4 Advice to Choose a PC hollow panels

Polycarbonate sheets come in a variety of thicknesses and range selection from profile to profile, which can be from as thin as 0.4mm to as thick as 15mm or more, depending on the specific product and manufacturer.

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Choosing the thickness is the first and most important when it comes to sizing. In general, Solid Flat sheet thickness ranges from 1.6mm all the way up to 15mm, Corrugated profiles from 0.6mm to 2.0mm, Ultra-Thin solid flat sheets, can be made from 0.4 to 1.2mm thick, and Multi-wall polycarbonate sheet thickness can range from 4mm all the way up to 25mm, and with different layers to select from.

For the average consumer, the optimum range for outdoor skylights will be between the 3mm to 10mm range.

Going thinner than 3mm will render sheets impractical outdoors, as the overall setup will be more prone to damage from the elements. Polycarbonate sheets below 3mm are more suited for indoor decoration, partition panels, and areas less prone to outdoor exposure.

Going thicker than 10mm will often be overkill, unless it is aimed at specific purposes, such as heavy-duty industrial applications, sound barriers, or skate rinks, which requires higher impact resistance, as the overall cost of the whole setup would skyrocket.

First and foremost, when it comes to polycarbonate sheet thickness selection should be width and length. Width and length should be determined by the maximum wind or snow load and load characteristics of the area, which directly affects how they will be installed. For repairs and replacement of sheets on existing structures, the load-bearing characteristics of the subframe should still be taken into consideration and re-checked.

It is also important for the builder to check if the suggested design conforms to local-building regulations and load-bearing requirements. Most polycarbonate sheet manufacturers or suppliers will be able to provide a thickness and load graph that is formulated using local wind and snow load information provided by the weather bureau.

Moving on to more technical details, contrary to common belief, the strength of polycarbonate sheets barely fluctuates with different thicknesses. For example, the tensile strength of a 2mm thick sheet is around 655 kgf/cm2, while for a 10mm sheet is around 668 kgf/cm2 ' less than 2% difference, and the mean impact resistance for both thicknesses exceed 26.67J when lab tested according to ASTM D standards.

The difference between sheet thicknesses does affect the selection of size and method of construction, though what users should really focus on is its flexural strength. One of the main advantages of Polycarbonate glazing material over glass is its flexibility, which also comes with a caveat of sagging if the span is too wide. Ideally, we would like our polycarbonate skylight glazing area to be rafter and purlin-free, without any obstruction of view, though in reality, this could only happen in a gravity-less world.

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As with any kind of roof glazing installation projects, polycarbonate roof installation involves thorough installation guides as well as meticulous planning and preparation. One of the very first decisions to make is the choice between using Solid Flat/Embossed, Corrugated, or Multi-Wall Hollow profiles. This choice, along with referring to the polycarbonate thickness chart, will determine the installation guide to be used, the type of structure to be built, and accessories required.

Most customers that decide to use polycarbonate sheets may already have knowledge of its application; and after our understanding the type of polycarbonate profile and polycarbonate material properties offered, the next big question we ask or are asked is, the size of polycarbonate sheets required.

Polycarbonate sheets have become a product well known for its great properties, such as strength, durability, transparency and visually pleasing aesthetics; versatility is also among them, meaning polycarbonate sheets can be formed into difference shapes and sizes through methods such as hot or cold bending, heat or brake forming, and more.  Due to its high coefficient of linear thermal expansion, choosing the correct size for its intended use becomes quite important.

Selecting the Right Size of Polycarbonate Sheet for Various Applications

Selecting the right polycarbonate sheets for your project is of significant importance. Overcomplicating your project can result in unnecessary expenses, so it's crucial to carefully assess the intended purpose of your new structure and how it will be affected by weather conditions. In this article, we'll share how to determine the appropriate size of the polycarbonate sheet and delve deep into considering factors including thickness, length, and weight.

How To Choose the Right Polycarbonate Sheet Thickness?

Choosing the thickness is the first and most important when it comes to sizing. Polycarbonate sheets come in a variety of thicknesses and the range differs from profile to profile, which can range from as thin as 0.4mm to as thick as 15mm or more, depending on the specific product and manufacturer. VULCAN Solid Flat sheet thickness ranges from 1.6mm all the way up to 15mm, and VULCAN Corrugated profiles from 0.6mm to 2.0mm. Our Ultra-Thin solid flat sheets however, can be made from 0.4mm all the way up to 1.2mm thick. Multi-wall Hollow sheets thicknesses can range from 4.0mm to 25mm thick, and come in different layer designs for structural rigidity and better insulation properties.

For commercial roofing and skylight applications, especially areas with lots of rain, 6mm solid flat sheet thickness or above can reduce noise and prevent the area underneath from becoming a resonant chamber. For warehouse skylights or wall cladding and overlapped with metal roofing panels, corrugated polycarbonate sheets are usually the profile of choice, and since noise is usually not a major concern, thicknesses ranging from 0.8mm to 1.5mm is of choice and the best balance between cost and performance.

On average, the the optimum range for outdoors skylights will be between the 3mm~10mm range. Going thinner than 3mm will render sheets sheets impractical as the overall setup will more prone to damages from the elements.  Polycarbonate sheets below 3mm are more suited for indoor decoration, partition panels, and areas less prone to outdoor exposure. Going thicker than 10mm will often be overkill, since the overall cost of the whole setup would skyrocket, and unless it is aimed at specific purposes, such as heavy-duty industrial applications, sound barriers, or skate rinks, which requires higher impact resistance.

How Important is Polycarbonate Sheet Length for Your Project?

Length is what we consider the second most important factor when choosing the correct size of polycarbonate sheet. Polycarbonate, in sheet form, are in general manufactured via (co) extrusion, where raw polycarbonate resin is melted and formed into a continuous profile, continuous literally means that sheets can be continuously extruded to infinity, given there is enough space for storage.

A characteristic property which is quite universal in all thermoplastics, especially polycarbonate, is its relatively high coefficient of thermal expansion. A 3-meter-long sheet of polycarbonate for example will expand by approximately 2.1mm for each 10°C temperature increase. A 5-meter-long sheet restrained at one end by being butted up against a brick wall can have its free end move by over 10mm in the course of a day with a 30°C temperature rise.

This characteristic has a huge impact on deciding sheet length, as sufficient room has to be left to allow for any contraction and expansion of the polycarbonate sheet.

Weight Considerations: Size of Polycarbonate Sheet and Labor Safety

The size of polycarbonate sheets determines the weight of not only the sheets itself, but also the overall weight of the structure. While building regulations, weather conditions, and material costs play a huge role overall, the most important factor is labor safety involved in lugging around heavy loads. Large pieces of polycarbonate sheets, while significantly lighter and safer compared to same sized glass, still involve risk and must be taken into consideration.

For more information on how to determine the size of polycarbonate sheets for your projects, please contact [ protected]. Overall, the size of polycarbonate sheet is a critical factor to consider when choosing the right material for your project.

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GRECA Polycarbonate Sheet Roofing Panels | Vulcan Plastics

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