PC-Optical
PC-Optical is a high-purity, low-birefringence polycarbonate resin supplied to the ASTM D3935 optical grade family, with high-flow (HF), high-molecular-weight (HMW), UV, medical and light-diffusing (LD) conditions on file.
Reference datasheet — PC-Optical 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.
PC-Optical grades and fills
PC-Optical 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Light-diffusing optical grade | Use when LED sources must be hidden and light homogenized; diffusing particles trade total transmittance for near-zero hot-spot visibility. | 62 | 64 | 80 | 82 Shore D |
High-molecular-weight / ophthalmic lens grade | Use for eyewear and safety lenses / thick glazing where impact resistance and drill-tap durability matter more than flow length. | 63 | 68 | 130 | 83 Shore D |
High-flow optical grade (MVR ≈ 60–80), thin lenses / disc substrate | Pick for very thin or long-flow optics (optical discs, micro lens arrays) where minimum orientation birefringence outranks impact strength. | 64 | 65 | 60 | 83 Shore D |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways PC-Optical 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 / biocompatible optical grade | Certification |
OPTDefault | Standard optical lens grade | Grade option |
UV | UV-stabilized optical grade | Grade option |
What is PC-Optical?
PC-Optical is a high-purity, low-birefringence polycarbonate resin supplied to the ASTM D3935 optical grade family, with high-flow (HF), high-molecular-weight (HMW), UV, medical and light-diffusing (LD) conditions on file. It offers 67 MPa tensile strength, 115 % elongation and 120 °C maximum service temperature together with high transmittance and low stress optical distortion, making it the standard resin for injection-molded lenses, light guides and discs that must survive impact. Surface hardness is low so hard coating is normally required, it yellows without UV stabilization, and it has higher birefringence than PMMA or cyclic olefin polymers, which are the alternatives for the most demanding imaging optics. PC-Optical has a density of 1.2 g/cm³ (0.0434 lb/in³), heavier than 57% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 147°C (297 °F). PC-Optical has a yield strength of 63 MPa (9.14 ksi) and a tensile strength of 67 MPa (9.72 ksi) — stronger than 74% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 115% and the elastic modulus is 2.4 GPa (0.341 Msi).
What is PC-Optical used for?
- eyewear lenses
- optical discs
- LED lenses
- camera lens elements
- light guides
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 90/100, better than 96% of polymer grades
- Readily welded — 75/100, better than 82% of polymer grades
PC-Optical properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical6
PC-Optical has a density of 1.2 g/cm³ (0.0434 lb/in³), heavier than 57% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 147°C (297 °F).
Mechanical17
PC-Optical has a yield strength of 63 MPa (9.14 ksi) and a tensile strength of 67 MPa (9.72 ksi) — stronger than 74% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 115% and the elastic modulus is 2.4 GPa (0.341 Msi).
Thermal11
PC-Optical is rated for continuous service to 120°C (248 °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 67 µm/m·K (37.2 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
PC-Optical is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 30 kV/mm (762 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹⁴ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (75/100), worse than 66% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of PC-Optical takes about 108 MJ of energy and emits 6.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 61% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability8
PC-Optical's machinability is good (62/100, better than 60% of polymer grades); weldability very good (75/100); formability very good (70/100).
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-Optical is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with PC-Optical
Is PC-Optical easy to machine?
Machines and drills readily with sharp, high-rake carbide tools and air blast; avoid coolants containing amines or aromatics and anneal (120 °C) before and after cutting to prevent stress crazing.
Can PC-Optical be welded?
Joined by ultrasonic, hot-plate, laser transmission or solvent (methylene chloride) bonding; solvent bonding must be done on annealed parts to avoid crazing in the optical zone.
Can PC-Optical be formed, bent or molded?
Dry 4 h at 120 °C to <0.02 % moisture; inject at 280–320 °C melt with mold at 100–130 °C, slow fill and high hold pressure to minimize orientation birefringence — variotherm/rapid heat-cool tooling is standard for precision lenses.
PC-Optical 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 |
|---|---|---|
| mold release / processing aidpentaerythritol tetrastearate or similar, kept low to avoid plate-out on lens tooling | 0.02 – 0.3 | 0.1 |
| heat/process stabilizer (phosphite)controls yellowness index during high-temperature molding | 0.01 – 0.1 | 0.05 |
| UV absorberonly in UV-stabilized variant | 0 – 0.5 | 0 |
| bisphenol-A polycarbonate (BPA-PC)linear aromatic polycarbonate from BPA + phosgene or melt transesterification with DPC; high-purity, low-ionic optical resin | ≥ 99.5 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on PC-Optical?
Diamond-turned or high-polish steel tooling reproduces optical surfaces directly; parts are usually hard-coated (siloxane) or AR-coated for scratch and UV protection, and can be vacuum metallized for reflectors.
How much does PC-Optical cost?
PC-Optical 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-Optical — frequently asked
What is PC-Optical used for?
PC-Optical is typically used for eyewear lenses, optical discs, LED lenses, camera lens elements and light guides. In short: lowest-birefringence PC grade; impact-resistant optical resin; needs hard coat.
What is the yield strength of PC-Optical?
PC-Optical has a typical yield strength of 63 MPa (9.14 ksi) and a tensile strength of 67 MPa (9.72 ksi) — stronger than 74% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is PC-Optical easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (62/100, better than 60% of polymer grades). Machines and drills readily with sharp, high-rake carbide tools and air blast; avoid coolants containing amines or aromatics and anneal (120 °C) before and after cutting to prevent stress crazing.
Can PC-Optical be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (75/100). Joined by ultrasonic, hot-plate, laser transmission or solvent (methylene chloride) bonding; solvent bonding must be done on annealed parts to avoid crazing in the optical zone.
What surface finishes work on PC-Optical?
Diamond-turned or high-polish steel tooling reproduces optical surfaces directly; parts are usually hard-coated (siloxane) or AR-coated for scratch and UV protection, and can be vacuum metallized for reflectors.
Can PC-Optical be formed, bent or molded?
Dry 4 h at 120 °C to <0.02 % moisture; inject at 280–320 °C melt with mold at 100–130 °C, slow fill and high hold pressure to minimize orientation birefringence — variotherm/rapid heat-cool tooling is standard for precision lenses.
What is the maximum service temperature of PC-Optical?
PC-Optical is rated for continuous use to about 120°C (248 °F), and briefly to 140°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does PC-Optical cost?
PC-Optical 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
- ASTM D3935 — Standard Classification System for Polycarbonate (PC) Molding and Extrusion Materials — ASTM International (2017)
- ISO 7391-1/-2 — Plastics: Polycarbonate (PC) moulding and extrusion materials — ISO (2006)
- Makrolon optical and LED grades (LQ/OD/LED series) product information — Covestro (2023)
- Panlite optical polycarbonate grade data — Teijin Limited (2022)
- Iupilon optical / disc grade polycarbonate data sheets — Mitsubishi Engineering-Plastics (2022)
- CAMPUS plastics database — polycarbonate unfilled grades — CWFG/CAMPUS consortium (2023)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol.2: Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
- GB/T 26538 — (PC) (2011)
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.