Why Does 100% Virgin Resin Make a Difference in a Polycarbonate Sheet?

When a customer purchases a polycarbonate sheet, they expect transparency, impact resistance, and a long service life. These characteristics do not depend solely on the product design, but also on the quality of the raw material. Polycarbonate is an engineering plastic developed to provide an optimal balance between optical and mechanical properties. To maintain this performance, it is essential to use 100% virgin resin and to ensure that the manufacturing process is carried out under strict quality controls.

What happens when PET or other incompatible polymers are incorporated?

Polycarbonate and PET have different chemical structures and exhibit different behaviors during processing. Scientific literature indicates that when both materials are incorporated into formulations that were not specifically designed for this purpose, changes may occur in the material's microstructure that affect its optical and mechanical properties. The main reported consequences are described below.

1. Reduced Transparency

One of the most valued properties of polycarbonate is its high light transmission. The incorporation of PET can create heterogeneities that scatter light and reduce the sheet's crystal-clear appearance. The result may be a product with lower visual clarity, especially noticeable in architectural applications, skylights, and greenhouses.

2. Increased Haze

Haze refers to the scattering of light as it passes through a transparent material. An increase in haze produces a more opaque or milky appearance. Although the sheet may still allow light to pass through, its visual quality is diminished and image sharpness is reduced.

3. Reduced Impact Resistance

Polycarbonate is recognized for its exceptional impact resistance. When areas of differing composition exist within the material, they can become stress concentration points, promoting crack initiation and reducing the material's ability to absorb impacts during transportation, installation, and throughout its service life.

4. Higher Risk of Cracking During Installation

Drilling, cutting, fastening, and thermal expansion generate localized stresses. A non-homogeneous formulation can increase susceptibility to cracking around screws or drilled holes, reducing the reliability of the installed system.

5. Surface Defects

Streaks, specks, gloss variations, flow lines, and other surface irregularities may also occur, negatively affecting the product's aesthetic appearance and perceived quality.

6. Lower Processing Stability

Differences between the two polymers can make the extrusion process more difficult to control and lead to greater batch-to-batch variability, affecting dimensional and optical consistency.

7. Less Predictable Long-Term Performance

A non-homogeneous formulation may exhibit less stable behavior when exposed to prolonged UV radiation, moisture, and temperature fluctuations, impacting the consistency of the expected performance throughout the product's service life.

Klar's Commitment

At Klar, we believe that quality begins with the selection of raw materials. That is why our sheets are manufactured exclusively using 100% virgin polycarbonate resin and in accordance with strict international quality control and assurance standards. Every production batch undergoes verification of optical properties, dimensional stability, and mechanical performance to deliver a consistent and reliable product.

This commitment allows us to back our sheets with a 10-year factory warranty, provided that installation and usage recommendations are followed.