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Answers to Common Questions about Bayer Polycarbonate Resins
Polycarbonate engineering resins from Bayer MaterialScience comprise
a large and sometimes complicated line of engineering plastics that
can be difficult to understand and navigate. To help our customers,
we offer an advanced search engine on this website that can search
through our hundreds of web pages, datasheets and downloadable literature
to try to find the best answer to your question. Click
here to search.
When your question is too specialized or technical, we offer the
Bayer Polycarbonates Technical Answer Center. Following are
the most common questions we receive about our polycarbonate resins
that may also help you answer your question.
If you don't find the answer you need on our search engine or here,
please use our contact
form to reach to our Polycarbonates Technical Answer Center.
We will reply to you as promptly as possible.
The manner in which you use and the purpose
to which you put and utilize our products, technical assistance
and information (whether verbal, written or by way of production
evaluations), including any suggested formulations and recommendations
are beyond our control. Therefore, it is imperative that you test
our products, technical assistance and information to determine
to your own satisfaction whether they are suitable for your intended
uses and applications. This application-specific analysis must at
least include testing to determine suitability from a technical
as well as health, safety, and environmental standpoint. Such testing
has not necessarily been done by us. Unless we otherwise agree in
writing, all products are sold strictly pursuant to the terms of
our standard conditions of sale. All information and technical assistance
is given without warranty or guarantee and is subject to change
without notice. It is expressly understood and agreed that you assume
and hereby expressly release us from all liability, in tort, contract
or otherwise, incurred in connection with the use of our products,
technical assistance, and information. Any statement or recommendation
not contained herein is unauthorized and shall not bind us. Nothing
herein shall be construed as a recommendation to use any product
in conflict with patents covering any material or its use. No license
is implied or in fact granted under the claims of any patent.
Where can I purchase Makrolon® polycarbonate
rod stock?
Bayer does not produce polycarbonate rod stock. However, we
suggest contacting:
Westlake Plastics Company
P.O. Box 127 Lenni, PA.
1·800·999·1700 1·610·459·1000
Fax: 610·459·1084
http://www.westlakeplastics.com/
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Where can I purchase Makrolon® polycarbonate
formed sheet?
The Bayer MaterialScience polycarbonate sheet company is Sheffield
Plastics, Inc.
Sheffield Plastics, Inc.
119 Salisbury Road
Sheffield, MA 01257
1·800·254·1707
Fax: 800·457·3533
http://www.sheffieldplastics.com
e-mail: info@sheffieldplastics.com
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Why am
I receiving different-shaped pellets?
The newest Makrolon® polycarbonate production technology
produces resin pellets that are spherical and more uniform in
size, but which are produced from exactly the same raw materials
and using the same processes as always.
- Processing parameters and molding behavior should be unchanged.
Bayer internal testing and field tests at selected molders have
shown this to be the case.
- There is no physical or chemical difference in the product.
- Because of the different shape of the pellets, some colors
may appear to be a different color than the original size pellets.
This is strictly a visual illusion. Color in the finished part
will be unaffected.
- Boxes will hold the same amount of material, although it may
look like less. This is because the new pellet configuration
allows less air space between pellets.
In addition, because only some polycarbonate production units will
be producing material using this technology, it is important to
realize that some shipments may be made up of the newly configured
pellet, and others may be the original configuration. Based on our
extensive pre-introduction work, we are confident that you will
notice little or no difference in processing the different pellet
configurations.
The benefit of this technology to you is potentially less dust,
fewer strands, and a more consistently sized product.
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Where do I get IR, CFHA (Conveyorized Forced Hot
Air) annealing and solvent stress testing information for parts
molded from Bayer MaterialScience plastic resins?
Following are two technical documents regarding annealing and
solvent stress testing.
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Where can I get information about paint and coatings
suppliers for plastic applications?
Following is a list of some coatings suppliers in North America
that may be able to meet your plastic paint and coating needs.
GE Silicones
Product Division
260 Hudson River Road
Waterford, NY 12188
800-255-8886
Silicone Hardcoasts
Thermal Cure/Conformal
PPG Industries, Inc.
