COC
also TOPAS, Zeonor
COC is an amorphous cyclic olefin copolymer (TOPAS, Zeonor, Apel) in which a bulky cyclic comonomer raises stiffness and pushes the glass transition to 138 °C.
Reference datasheet — COC is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
COC grades and fills
COC is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 3 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Impact-modified / elastomer-blend COC | Elastomer- or COC-elastomer-blended compounds for tougher packaging film and parts that must survive drop impact, at the cost of clarity and stiffness. | 35 | 40 | 60 | 72 Shore D |
Low-Tg / film & blend grade | Pick for blown/cast film, shrink film and PE/PP blends where stiffness and moisture barrier are wanted at low processing temperature. | 55 | 10 | ||
High-heat grade | Use where parts must survive steam autoclave, reflow-adjacent or hot-fill service while staying optically clear. | 66 | 3 |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways COC is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
MED | Medical / USP Class VI, ISO 10993 grade | Certification |
OPT | Optical grade | Grade option |
NATDefault | Unfilled / natural injection-moulding grade | Standard supply |
What is COC?
COC is an amorphous cyclic olefin copolymer (TOPAS, Zeonor, Apel) in which a bulky cyclic comonomer raises stiffness and pushes the glass transition to 138 °C. It is chosen for glass-like clarity, very low moisture absorption and a 3.1 GPa modulus, and is supplied as moulding pellets, extruded film and sheet for service to 110 °C. The trade-off is brittleness — 63 MPa tensile at 5 % elongation — with notch sensitivity and attack by aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons. The non-polar surface needs plasma or corona treatment before printing or bonding; PMMA is the nearest optical alternative. COC has a density of 1.02 g/cm³ (0.0368 lb/in³), lighter than 72% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 138°C (280 °F). COC has a yield strength of 60 MPa (8.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 63 MPa (9.14 ksi) — stronger than 69% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 5% and the elastic modulus is 3.1 GPa (0.45 Msi).
What is COC used for?
- blister packaging
- microfluidic diagnostic chips
- optical lenses
- vials/syringes
- food packaging films
Advantages
- Low moisture uptake — 0.01%, better than 97% of polymer grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 85/100, better than 92% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Poor heat conductor — 0.15 W/m·K (0.0867 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 80% of polymer grades
COC properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical6
COC has a density of 1.02 g/cm³ (0.0368 lb/in³), lighter than 72% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 138°C (280 °F).
Mechanical9
COC has a yield strength of 60 MPa (8.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 63 MPa (9.14 ksi) — stronger than 69% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 5% and the elastic modulus is 3.1 GPa (0.45 Msi).
Thermal11
COC is rated for continuous service to 110°C (230 °F). It conducts heat at 0.15 W/m·K (0.0867 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 80% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 65 µm/m·K (36.1 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
COC is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 45 kV/mm (1,143 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹⁴ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (88/100), better than 74% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of COC takes about 110 MJ of energy and emits 4.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 64% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability8
COC's machinability is good (60/100, better than 51% of polymer grades); weldability fair (50/100); formability good (55/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the polymer family
Yield strength against density for every polymer grade FabDigit runs. COC is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with COC
Is COC easy to machine?
Machines cleanly with sharp single-flute or polished carbide tools and air cooling, but it is notch-sensitive — avoid sharp internal corners and aggressive feeds to prevent crazing/chipping; use no aromatic coolants.
Can COC be welded?
Joins well by laser transmission, ultrasonic, hot-plate and heat sealing; solvent bonding is limited to cyclohexane/decalin-type solvents, and adhesives need surface activation (plasma/corona) because of the non-polar surface.
Can COC be formed, bent or molded?
Injection moulds like a stiff amorphous resin: dry 2–4 h at 80–100 °C, melt 240–300 °C, mould 80–140 °C, shrinkage 0.4–0.7 %; low-Tg grades extrude into film and thermoform readily.
COC chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| norbornene (bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene) uncomonomer content sets Tg; higher norbornene = higher Tg | 20 – 60 | 45 |
| stabilizers/antioxidantstrace phenolic/phosphite package | ≈ 0.2 | 0.2 |
| ethylene unitsmetallocene-catalysed ethylene-norbornene copolymer (COC); COP grades are hydrogenated ring-opened norbornene homopolymer | balance |
What surface finishes work on COC?
Reproduces polished tool surfaces to optical quality with no post-polish needed; printing, painting or metallising requires corona/plasma pretreatment, and UV-stable topcoats are advised for outdoor use.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to COC in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- TOPASZeonorApel
How much does COC cost?
COC is a high-cost polymer ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
COC — frequently asked
What is COC used for?
COC is typically used for blister packaging, microfluidic diagnostic chips, optical lenses, vials/syringes and food packaging films. In short: glass-clear mouldable polyolefin; very low moisture absorption; brittle and notch-sensitive.
What is the yield strength of COC?
COC has a typical yield strength of 60 MPa (8.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 63 MPa (9.14 ksi) — stronger than 69% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is COC easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (60/100, better than 51% of polymer grades). Machines cleanly with sharp single-flute or polished carbide tools and air cooling, but it is notch-sensitive — avoid sharp internal corners and aggressive feeds to prevent crazing/chipping; use no aromatic coolants.
Can COC be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (50/100). Joins well by laser transmission, ultrasonic, hot-plate and heat sealing; solvent bonding is limited to cyclohexane/decalin-type solvents, and adhesives need surface activation (plasma/corona) because of the non-polar surface.
What surface finishes work on COC?
Reproduces polished tool surfaces to optical quality with no post-polish needed; printing, painting or metallising requires corona/plasma pretreatment, and UV-stable topcoats are advised for outdoor use.
Can COC be formed, bent or molded?
Injection moulds like a stiff amorphous resin: dry 2–4 h at 80–100 °C, melt 240–300 °C, mould 80–140 °C, shrinkage 0.4–0.7 %; low-Tg grades extrude into film and thermoform readily.
What is the maximum service temperature of COC?
COC is rated for continuous use to about 110°C (230 °F), and briefly to 130°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does COC cost?
COC is a high-cost polymer ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- TOPAS COC grade datasheets (8007, 5013, 6013, 6015, 6017) and processing guide — TOPAS Advanced Polymers / Polyplastics (2023)
- ZEONEX / ZEONOR cyclo olefin polymer product data — Zeon Corporation (2023)
- APEL cyclo olefin copolymer product information — Mitsui Chemicals (2022)
- CAMPUS plastics ISO 10350 datasets for COC — CAMPUS / CWFG (2023)
- ISO 527, ISO 178, ISO 180, ISO 75, ISO 306 test methods — ISO (2019)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.