PC/ASA
PC/ASA is a weatherable blend of polycarbonate with acrylonitrile styrene acrylate, combining the UV and outdoor colour stability of ASA with the toughness and rigidity of PC.
Reference datasheet — PC/ASA 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.
Values for the UNF condition
PC/ASA grades and fills
PC/ASA is supplied in 10 conditions, soft to hard. UNF is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 10 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Impact-modified / low-temperature toughness grade | Choose for outdoor housings and automotive exterior trim that must keep high notched impact below -30 °C, trading tensile strength down to 48 MPa. | 46 | 48 | 110 | 76 Shore D |
Low-gloss / matte grade | Pick for paint-free matte parts such as grilles, mirror housings and outdoor panels to reduce glare and scratch visibility; elongation drops to 45%. | 49 | 50 | 45 | 78 Shore D |
Post-consumer recycled content grade | Choose when 20-50% post-consumer recycled content is required for sustainability targets, accepting 52 MPa tensile, 55% elongation and a limited color range. | 51 | 52 | 55 | 79 Shore D |
Flame-retardant, UL 94 V-0 | Specify for electrical enclosures, EV chargers and PV junction boxes requiring UL 94 V-0 and high CTI; the flame-retardant package cuts elongation to 50%. | 52 | 52 | 50 | 80 Shore D |
Mineral / talc filled | Use for large cosmetic panels needing low warpage, isotropic shrinkage and a paint- or plating-ready substrate; talc filling holds 52 MPa with 20% elongation. | 52 | 52 | 20 | 82 Shore D |
UNFDefault Unfilled / Natural | Pick as the default for general outdoor housings: unfilled and colorable, with a balance of toughness, stiffness and weather resistance at 55 MPa and 80% elongation. | 54 | 55 | 80 | 80 Shore D |
High-heat grade | Specify near heat sources or when higher HDT/Vicat is needed up to 105 °C service; the PC-rich composition raises strength to 60 MPa but needs hotter processing. | 59 | 60 | 90 | 81 Shore D |
10% glass-fiber reinforced | Use when a modest gain in stiffness and dimensional stability is enough - 3.5 GPa modulus at 70 MPa - while keeping usable ductility and surface appearance. | 68 | 70 | 5 | 84 Shore D |
20% glass-fiber reinforced | Choose for structural brackets: 20% glass raises modulus to 5.2 GPa and heat distortion temperature, but impact toughness drops and elongation falls to 3.5%. | 85 | 3.5 | ||
30% glass-fiber reinforced | Pick for the stiffest, most dimensionally stable structural parts and metal replacement at 100 MPa and 7.3 GPa, accepting 3% elongation and low impact toughness. | 100 | 3 |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways PC/ASA is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
EXT | Extrusion / sheet grade | Supply form |
UV | UV-stabilized / High-weatherability grade | Grade option |
What is PC/ASA?
PC/ASA is a weatherable blend of polycarbonate with acrylonitrile styrene acrylate, combining the UV and outdoor colour stability of ASA with the toughness and rigidity of PC. The unfilled reference condition has 1.15 g/cm³ density, 55 MPa tensile strength and 80 % elongation, and grades on file cover UV, FR, GF10–GF30, mineral-filled, high-heat, impact-modified, laser-gloss, extrusion and PCR versions for molded housings and extruded sheet. It is opaque, less chemically resistant than PC/PBT, and cannot be joined with strong solvent cements; PC/ABS is the lower-cost alternative where the part is not exposed to sunlight. PC/ASA has a density of 1.15 g/cm³ (0.0415 lb/in³), lighter than 57% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 120°C (248 °F). PC/ASA has a yield strength of 54 MPa (7.83 ksi) and a tensile strength of 55 MPa (7.98 ksi) — stronger than 60% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 80% and the elastic modulus is 2.3 GPa (0.334 Msi).
What is PC/ASA used for?
- outdoor enclosures
- recreational vehicle parts
- garden equipment housings
- signage
Advantages
- Good UV / weathering resistance — 88/100, better than 90% of polymer grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 77% of polymer grades
PC/ASA properties
Typical room-temperature values for PC/ASA-UNF; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical4
PC/ASA has a density of 1.15 g/cm³ (0.0415 lb/in³), lighter than 57% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 120°C (248 °F).
Mechanical14
PC/ASA has a yield strength of 54 MPa (7.83 ksi) and a tensile strength of 55 MPa (7.98 ksi) — stronger than 60% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 80% and the elastic modulus is 2.3 GPa (0.334 Msi).
