# PC

Polycarbonate (PC) is a high-performance thermoplastic revered for its exceptional strength, heat resistance, and optical clarity. Often used in bulletproof glass and aerospace components, PC brings industrial-grade durability to 3D printing. While challenging to print, its unique properties make it indispensable for functional prototypes, automotive parts, and translucent applications requiring resilience.

<figure><img src="/files/BaCcNhWIIY6GkEUFhssD" alt=""><figcaption><p>Polymaker's PolyLite™ PC</p></figcaption></figure>

### **What Is Polycarbonate?**

Polycarbonate is a transparent thermoplastic with high heat resistance and very high impact resistance, capable of withstanding forces that shatter glass or acrylic. Its key attributes include:

* **High Tensile Strength**: Comparable to concrete, with a tensile strength of **70–75 MPa**.
* **Heat Resistance**: Maintains structural integrity up to **150°C** (glass transition temperature) and heat deflection temperatures exceeding **115°C**.
* **Optical Clarity**: Transmits light effectively, ideal for lenses, light guides, and transparent housings.
* **Chemical Resistance**: Withstands oils, solvents, and fuels, suitable for industrial environments.

### **Printing with Polycarbonate: Challenges and Solutions**

PC’s demanding nature requires precise calibration and hardware modifications.

### **Optimal Settings**

* **Nozzle Temperature**: 260–310°C (start at 265°C for standard PC, increase for composites).
* **Print Speed**: 30–60 mm/s (slower speeds enhance layer adhesion).
* **Retraction**: 1–2 mm at 20–30 mm/s to minimize stringing.
* **Cooling Fan**: 0% (excessive cooling causes warping).

### **Material Preparation**

* **Drying**: Preheat filament at **70–80°C for 6–8 hours** to remove moisture (PC is highly hygroscopic).
* **Storage**: Keep in airtight containers with desiccant to prevent reabsorption.

### **Common Challenges**

* **Warping**: Mitigated by enclosed printers, heated beds, and slow first-layer speeds.
* **Stringing/Oozing**: Fine-tune retraction and enable coasting in slicer settings.
* **Layer Adhesion**: Higher nozzle temperatures, larger diameter nozzles, high chamber temperatures, and slower speeds improve bonding.

### **Advantages of Polycarbonate**

1. **Impact Resistance**: Survives collisions and drops better than ABS, PETG, or PLA.
2. **Thermal Stability**: Withstands high-temperature environments (e.g., under-hood automotive parts).
3. **Optical Clarity**: Retains transparency post-printing, suitable for light diffusers or medical devices.
4. **Chemical Durability**: Resists degradation from oils, alcohols, and weak acids.
5. **Electrical Insulation**: Ideal for non-conductive housings in electronics.

### **Limitations of Polycarbonate**

1. **Print Complexity**: Requires high-temperature hardware and enclosed printers.
2. **UV Sensitivity**: Degrades under prolonged sunlight unless coated.
3. **Hygroscopic Behavior**: Absorbs moisture rapidly, necessitating dry storage.
4. **Post-Processing**: Difficult to sand or smooth; machining or vapor polishing required.

### **Applications of Polycarbonate**

* **Automotive**: Headlight housings, dash components, and engine bay fixtures.
* **Electronics**: Transparent enclosures, connectors, and insulating components.
* **Medical**: Surgical guides, sterilization-resistant tools, and imaging devices.
* **Industrial**: Jigs, fixtures, and machinery parts exposed to heat or chemicals.
* **Consumer Goods**: Durable phone cases, protective gear, and high-stress toys.

### **Reinforced Polycarbonate Variants**

1. **PC-ABS Blends**: Combine PC’s strength with ABS’s.
2. **PC-CF (Carbon Fiber)**: Enhances stiffness and heat resistance for aerospace and automotive uses.
3. **PC-ISO (Medical Grade)**: Biocompatible and sterilizable for healthcare applications.

### Requirements to Print PC

This can vary drastically depending on the type of nylon and the manufacturer requirements.  Generally speaking though - you should have:

* **Nozzle**: All-metal hotend capable of **260–310°C** (higher temps improve layer bonding).
* **Bed**: Heated to **90–120°C** with PEI, BuildTak, or adhesive-coated glass for adhesion.  Magigoo PC recommended.
* **Enclosure**: Maintains ambient temperatures of **60–70°C** to prevent warping and delamination.  Some polycarbonate formulas require up to 90°C chamber temps, something impossible for most consumer grade printers.


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