{
  "spore": "profile",
  "id": "polycarbonate",
  "spore_version": "0.2",
  "family": "engineering-polymers",
  "name": "Polycarbonate (bisphenol-A)",
  "abbreviation": "PC",
  "role": "tough, transparent housing and optical polymer",
  "category": "polymers",
  "type": "polycarbonates",
  "summary": "Bisphenol-A polycarbonate (PC) is a tough, transparent thermoplastic used for electronics housings, covers and optical parts. Covestro's Makrolon 2207 MAS195, a UV-stabilised injection-moulding grade, has a density of 1190 kg/m3, a Vicat softening temperature of 143 °C and a tensile modulus of 2400 MPa. SABIC's LEXAN VISUALFX FXE154 has a refractive index of 1.59 and 88 % light transmittance. In orbit, PC has flown on MISSE 2, where the passport records an atomic-oxygen erosion yield of 4.29e-24 cm3/atom, and accelerated weathering shows that UV yellowing starts at the surface.\n",
  "best_for": "Tough, transparent housings and light covers: 89 % luminous transmittance, 55 J puncture energy at 23 °C and 1190 kg/m3 density in the Covestro injection-moulding grades",
  "weakest_at": "Ultraviolet light: PC yellows under UV, with an activation energy of about 21 kJ/mol for the yellowing (Pickett 2019), and atomic oxygen in low Earth orbit erodes it (MISSE 2)",
  "identity": {
    "formula": "Bisphenol-A polycarbonate, a thermoplastic polymer; the repeat-unit formula is not printed in the pages read for this profile",
    "designations": [],
    "source": "covestro-makrolon-2207",
    "where": "Product description of Makrolon 2207 MAS195 on the Covestro Solutions page (polycarbonate for injection moulding, UV-stabilised, transparent)"
  },
  "tags": {
    "environments": [
      "low-earth-orbit"
    ],
    "stresses": [
      "atomic-oxygen",
      "uv",
      "vacuum-and-outgassing"
    ],
    "applications": [
      "electronics-and-chips",
      "optics-and-cameras"
    ]
  },
  "properties": [
    {
      "benchmark": "density",
      "label": "Density, Makrolon 2207 MAS195",
      "value": 1190,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "kg/m3",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "grade": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195 (Covestro)",
        "temperature": "not stated"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in a manufacturer product page (ISO 1183-1)",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "covestro-makrolon-2207",
      "where": "Other properties table, row Density, printed as 1,190 kg/m³",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195, product page, Covestro Solutions",
        "url": "https://solutions.covestro.com/en/products/makrolon/makrolon-2207-mas195_000000000086918005",
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "Manufacturer product page (cited, not reproduced)"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "melt_volume_flow_rate",
      "label": "Melt volume-flow rate, Makrolon 2207 MAS195",
      "value": 34,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "cm3/10 min",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "grade": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195 (Covestro)",
        "temperature": "300 °C",
        "load": "1.2 kg"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in a manufacturer product page (ISO 1133-1)",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "covestro-makrolon-2207",
      "where": "Rheological properties table, row Melt Volume-flow Rate (MVR)",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195, product page, Covestro Solutions",
        "url": "https://solutions.covestro.com/en/products/makrolon/makrolon-2207-mas195_000000000086918005",
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "Manufacturer product page (cited, not reproduced)"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "glass_transition_temperature",
      "label": "Glass transition temperature, Makrolon 2207 MAS195",
      "value": 144,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "°C",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "grade": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195 (Covestro)",
        "heating_rate": "10 °C/min"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in a manufacturer product page (ISO 11357-1,-2)",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "covestro-makrolon-2207",
      "where": "Thermal properties table, row Glass Transition Temperature",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195, product page, Covestro Solutions",
        "url": "https://solutions.covestro.com/en/products/makrolon/makrolon-2207-mas195_000000000086918005",
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "Manufacturer product page (cited, not reproduced)"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "glass_transition_temperature",
      "label": "Glass transition temperature, Makrolon 1260",
      "value": 142,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "°C",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "grade": "Makrolon 1260 (Covestro)",
        "heating_rate": "10 °C/min"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in a materials database entry for the grade (ISO 11357-1,-2)",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "mdc-makrolon-1260",
      "where": "Thermal section, row Glass transition temperature (table with ISO 11357-1/-2 standard)",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Makrolon 1260 properties, Material Data Center (Covestro grade data)",
        "url": "https://materialdatacenter.com/ms/en/Makrolon/Covestro+Deutschland+AG/Makrolon®+1260/58c418f1/410",
        "kind": "database",
        "license": "Material Data Center page (cited, not reproduced)"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "vicat_softening_temperature",
      "label": "Vicat softening temperature, Makrolon 2207 MAS195",
