lighter weight than glass and up to 200 times stronger, making it easy to fit and extremely durable. A polycarbonate roof to your conservatory or canopy will look great and last for many years to come.
This can seem a lot to take in but don’t worry, the staff at The Glazing Shop have a combined experience of over 90 years in polycarbonate, glazing bars and conservatory roofs. We can advise you of the options available for you when planning your project and with a full range of different polycarbonate sheet sizes and colours as well as many different types of glazing Bars, we can supply anything that you need.
Call us on 01536 446395 to talk to one of our advisors. We will be very happy to help.