4325 Rosanna Dr.
Allison Park, PA 78414
412-492-5200
UV Curable Hardcoats
Loctite
1001 Trout Brook Crossing
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
800-562-8483
UV Curable/Conformal
Rohm and Haas
2701 East 170th St.
Lansing, IL 60438
708-868-7298
Acrylic Hardcoats
Spraylat Co.
716 South Columbus Ave.
Mt. Vernon, NY 10550
914-669-3030
Lacryl Coatings/UV Protection
Specialty Coatings
10 Columbia Dr.
Amherst, NH
603-883-3339
Vacuum Deposition/Polyurethane
Sherwin-Williams Co.
101 Prospect Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44115
216-566-2000
UV Curable Hardcoats
Exxene Corp.
5939 Holly Rd.
Corpus Christi, TX
361-991-8391
Various
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Where can I get information about adhesive suppliers
for plastic applications?
This information is located in the Bayer publication Engineering
Polymers Joining Techniques — A Design Guide.
| Type of Adhesive |
Suppliers |
Resins |
| Apec |
Bayblend |
Makroblend |
Makrolon |
Texin |
| Epoxy (Two-Part) |
A,B |
|
|
|
|
|
| Urethane (Two-Part) |
C,D,G |
|
|
|
|
|
| Cyanoacrylate |
B,E |
|
|
|
|
|
| Acrylic |
G |
|
|
|
|
|
| Methacrylic |
L |
|
|
|
|
|
| Silicone |
F |
|
|
|
|
|
| UV Cure |
B,H |
|
|
|
|
|
| Hot Melt |
E,M |
|
|
|
|
|
| LIQUID NAILS® |
K |
|
|
|
|
|
| Vinyl |
J |
|
|
|
|
|
| Contact Tape |
N |
|
|
|
|
|
Key:
| |
Suitable adhesives. |
| |
Some cyanoacrylates can be aggressive to polycarbonate and
PC blends, and some cure to a brittle layer which can sigificantly
lower the flexural and impact properties of the substrate. |
| |
Acetoxy-cure silicones can be aggressive to styrenics and
styrenic blends if the acetic acid fumes are trapped in the
joint. |
| |
Cannot be used with resins containing polycarbonate. |
| |
Not Applicable |
A. 3M Adhesives Division
St. Paul, MN 55144
(800) 362-3550
Epoxies, Contact Tape, Contact Adhesives
B. Loctite Corporation
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
(860) 571-5100
Epoxies, Cyanoacrylates, UV Cures
C. Ashland Chemical Co., Inc.
Columbus, OH 43216
(614) 790-3333
Urethanes
D. Lord Corporation
Erie, PA 16514
(814) 868-3611
Urethanes
E. Bostik Findley, Inc.
Middleton, MA 01949
(978) 777-0100
Hot Melts, Cyanoacrylates
F. GE Silicones
Waterford, NY 12188
(518) 237-3330
Silicones
G. Vantico Incorporated
Los Angeles, CA 90039
(800) 367-8793
(Customer Service) (818) 247-6210
Acrylics, Urethanes
H. Dymax Corporation
Torrington, CT 06790
(860) 842-1010
UV Cures
I. Tacc International
Rockland, MA 02370
(800) 503-6991
(Customer Service)
(413) 772-9953
J. SIA Adhesives
Seabrook, NH 03874
(603) 474-2100, Ext. 205
(Customer Service)
Vinyls
K. The Glidden Company
Cleveland, OH 44115
(800) 634-0015
LIQUID NAILS®
L. ITW Fastex
Des Plaines, IL 60016
(847) 299-2222
Methacrylics
M. Henkel Adhesives Corp.
Elgin, IL 60120
(847) 468-9200
Hot Melts
N. 3M Industrial Tape and Specialties Division
St. Paul, MN 55100
800-362-3550
Contact Tapes
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What is the shelf life for the Makrolon® polycarbonate
that I purchased?
There is no particular known shelf life for any of our Makrolon®
polycarbonates resins as supplied in pellet form. We do not anticipate
any problems due to storage issues as long as the material was stored
in a reasonable environment within normal ambient temperature extremes
and as long as it was in a sealed container that protected it from
contamination. However, once the material is used, proper drying
and processing parameters must be followed.