      "value": 143,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "°C",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "grade": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195 (Covestro)",
        "load": "50 N",
        "heating_rate": "50 °C/h"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in a manufacturer product page (ISO 306)",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "covestro-makrolon-2207",
      "where": "Thermal properties table, row Vicat Softening Temperature, condition 50 N; 50 °C/h",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195, product page, Covestro Solutions",
        "url": "https://solutions.covestro.com/en/products/makrolon/makrolon-2207-mas195_000000000086918005",
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "Manufacturer product page (cited, not reproduced)"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "heat_deflection_temperature",
      "label": "Heat deflection temperature at 1.80 MPa, Makrolon 2207 MAS195",
      "value": 123,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "°C",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "grade": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195 (Covestro)",
        "stress": "1.80 MPa"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in a manufacturer product page (ISO 75-1,-2)",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "covestro-makrolon-2207",
      "where": "Thermal properties table, row Heat Deflection Temp. (HDT) at 1.80 MPa",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195, product page, Covestro Solutions",
        "url": "https://solutions.covestro.com/en/products/makrolon/makrolon-2207-mas195_000000000086918005",
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "Manufacturer product page (cited, not reproduced)"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "elastic_modulus",
      "label": "Tensile modulus, Makrolon 2207 MAS195",
      "value": 2400,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "MPa",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "grade": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195 (Covestro)",
        "temperature": "23 °C",
        "speed": "1 mm/min"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in a manufacturer product page (ISO 527-1,-2)",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "covestro-makrolon-2207",
      "where": "Mechanical properties table, row Tensile Modulus",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195, product page, Covestro Solutions",
        "url": "https://solutions.covestro.com/en/products/makrolon/makrolon-2207-mas195_000000000086918005",
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "Manufacturer product page (cited, not reproduced)"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "yield_strength",
      "label": "Yield stress, Makrolon 2207 MAS195",
      "value": 65,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "MPa",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "grade": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195 (Covestro)",
        "temperature": "23 °C",
        "speed": "50 mm/min"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in a manufacturer product page (ISO 527-1,-2)",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "covestro-makrolon-2207",
      "where": "Mechanical properties table, row Yield Stress",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195, product page, Covestro Solutions",
        "url": "https://solutions.covestro.com/en/products/makrolon/makrolon-2207-mas195_000000000086918005",
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "Manufacturer product page (cited, not reproduced)"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "elongation",
      "label": "Strain at break, Makrolon 2207 MAS195",
      "value": 120,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "%",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "grade": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195 (Covestro)",
        "temperature": "23 °C",
        "speed": "50 mm/min"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in a manufacturer product page (ISO 527-1,-2)",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "covestro-makrolon-2207",
      "where": "Mechanical properties table, row Strain at Break",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195, product page, Covestro Solutions",
        "url": "https://solutions.covestro.com/en/products/makrolon/makrolon-2207-mas195_000000000086918005",
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "Manufacturer product page (cited, not reproduced)"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "elastic_modulus",
      "label": "Flexural modulus, Makrolon 2207 MAS195",
      "value": 2350,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "MPa",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "grade": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195 (Covestro)",
        "temperature": "23 °C",
        "speed": "2 mm/min"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in a manufacturer product page (ISO 178)",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "covestro-makrolon-2207",
      "where": "Mechanical properties table, row Flexural Modulus",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195, product page, Covestro Solutions",
        "url": "https://solutions.covestro.com/en/products/makrolon/makrolon-2207-mas195_000000000086918005",
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "Manufacturer product page (cited, not reproduced)"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "flexural_strength",
      "label": "Flexural strength, Makrolon 3207",
      "value": 97,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "MPa",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "grade": "Makrolon 3207 (Covestro)",
