Polycarbonate: types, sizes, properties, characteristics, photos and applications. Types of polycarbonate for greenhouses

Polycarbonate acts as a building material, which appeared on the market about 20 years ago. This is a polymer that belongs to the family of thermosetting plastics and looks very attractive. Among its main characteristics is to allocate high strength. Today, different types of this material are used in a variety of areas of construction, which can be both private and industrial. But the rich color palette and the variety of sizes make it possible to embody arbitrarily bold ideas.

Varieties of polycarbonate

Considering the types of polycarbonate, you can understand that the structure of the material can be honeycomb or solid. The first type on the cross-section has a peculiar pattern that resembles honeycombs. They form stiffeners, which are installed directly or obliquely. As a result, the manufacturer receives rectangular or triangular cells that contain air inside and impart properties to polycarbonate in terms of strength, thermal insulation and noise insulation.

Types of cellular polycarbonate

Visiting the store, you will be able to find some types of polycarbonate, which have a honeycomb. For example, 2H is a panel consisting of two layers, and inside are rectangular cells. The thickness can vary from 0.4 to 1 centimeter, while the stiffeners are represented by conventional partitions. A variety of 3X are three-layered sheets that have inclined straight stiffeners. The first of these are additional. Another variety of three-layered sheets is designated with the 3H marking and can have a thickness of 6 to 10 mm. As an intermediate value are 8 millimeters.

Five-layer sheets are designated as 5W or 5X. In the first case, inside are arranged rectangular honeycomb structures, the thickness of which varies from 16 to 20 millimeters. The second species also has inclined edges, 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 today everywhere. However, if you decided to use cellular polycarbonate to create different designs, you should learn more about its quality characteristics. The operating temperature range for canvases can vary from -40 to +120 degrees. The density of the material is 1.2 grams per centimeter cubic, while the tensile strength is 60 MPa.

Quite often, professional builders are interested in such a characteristic as the relative elongation at fracture, it is expressed in percentages and for cellular polycarbonate the limit is from 95 to 120. The material will soften at 150 degrees, but the stability temperature under load is 136-144 degrees.

Polycarbonate acts as one of the leaders in terms of transparency and strength among thermoplastic materials. He is able to withstand the impacts of stones and a hammer, preserving his physical characteristics. Polycarbonate, whose types and sizes will help you determine the characteristics of the frame, when it comes to building a greenhouse, has a toughness that is 250 times higher than this characteristic of glass. This allows to protect the structures from unauthorized entry and vandalism.

Characteristics of monolithic polycarbonate

If you are considering the types of polycarbonate, then it should be taken into account that this material is also represented by a monolithic material, which, in turn, can be straight or profiled. It can be compared by characteristics with a silicate glass, but it is difficult to break it, even if you use a stone for this. This property is an undoubted advantage. As practice shows, scratching the surface of this polycarbonate is also quite difficult, and in the context of such sheets are represented by a solid array, they can be translucent or completely transparent. Profiled panels have a waveform, they are characterized by increased strength and perfectly combined with profiled roofing materials in the type of metal.

The use of some grades of monolithic polycarbonate

Types of polycarbonate monolithic type are designated by a certain marking. It allows you to select material for a specific purpose. Thus, the PC-5 is used for medical needs, but the PC-6 is a polymer that is distinguished by its impressive translucency. It can be used in optics, as well as lighting equipment in the manufacture of all kinds of parts of devices. The sheets, which are characterized by the least friction, are designated by the manufacturer as PC-M-1, while the PC-M-2 is a unique material that perfectly resists the occurrence of cracks. In addition, he is not at all afraid of the effects of the flame. An impressive thermal stability is typical for the material under the marking PC-LT-18-m, but the polymer PC-LST-30 has a filler in the form of glass from quartz or silicon.

Sheet dimensions

If you are interested in the types of polycarbonate, photo, as well as their description, 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 the work, so a 6-meter sheet, whose thickness is 0.4 centimeters, will weigh about 10 kilograms. This is true when the polycarbonate has a density of 800 grams per 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, and 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.

What kind of polycarbonate for a greenhouse is better to choose

The types and uses of polycarbonate have been described above, however in private construction, as a rule, this material is used for the arrangement of greenhouses. At the same time before the summer resident, the question arises what kind of polycarbonate is best to choose - honeycomb or monolithic. The best way for such requirements is the cellular polycarbonate, which has a hollow structure. If we compare with monolithic, then the honeycomb has a smaller specific weight for the same thickness of the web. Thus, 1 square meter of panel, the thickness of which is 10 millimeters, is almost an order of magnitude easier compared to a single sheet of the same chemical composition. Among other things, honeycomb polycarbonate has a lower thermal conductivity, which is a decisive factor in choosing a coating.

What thickness of polycarbonate to choose for a greenhouse?

Having considered the types of polycarbonate for a greenhouse, you will understand that this material differs in thickness. Wanting to save, the customer quite often buys the most inexpensive and thin sheet for the arrangement of the greenhouse. This solution 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 improving technical characteristics. Do not go to the other extreme, using the maximum thickness of the polycarbonate. A thick panel can reduce the light transmission capacity by increasing the specific weight of the sheet. As practice shows, as the optimum thickness for the material in the arrangement of greenhouses, the limit is from 4 to 10 millimeters.

Polycarbonate choice for canopy

If you are interested in the type of polycarbonate for a canopy, then you should know about the recommended thickness of sheets for these structures. If the canopy is relatively small, then a 4 mm thick 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 in the range of 6 to 8 millimeters. When building a canopy, which will be subjected to extreme mechanical and climatic influences of the environment, it is worth to increase the thickness to 10 millimeters.

Conclusion

Most often, consumers are interested in the types of polycarbonate for the greenhouse, which one is best to choose when visiting the store, was described above. Before purchasing this material, you must remember that it has a high resistance to various kinds of chemically active media, which makes these products the leaders in terms of quality characteristics among their counterparts. After all, other covering materials fail in a season or two.