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What is the approximate Tg (glass transition temperature)
for Makrolon polycarbonate resin?
The
glass transition temperature is the temperature below which the
physical properties of amorphous materials vary in a manner similar
to those of a solid phase (glassy state), and above which amorphous
materials behave like liquids (rubbery state).
| Resin |
Grade |
~Tg. |
| Makrolon |
3208 |
148°C |
| Makrolon |
3105 |
148°C |
| Makrolon |
2805 |
148°C |
| Makrolon |
2605 |
148°C |
| Makrolon |
Rx2530 |
148°C |
| Makrolon |
2405 |
148°C |
| Makrolon |
2205 |
145°C |
| Makrolon |
1243 |
148°C |
| Makrolon |
OD 2015 |
145°C |
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Do you have information relating to yellowness index
for parts molded from natural and clear tint polycarbonate?
See the following attachment about yellowness index.
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Do you have a pictorial representation of Apec®
high-heat polycarbonate clear and tinted colors?
This is a pictorial representation of color chips molded from
Apec in the following colors:
000000 / 550042 / 551022
000000
550042
551022
surface
view
000000 / 550042 / 551022
edge
view
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Do you have a pictorial representation of Makrolon®
polycarbonate clear tint colors?
Bars are shown flat with visual observation @ 1/8-inch thickness
as well as standing on edge to view the "typical" edge color characteristics.
As you can see, the natural 000000 has a slight "straw" yellowish
characteristic, the 550115 color has a very slight blue tint characteristic
and an example of a heavy purple/blue tint, but still transparent
would be our medical grade color 451118.
(Left) Natural Color / 000000
(Center) Clear Tint Color / 550115
(Right) Gamma Sterilization Color / 451118
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Do you have information relating to bulk density
of Bayer MaterialScience resins?
Bulk
density is
the mass of unpacked pellets that fill a certain volume. For
example, if you take a 1 cubic foot box, put it on a scale, tare
the mass to zero, fill the box with pellets, and read the result
in lbs., that would be the bulk density in lb/cu. ft.
The practical use of bulk density may be used to determine how
many pounds of material will fit in containers such as silos, rail
cars, gaylords, or any other container used to transport and store
the material.
Bulk density is typically approximately 50% of the solid-state density
of the material. If a hopper is filled with pellets and then the
temperature of the material was raised high enough to make it melt
and flow, the material would probably collapse to about half of
its original volume by the time it solidified and returned to room
temperature.
Bulk density changes as a function of pellet size and shape. With
a reasonably accurate scale and a container of fixed volume (see
picture below) you have the capability of measuring bulk density.
Bayer MaterialScience has typical bulk density ranges listed on
each resin's MSDS, which are available in the RESOURCES
section of this web site.
Typical Bulk Density per MSDS
Makrolon Resins — 38 to 42 lbs/ft3
Bayblend Resins — 37.5 to 43.6 lbs/ft3
Makroblend Resins — 38 to 42 lbs/ft3
Apec Resins — 38 to 42 lbs./ft3
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The manner in which you use and the purpose
to which you put and utilize our products, technical assistance
and information (whether verbal, written or by way of production
evaluations), including any suggested formulations and recommendations
are beyond our control. Therefore, it is imperative that you test
our products, technical assistance and information to determine
to your own satisfaction whether they are suitable for your intended
uses and applications. This application-specific analysis must at
least include testing to determine suitability from a technical
as well as health, safety, and environmental standpoint. Such testing
has not necessarily been done by us. Unless we otherwise agree in
writing, all products are sold strictly pursuant to the terms of
our standard conditions of sale. All information and technical assistance
is given without warranty or guarantee and is subject to change
without notice. It is expressly understood and agreed that you assume
and hereby expressly release us from all liability, in tort, contract
or otherwise, incurred in connection with the use of our products,
technical assistance, and information. Any statement or recommendation
not contained herein is unauthorized and shall not bind us. Nothing
herein shall be construed as a recommendation to use any product
in conflict with patents covering any material or its use. No license
is implied or in fact granted under the claims of any patent.
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