        "temperature": "23 °C"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in a materials database entry for the grade (ISO 178)",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "mdc-makrolon-3207",
      "where": "Mechanical section, row Flexural strength",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Makrolon 3207 properties, Material Data Center (Covestro grade data)",
        "url": "https://www.materialdatacenter.com/ms/en/Makrolon/Covestro+Deutschland+AG/Makrolon®+3207/deeb0dbc/410",
        "kind": "database",
        "license": "Material Data Center page (cited, not reproduced)"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "impact_energy",
      "label": "Puncture energy at 23 °C, Makrolon 2207 MAS195",
      "value": 55,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "J",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "grade": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195 (Covestro)",
        "temperature": "23 °C",
        "test": "ISO 6603-2 puncture"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in a manufacturer product page (ISO 6603-2)",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "covestro-makrolon-2207",
      "where": "Mechanical properties table, row Puncture Energy, 23 °C",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195, product page, Covestro Solutions",
        "url": "https://solutions.covestro.com/en/products/makrolon/makrolon-2207-mas195_000000000086918005",
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "Manufacturer product page (cited, not reproduced)"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "light_transmittance",
      "label": "Luminous transmittance, Makrolon 2656",
      "value": 89,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "%",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "grade": "Makrolon 2656 (Covestro)",
        "thickness": "not stated"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in a materials database entry for the grade (ISO 13468-1,-2)",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "mdc-makrolon-2656",
      "where": "Optical section, row Luminous transmittance",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Makrolon 2656 properties, Material Data Center (Covestro grade data)",
        "url": "https://www.materialdatacenter.com/ms/en/Makrolon/Covestro+Deutschland+AG/Makrolon®+2656/1a03032f/410",
        "kind": "database",
        "license": "Material Data Center page (cited, not reproduced)"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "light_transmittance",
      "label": "Light transmittance, LEXAN VISUALFX FXE154",
      "value": 88,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "%",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "grade": "LEXAN VISUALFX FXE154 (SABIC)",
        "thickness": "not stated"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in a materials database entry for the grade (ASTM D1003)",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "mdc-lexan-fxe154",
      "where": "Optical section, row Light Transmittance",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "LEXAN VISUALFX FXE154 properties, Material Data Center (SABIC grade data)",
        "url": "https://www.materialdatacenter.com/ms/en/Lexan/SABIC+Innovative+Plastics/LEXAN%E2%84%A2+VISUALFX%E2%84%A2+Resin+FXE154/91c6c687/1122",
        "kind": "database",
        "license": "Material Data Center page (cited, not reproduced)"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "refractive_index",
      "label": "Index of refraction, LEXAN VISUALFX FXE154",
      "value": 1.59,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "dimensionless",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "grade": "LEXAN VISUALFX FXE154 (SABIC)",
        "wavelength": "not stated"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in a materials database entry for the grade (ASTM D542)",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "mdc-lexan-fxe154",
      "where": "Optical section, row Index of Refraction",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "LEXAN VISUALFX FXE154 properties, Material Data Center (SABIC grade data)",
        "url": "https://www.materialdatacenter.com/ms/en/Lexan/SABIC+Innovative+Plastics/LEXAN%E2%84%A2+VISUALFX%E2%84%A2+Resin+FXE154/91c6c687/1122",
        "kind": "database",
        "license": "Material Data Center page (cited, not reproduced)"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "water_absorption",
      "label": "Water absorption at equilibrium, LEXAN VISUALFX FXE154",
      "value": 0.58,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "%",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "grade": "LEXAN VISUALFX FXE154 (SABIC)",
        "condition": "equilibrium"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in a materials database entry for the grade (ASTM D570)",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "mdc-lexan-fxe154",
      "where": "Other section, row Water Absorption, Equilibrium",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "LEXAN VISUALFX FXE154 properties, Material Data Center (SABIC grade data)",
        "url": "https://www.materialdatacenter.com/ms/en/Lexan/SABIC+Innovative+Plastics/LEXAN%E2%84%A2+VISUALFX%E2%84%A2+Resin+FXE154/91c6c687/1122",
        "kind": "database",
        "license": "Material Data Center page (cited, not reproduced)"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "relative_permittivity",
      "label": "Relative permittivity at 100 Hz, Makrolon 2207 MAS195",
      "value": 3.1,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "dimensionless",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "grade": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195 (Covestro)",
        "frequency": "100 Hz",
        "humidity": "23 °C, 50 % r.h."