Thermal11
PC/ASA is rated for continuous service to 95°C (203 °F). It conducts heat at 0.2 W/m·K (0.116 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 56% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 80 µm/m·K (44.4 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
PC/ASA is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 28 kV/mm (711.2 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹⁴ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (80/100), worse than 52% of polymer grades. UV resistance is excellent.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of PC/ASA takes about 105 MJ of energy and emits 5.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 54% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability8
PC/ASA's machinability is good (60/100, better than 51% of polymer grades); weldability good (55/100); 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. PC/ASA is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with PC/ASA
Is PC/ASA easy to machine?
Mill and drill with sharp carbide tools at high speed and low feed, using air cooling to prevent melt smearing. Keep cutting fluid out of stressed areas to avoid stress cracking, and anneal at 80–100 °C after machining to relieve internal stress.
Can PC/ASA be welded?
Ultrasonic, vibration-friction, hot-plate and laser welding all perform well, and the blend can be welded to PC and PC/ABS. Metal fusion welding does not apply; for bonding use polyurethane or epoxy adhesives rather than strong solvent types.
Can PC/ASA be formed, bent or molded?
Dry 3–4 h at 80–100 °C to below 0.02 % moisture, then mold at 240–280 °C melt and 55–90 °C tool with draft of at least 1° and no sharp corners in thick sections to limit internal stress. Sheet can be thermoformed at 160–180 °C.
PC/ASA 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 |
|---|---|---|
| polycarbonate (PC)bisphenol-A PC continuous phase; stiffness and heat resistance | 45 – 75 | 60 |
| ASA (acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate)acrylate rubber grafted SAN; weatherability and toughening | 25 – 55 | 38 |
| compatibilizer / additivescompatibilizer, antioxidant, HALS/UV absorber, release agent, pigment | 0.5 – 4 | 2 |
| glass fiberreinforced grades only, 10-30% | ≈ 0 | 0 |
What surface finishes work on PC/ASA?
High-gloss or textured surfaces can be produced directly in the mold; the material also accepts spray paint (use a low-solvent primer), vacuum aluminizing, screen printing and laser marking. No additional weathering coating is required for long-term outdoor service.
How much does PC/ASA cost?
PC/ASA is a premium-cost polymer ($$$), cheaper than about 51% 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.
PC/ASA — frequently asked
What is PC/ASA used for?
PC/ASA is typically used for outdoor enclosures, recreational vehicle parts, garden equipment housings and signage. In short: weatherable unpainted PC blend; no topcoat needed outdoors; tougher than plain ASA.
What is the yield strength of PC/ASA?
PC/ASA has a typical yield strength of 54 MPa (7.83 ksi) and a tensile strength of 55 MPa (7.98 ksi) — stronger than 60% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 10 listed tempers.
Is PC/ASA easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (60/100, better than 51% of polymer grades). Mill and drill with sharp carbide tools at high speed and low feed, using air cooling to prevent melt smearing. Keep cutting fluid out of stressed areas to avoid stress cracking, and anneal at 80–100 °C after machining to relieve internal stress.
Can PC/ASA be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (55/100). Ultrasonic, vibration-friction, hot-plate and laser welding all perform well, and the blend can be welded to PC and PC/ABS. Metal fusion welding does not apply; for bonding use polyurethane or epoxy adhesives rather than strong solvent types.
What surface finishes work on PC/ASA?
High-gloss or textured surfaces can be produced directly in the mold; the material also accepts spray paint (use a low-solvent primer), vacuum aluminizing, screen printing and laser marking. No additional weathering coating is required for long-term outdoor service.
Can PC/ASA be formed, bent or molded?
Dry 3–4 h at 80–100 °C to below 0.02 % moisture, then mold at 240–280 °C melt and 55–90 °C tool with draft of at least 1° and no sharp corners in thick sections to limit internal stress. Sheet can be thermoformed at 160–180 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of PC/ASA?
PC/ASA is rated for continuous use to about 95°C (203 °F), and briefly to 120°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between PC/ASA UNF and PC/ASA GF10?
UNF is the default condition — pick as the default for general outdoor housings: unfilled and colorable, with a balance of toughness, stiffness and weather resistance at 55 MPa and 80% elongation. GF10: use when a modest gain in stiffness and dimensional stability is enough - 3.5 GPa modulus at 70 MPa - while keeping usable ductility and surface appearance. Yield strength is 54 MPa in UNF versus 68 MPa in GF10.
How much does PC/ASA cost?
PC/ASA is a premium-cost polymer ($$$), cheaper than about 51% 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
- Geloy / Cycoloy weatherable PC blend product data — SABIC (2023)
- Bayblend / Makroblend PC blend technical information — Covestro (2023)
- Terblend S (ASA/PC) product line data — INEOS Styrolution (2022)
- CAMPUS plastics database — PC+ASA ISO datasets — CWFG / CAMPUS (2024)
- ISO 527 / ISO 178 / ISO 75 / ISO 306 test methods — ISO (2019)
- UL 94 Tests for Flammability of Plastic Materials — UL (2020)
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.