Definitions of Resins - Polycarbonate

Polycarbonates were developed commercially in 1957 and are one of the pioneering members of the family of “engineering thermoplastics” created to compete with die-cast metals. They are strong, tough and rigid, while having the ductility normally associated with softer, lower-modulus thermoplastics. They also have excellent electrical insulating characteristics, maintained over a wide range of temperatures and loading rates. Polycarbonates are transparent and can be processed in a variety of ways, including injection molding, extrusion, blow molding and rotational molding. Typical applications are glazing, appliances, water bottles and electrical uses. Polycarbonates are engineering thermoplastic resins produced by (1) phosgenation of dihydric phenols, usually bisphenol A [(CH₃)₂C(C₆H₄OH)₂], (2) ester exchange between diaryl carbonates and dihydric phenols, usually between diphenyl carbonate [(C₆H₅O)₂CO] and bisphenol A and (3) interfacial polycondensation of bisphenol A and phosgene [COCl₂].