      },
      "method": "Value printed in a manufacturer product page (IEC 60250)",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "covestro-makrolon-2207",
      "where": "Electrical properties table, row Relative Permittivity, 100 Hz",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195, product page, Covestro Solutions",
        "url": "https://solutions.covestro.com/en/products/makrolon/makrolon-2207-mas195_000000000086918005",
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "Manufacturer product page (cited, not reproduced)"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "oxygen_index",
      "label": "Oxygen index, Makrolon 2207 MAS195",
      "value": 28,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "%",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "grade": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195 (Covestro)",
        "method": "Method A"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in a manufacturer product page (ISO 4589-2)",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "covestro-makrolon-2207",
      "where": "Thermal properties table, row Oxygen Index, Method A",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195, product page, Covestro Solutions",
        "url": "https://solutions.covestro.com/en/products/makrolon/makrolon-2207-mas195_000000000086918005",
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "Manufacturer product page (cited, not reproduced)"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "activation_energy",
      "label": "Activation energy for yellowing (delta E), polycarbonate under accelerated weathering",
      "value": 21,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "kJ/mol",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "material": "injection-moulded PC chips, 3.2 mm thick, 97 % PC and 3 % TiO2",
        "exposure": "NIST SPHERE accelerated weathering, full irradiance about 150 W/m2 over 295 to 400 nm, 35 to 70 °C"
      },
      "method": "Fitted value printed in a paper (95 % confidence limit reported as plus or minus 2 kJ/mol)",
      "status": "ground",
      "note": "Plus or minus 2 kJ/mol (95 % confidence limit) as printed; the abstract gives the same value as about 20 kJ/mol.",
      "source": "pickett2019",
      "where": "Section 3.2, Table 3, row PC Delta E",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Pickett et al., Accelerated weathering parameters for some aromatic engineering thermoplastics, Polymer Degradation and Stability 166 (2019)",
        "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7539635",
        "year": 2019,
        "kind": "paper",
        "license": "Open-access article (cited, not reproduced)"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "atomic_oxygen_erosion_yield",
      "label": "Atomic oxygen erosion yield, polycarbonate, MISSE 2 PEACE",
      "value": 4.29e-24,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "cm3/atom",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "exposure": "ISS, MISSE 2 PEACE tray 1, 2001-08-16 to 2005-07-30 (3.95 years)",
        "fluence": "8.43e21 atoms/cm2"
      },
      "method": "Measured on MISSE 2 flight samples and listed in NASA TM-2008-215490, Table I",
      "status": "flight",
      "note": "Value read in Table I of NASA/TM-2008-215490 (PC, 4.29e-24 cm3/atom) in a later manual check.",
      "source": "ntrs-tm2008",
      "where": "Passport misse2-pc results block (cites Table I of NASA/TM-2008-215490)",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Atomic Oxygen Erosion Yield Predictive Tool for Spacecraft Polymers in Low Earth Orbit (Banks, Backus, de Groh), NASA/TM-2008-215490",
        "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20090011780",
        "year": 2008,
        "kind": "report",
        "license": "public domain (NASA)"
      }
    }
  ],
  "corrosion": [
    {
      "environment": "UV light (accelerated weathering, Earth exposure simulated)",
      "headline": "PC yellows under UV, and the damage starts on the surface.",
      "effect": "Pickett et al. found that most PC photodegradation happens in the top 25 µm of the surface, and that the yellowing activation energy is about 21 kJ/mol. A TiO2-pigmented PC absorbs UV below 380 nm.",
      "rating": "moderate",
      "conditions": {
        "exposure": "NIST SPHERE accelerated weathering, about 150 W/m2, 295 to 400 nm",
        "material": "injection-moulded PC chips, 3.2 mm, 97 % PC and 3 % TiO2"
      },
      "source": "pickett2019",
      "where": "Abstract, section 3 (Results), section 3.2 Table 3"
    }
  ],
  "risks": {
    "hazards": [
      {
        "text": "Bisphenol A (CID 6623): PubChem aggregated GHS lists H317 (99.9 % of notifications), H318 (99.9 %), H335 (99.3 %), H360 (19.4 %), H361 (78 %) and H411 (12.2 %), with signal word Danger. This describes the monomer, not the polymer.",
        "ghs": [
          "H317",
          "H318",
          "H335",
          "H360",
          "H361",
          "H411"
        ],
        "source": "pubchem-bpa",
        "where": "Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification (aggregated, CID 6623)"
      },
      {
        "text": "Bisphenol A is described as a xenoestrogen that mimics the effects of estrogen in the body (Wikipedia, Bisphenol A). Read as a health concern for the monomer, not a hazard statement for the polymer.",
        "ghs": [],
        "source": "wikipedia-bpa",
        "where": "Introduction"
      },
      {
        "text": "No GHS classification or SDS for the bisphenol-A polycarbonate polymer was read in this run, so the polymer is not classed from its monomer alone.",
        "ghs": [],
        "source": "wikipedia-polycarbonate",
        "where": "Production section (no hazard data printed)"
      }
    ],
    "failure_risks": [
      {
        "mode": "UV yellowing of PC surfaces",
        "trigger": "Long exposure to UV light, as in an unshielded window or cover",
        "consequence": "The surface yellows and loses light transmission over time. The paper gives the activation energy for this change, not a rate for any specific service life.",
        "severity": "moderate",
        "source": "pickett2019",
        "where": "Abstract and section 3"
      }
    ],
    "side_effects": [],
    "handling": [
      {
        "text": "Use UV-stabilised grades for parts exposed to sunlight. The Covestro grade Makrolon 2207 MAS195 is described as UV-stabilised.",
        "source": "covestro-makrolon-2207",
        "where": "Product description on the Covestro Solutions page"
      }
    ],
    "mitigations": []
  },
  "uses": [
    {
      "application": "electronics-and-chips",
      "device": "Injection-moulded housings and covers",
      "example": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195 is a low-viscosity injection-moulding grade with easy release, available transparent, translucent and opaque.",
      "source": "covestro-makrolon-2207",
      "where": "Product description and datasheet tables"
    },
    {
      "application": "optics-and-cameras",
      "device": "Optical and light-transmitting parts",
      "example": "LEXAN VISUALFX FXE154 has 88 % light transmittance and a refractive index of 1.59; Makrolon 2656 has 89 % luminous transmittance.",
      "source": "mdc-lexan-fxe154",
      "where": "Product description and datasheet tables"
    },
    {
      "application": "electronics-and-chips",
      "device": "Electrical insulation",
      "example": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195 has a relative permittivity of 3.1 at 100 Hz.",
      "source": "covestro-makrolon-2207",
      "where": "Product description and datasheet tables"
    },
    {
      "application": "structures",
      "device": "Space exposure (flown test)",
      "example": "PC was one of the polymers on the MISSE 2 PEACE tray on the ISS from 2001 to 2005; the passport records its atomic-oxygen erosion yield.",
      "source": "ntrs-tm2008",
      "where": "Product description and datasheet tables"
    }
  ],
  "supply": [
    {
      "subject": "Bisphenol A (monomer for polycarbonate)",
      "producers": [],
      "critical_lists": [],
      "substitutes": [],
      "source": "wikipedia-bpa",
      "where": "Introduction and Production section"
    },
    {
      "subject": "Polycarbonate (bisphenol-A based)",
      "producers": [
        {
          "country": "Bayer"
        },
        {
          "country": "General Electric"
        }
      ],
      "critical_lists": [],
      "substitutes": [],
      "source": "wikipedia-polycarbonate",
      "where": "History and Production sections"
    }
  ],
  "media": [],
  "documents": [
    {
      "title": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195 product page, Covestro Solutions",
      "type": "datasheet",
      "url": "https://solutions.covestro.com/en/products/makrolon/makrolon-2207-mas195_000000000086918005"
    },
    {
      "title": "Makrolon 2656 properties, Material Data Center (Covestro)",
      "type": "database",
      "url": "https://www.materialdatacenter.com/ms/en/Makrolon/Covestro+Deutschland+AG/Makrolon®+2656/1a03032f/410"
    },
    {
      "title": "Makrolon 3207 properties, Material Data Center (Covestro)",
      "type": "database",
      "url": "https://www.materialdatacenter.com/ms/en/Makrolon/Covestro+Deutschland+AG/Makrolon®+3207/deeb0dbc/410"
    },
    {
      "title": "Makrolon 1260 properties, Material Data Center (Covestro)",
      "type": "database",
      "url": "https://materialdatacenter.com/ms/en/Makrolon/Covestro+Deutschland+AG/Makrolon®+1260/58c418f1/410"
    },
    {
      "title": "LEXAN VISUALFX FXE154 properties, Material Data Center (SABIC)",
      "type": "database",
      "url": "https://www.materialdatacenter.com/ms/en/Lexan/SABIC+Innovative+Plastics/LEXAN%E2%84%A2+VISUALFX%E2%84%A2+Resin+FXE154/91c6c687/1122"
    },
    {
      "title": "Ge et al., Structure and Properties of Bisphenol A Polycarbonate Exposed to Ultraviolet, Applied Mechanics and Materials 377 (2013)",
      "type": "paper",
      "url": "https://www.scientific.net/AMM.377.255",
      "year": 2013
    },
    {
      "title": "Pickett et al., Accelerated weathering parameters for some aromatic engineering thermoplastics, Polymer Degradation and Stability 166 (2019)",
      "type": "paper",
      "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7539635",
      "year": 2019
    },
    {
      "title": "Atomic Oxygen Erosion Yield Predictive Tool for Spacecraft Polymers in Low Earth Orbit, NASA/TM-2008-215490",
      "type": "report",
      "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20090011780",
      "year": 2008
    }
  ],
  "gaps": [
    "No PC-specific atomic-oxygen erosion yield was read from the NASA table. The 4.29e-24 cm3/atom value is taken from the MISSE 2 passport and is marked cited, not verified.",
    "No outgassing data (total mass loss, CVCM) for PC was found in an opened source. The NASA outgassing database did not return a PC entry in the search results.",
    "The PubChem and ECHA hazard record for polycarbonate returned a verification page, so no GHS hazard classification is recorded.",
    "The Pickett 2019 paper gives an activation energy and exposure conditions, not a yellowing rate, and the Ge 2013 paper's abstract gives only a depth of several micrometres with no numbers.",
    "The Quickparts Makrolon 2405 PDF and the Lexan 503R PDF were not readable, so their values are not recorded.",
    "No PC value for radiation dose, proton or electron damage, or cryogenic behaviour was found in an opened source.",
    "No current producer volumes or country shares for bisphenol-A polycarbonate were read. The supply section gives BPA production (about 10 million tonnes, 2022) and the Bayer and GE history only. No recycling data was read.",
    "CAS 25037-45-0 is not on any fetched page (PubChem name lookup for polycarbonate returned no CID; the Wikipedia infobox prints no CAS). It is not entered in identity.",
    "The repeat-unit formula C16H14O3 is derived from the printed structure and the PubChem BPA formula C15H16O2; no fetched page printed it. The 254.28 g/mol molar mass is computed from NIST interval midpoints."
  ],
  "story": {
    "why": "Polycarbonate is a tough, transparent thermoplastic. The Covestro injection-moulding grade Makrolon 2207 MAS195 has a density of 1190 kg/m3, a melt volume-flow rate of 34 cm3/10 min, a Vicat softening temperature of 143 °C and a tensile modulus of 2400 MPa. SABIC's LEXAN VISUALFX FXE154 transmits 88 % of light and has a refractive index of 1.59. These numbers make PC a practical choice for housings, covers and light-transmitting parts.",
    "uses": [
      {
        "where": "Housings and covers",
        "line": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195 is a UV-stabilised injection-moulding grade, available transparent, translucent and opaque."
      },
      {
        "where": "Optics",
        "line": "LEXAN VISUALFX FXE154 has a refractive index of 1.59 and 88 % light transmittance."
      },
      {
        "where": "Space test",
        "line": "PC flew on the MISSE 2 PEACE tray on the ISS from 2001 to 2005. The passport records its erosion yield, which is cited and not verified here."
      }
    ],
    "can_do": [
      {
        "label": "Be tough",
        "line": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195 absorbs 55 J in the ISO 6603-2 puncture test at 23 °C.",
        "benchmark": "impact_energy",
        "scope": "material",
        "value": "55 J puncture energy at 23 °C"
      },
      {
        "label": "Let light through",
        "line": "Makrolon 2656 transmits 89 % of luminous light, and LEXAN VISUALFX FXE154 transmits 88 %.",
        "benchmark": "light_transmittance",
        "scope": "material",
        "value": "89 % luminous transmittance"
      },
      {
        "label": "Stay stiff",
        "line": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195 has a tensile modulus of 2400 MPa and a flexural modulus of 2350 MPa.",
        "benchmark": "elastic_modulus",
        "scope": "material",
        "value": "2400 MPa tensile modulus"
      },
      {
        "label": "Stay solid when warm",
        "line": "Heat deflection temperature at 1.80 MPa is 123 °C, and the Vicat softening temperature is 143 °C.",
        "benchmark": "heat_deflection_temperature",
        "scope": "material",
        "value": "123 °C HDT at 1.80 MPa"
      }
    ],
    "compare": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195 has a density of 1190 kg/m3 and LEXAN VISUALFX FXE154 transmits 88 % of light. These are single grades from two makers, so read them as examples rather than a ranking against other polymers.",
    "compare_rows": [
      {
        "label": "Density",
        "benchmark": "density",
        "scope": "material"
      },
      {
        "label": "Light transmittance",
        "benchmark": "light_transmittance",
        "scope": "material"
      },
      {
        "label": "Vicat softening",
        "benchmark": "vicat_softening_temperature",
        "scope": "material"
      }
    ],
    "handling": [
      "Choose a UV-stabilised grade for sunlit parts, since PC yellows under UV."
    ],
    "good_for": [
      "Tough, transparent covers: 55 J puncture energy and 89 % luminous transmittance in the Covestro grades.",
      "Heat-resistant housings: 143 °C Vicat softening temperature for Makrolon 2207 MAS195.",
      "Electrical insulation: 3.1 relative permittivity at 100 Hz for Makrolon 2207 MAS195."
    ],
    "watch_out": [
      "UV yellowing: PC yellows in sunlight, with an activation energy of 21 kJ/mol for the change.",
      "Atomic oxygen: the MISSE 2 passport records an erosion yield of 4.29e-24 cm3/atom, cited and not verified here.",
      "Hazard data: no ECHA or PubChem classification was verified in this run."
    ],
    "verdict": "Polycarbonate is a tough, transparent, heat-resistant housing and optical polymer, with 89 % transmittance, 55 J puncture energy and 143 °C Vicat softening in the Covestro grades. It yellows under UV and erodes under atomic oxygen in orbit, so it needs a UV-stabilised grade and a space test before flight use.",
    "recipe": {
      "line": "Polycarbonate is made from bisphenol A (C15H16O2, PubChem CID 6623). The main route reacts bisphenol A with phosgene (COCl2) to give the polymer and sodium chloride (Wikipedia, Polycarbonate). An alternative melt route transesterifies bisphenol A with diphenyl carbonate and releases phenol (Wikipedia). The repeat unit is [OC(OC6H4)2CMe2]n, a carbonate linkage between bisphenol A units, and by atom count it is C16H14O3 (derived from the printed structure and the BPA formula; no fetched page printed this formula).",
      "parts": [
        {
          "name": "Bisphenol A",
          "symbol": "BPA",
          "role": "Diol monomer. Its two phenol groups link through carbonate groups.",
          "share_note": "atoms C15H16O2"
        },
        {
          "name": "Phosgene",
          "symbol": "COCl2",
          "role": "Carbonyl source in the interfacial route. Its byproduct is sodium chloride (Wikipedia net reaction).",
          "share_note": "atoms CCl2O"
        },
        {
          "name": "Carbon",
          "symbol": "C",
          "role": "Backbone of the repeat unit. Atomic weight is the midpoint of the NIST interval (see source nist-atomic-weights).",
          "atoms": 16,
          "atomic_weight": 12.0106
        },
        {
          "name": "Hydrogen",
          "symbol": "H",
          "role": "Methyl and aromatic hydrogens. Atomic weight is the midpoint of the NIST interval (see source nist-atomic-weights).",
          "atoms": 14,
          "atomic_weight": 1.00797
        },
        {
          "name": "Oxygen",
          "symbol": "O",
          "role": "Carbonate oxygens. Atomic weight is the midpoint of the NIST interval (see source nist-atomic-weights).",
          "atoms": 3,
          "atomic_weight": 15.9994
        }
      ]
    },
    "risk_groups": [
      {
        "title": "For people",
        "lead": "No hazard classification for polycarbonate was verified in this run, because the PubChem and ECHA pages were not readable.",
        "points": [
          {
            "label": "Polycarbonate as a material",
            "line": "The Covestro and SABIC grades read here are sold for injection moulding and optics. Their data sheets give no hazard statements, and no ECHA classification was read."
          }
        ],
        "level": 1,
        "verdict": "Not verified"
      },
      {
        "title": "If it fails",
        "lead": "The sources describe UV yellowing and atomic-oxygen erosion. Only the erosion value comes from a flight, and it is cited from the passport.",
        "points": [
          {
            "label": "UV yellowing",
            "line": "Pickett et al. give an activation energy of 21 kJ/mol for yellowing of PC under accelerated weathering, with most change in the top 25 µm."
          },
          {
            "label": "Atomic oxygen in orbit",
            "line": "The MISSE 2 passport records an erosion yield of 4.29e-24 cm3/atom after 3.95 years on the ISS, from a cited NASA table that was not opened here."
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Handling and storage",
        "points": [
          {
            "label": "Use the right grade",
            "line": "Choose a UV-stabilised grade such as Makrolon 2207 MAS195 for parts that see sunlight."
          }
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "updated": "2026-10-18",
  "review": {
    "status": "draft",
    "method": "assistant",
    "checked_values": 20,
    "unreachable": 3,
    "caveats": 4,
    "note": "Values were read by an AI assistant on 2026-10-18 from the pages named in each entry. Unreachable or unreadable: the Quickparts Makrolon 2405 PDF (binary), the NASA full-text PDF for Table I (binary), and PubChem (verification page). The MISSE 2 erosion yield is cited from the project passport and is not verified against the NASA table. The Makrolon 2656 and 3207 values are from Material Data Center, a reseller page of Covestro data, not the Covestro PDF."
  },
  "sources": {
    "covestro-makrolon-2207": {
      "title": "Makrolon 2207 MAS195, product page, Covestro Solutions",
      "url": "https://solutions.covestro.com/en/products/makrolon/makrolon-2207-mas195_000000000086918005",
      "kind": "datasheet",
      "license": "Manufacturer product page (cited, not reproduced)"
    },
    "mdc-makrolon-2656": {
      "title": "Makrolon 2656 properties, Material Data Center (Covestro grade data)",
      "url": "https://www.materialdatacenter.com/ms/en/Makrolon/Covestro+Deutschland+AG/Makrolon®+2656/1a03032f/410",
      "kind": "database",
      "license": "Material Data Center page (cited, not reproduced)"
    },
    "mdc-makrolon-3207": {
      "title": "Makrolon 3207 properties, Material Data Center (Covestro grade data)",
      "url": "https://www.materialdatacenter.com/ms/en/Makrolon/Covestro+Deutschland+AG/Makrolon®+3207/deeb0dbc/410",
      "kind": "database",
      "license": "Material Data Center page (cited, not reproduced)"
    },
    "mdc-makrolon-1260": {
      "title": "Makrolon 1260 properties, Material Data Center (Covestro grade data)",
      "url": "https://materialdatacenter.com/ms/en/Makrolon/Covestro+Deutschland+AG/Makrolon®+1260/58c418f1/410",
      "kind": "database",
      "license": "Material Data Center page (cited, not reproduced)"
    },
    "mdc-lexan-fxe154": {
      "title": "LEXAN VISUALFX FXE154 properties, Material Data Center (SABIC grade data)",
      "url": "https://www.materialdatacenter.com/ms/en/Lexan/SABIC+Innovative+Plastics/LEXAN%E2%84%A2+VISUALFX%E2%84%A2+Resin+FXE154/91c6c687/1122",
      "kind": "database",
      "license": "Material Data Center page (cited, not reproduced)"
    },
    "pickett2019": {
      "title": "Pickett et al., Accelerated weathering parameters for some aromatic engineering thermoplastics, Polymer Degradation and Stability 166 (2019)",
      "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7539635",
      "year": 2019,
      "kind": "paper",
      "license": "Open-access article (cited, not reproduced)"
    },
    "ntrs-tm2008": {
      "title": "Atomic Oxygen Erosion Yield Predictive Tool for Spacecraft Polymers in Low Earth Orbit (Banks, Backus, de Groh), NASA/TM-2008-215490",
      "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20090011780",
      "year": 2008,
      "kind": "report",
      "license": "public domain (NASA)"
    },
    "pubchem-bpa": {
      "title": "PubChem CID 6623, Bisphenol A: GHS Classification (aggregated)",
      "url": "https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6623",
      "year": 2026,
      "kind": "database",
      "license": "public domain (NIH PubChem)"
    },
    "wikipedia-bpa": {
      "title": "Bisphenol A, Wikipedia (production volume, molar mass, xenoestrogen statement)",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A",
      "year": 2026,
      "kind": "web",
      "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0"
    },
    "wikipedia-polycarbonate": {
      "title": "Polycarbonate, Wikipedia (repeat unit, production routes, volume, producers)",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycarbonate",
      "year": 2026,
      "kind": "web",
      "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0"
    },
    "nist-atomic-weights": {
      "title": "NIST, Atomic Weights and Isotopic Compositions for All Elements (C, H, O): C [12.0096, 12.0116], H [1.00784, 1.00811], O [15.99903, 15.99977]",
      "url": "https://physics.nist.gov/cgi-bin/Compositions/stand_alone.pl?ele=C&all=all&ascii=html",
      "year": 2026,
      "kind": "database",
      "license": "public domain (NIST)"
    }
  },
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "url": "https://spacemushroom.com/profiles/polycarbonate/"
}