PCTA
PCTA is an amorphous copolyester modified with additional diacid comonomers to improve clarity, impact strength and processability, offered as natural, injection-molding, UV-stabilized, flame-retardant and medical grades.
Reference datasheet — PCTA 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.
PCTA grades and fills
PCTA is supplied in 2 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 2 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Impact-modified / high-impact copolyester | Pick when low-temperature drop impact or thick-section ductility matters more than absolute clarity. | 40 | 44 | 320 | 73 Shore D |
Flame-retardant grade | For transit interiors, electrical enclosures and appliance panels needing a UL 94 V rating. | 46 | 47 | 100 | 79 Shore D |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways PCTA 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 / food-contact grade | Certification |
UV | UV-stabilized / weatherable sheet grade | Grade option |
NATDefault | Unfilled / Natural | Standard supply |
What is PCTA?
PCTA is an amorphous copolyester modified with additional diacid comonomers to improve clarity, impact strength and processability, offered as natural, injection-molding, UV-stabilized, flame-retardant and medical grades. It is used mainly in extruded clear sheet and film, plus tubing and packaging, and provides 50 MPa tensile strength with 250% elongation. Service temperature is limited by the amorphous structure, and ketone solvents such as acetone or MEK cause stress cracking; PETG and PCTG are the nearest alternatives. PCTA has a density of 1.2 g/cm³ (0.0434 lb/in³), heavier than 57% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 88°C (190 °F). PCTA has a yield strength of 49 MPa (7.11 ksi) and a tensile strength of 50 MPa (7.25 ksi) — weaker than 51% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 250% and the elastic modulus is 2 GPa (0.29 Msi).
What is PCTA used for?
- extruded clear sheet
- blister packaging
- medical tubing
- signage
Advantages
- Forms and bends easily — 90/100, better than 91% of polymer grades
- Readily welded — 85/100, better than 89% of polymer grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 80/100, better than 89% of polymer grades
- Low, predictable mold shrinkage — 0.35%, better than 86% of polymer grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 250%, better than 79% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 65°C (149 °F), worse than 83% of polymer grades
PCTA properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical6
PCTA has a density of 1.2 g/cm³ (0.0434 lb/in³), heavier than 57% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 88°C (190 °F).
Mechanical15
PCTA has a yield strength of 49 MPa (7.11 ksi) and a tensile strength of 50 MPa (7.25 ksi) — weaker than 51% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 250% and the elastic modulus is 2 GPa (0.29 Msi).
Thermal11
PCTA is rated for continuous service to 65°C (149 °F). It conducts heat at 0.19 W/m·K (0.11 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 68% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 68 µm/m·K (37.8 µin/in·°F).
Electrical6
PCTA is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 18 kV/mm (457.2 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹⁴ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (72/100), worse than 70% of polymer grades. UV resistance is fair.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of PCTA takes about 86 MJ of energy and emits 4.1 kg of CO₂ — less than 77% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability7
PCTA's machinability is good (62/100, better than 60% of polymer grades); weldability excellent (85/100); formability excellent (90/100).
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. PCTA is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with PCTA
Is PCTA easy to machine?
Machines like PETG — sharp positive-rake tools, high speed with low feed, air or mist cooling; avoid heat build-up that softens the cut edge and causes crazing.
Can PCTA be welded?
Excellent ultrasonic, hot-plate, vibration and RF welding; solvent/adhesive bonding with methylene-chloride-free cyanoacrylates or UV-cure acrylics — avoid ketone solvents that stress-crack.
Can PCTA be formed, bent or molded?
Dry 4–6 h at 65–70 °C to <0.04 % moisture; melt 240–270 °C, mold 10–40 °C, wide thermoforming window with low forming force and minimal sag.
PCTA 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 |
|---|---|---|
| terephthalic acid (diacid unit)mol% of the diacid fraction | 65 – 95 | 85 |
| isophthalic acid (comonomer)acid-modifier that suppresses crystallinity | 5 – 35 | 15 |
| 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM diol unimol% of the diol fraction; small ethylene glycol content possible | ≥ 90 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on PCTA?
Takes flame or vapour polishing, hard-coat and anti-fog coatings, pad printing and in-mold decoration; degrease with isopropanol only, never with acetone or MEK.
How much does PCTA cost?
PCTA is a premium-cost polymer ($$$), cheaper than about 51% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
PCTA — frequently asked
What is PCTA used for?
PCTA is typically used for extruded clear sheet, blister packaging, medical tubing and signage. In short: sheet and film copolyester; clearer than standard PET; low-force thermoforming.
What is the yield strength of PCTA?
PCTA has a typical yield strength of 49 MPa (7.11 ksi) and a tensile strength of 50 MPa (7.25 ksi) — weaker than 51% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is PCTA easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (62/100, better than 60% of polymer grades). Machines like PETG — sharp positive-rake tools, high speed with low feed, air or mist cooling; avoid heat build-up that softens the cut edge and causes crazing.
Can PCTA be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (85/100). Excellent ultrasonic, hot-plate, vibration and RF welding; solvent/adhesive bonding with methylene-chloride-free cyanoacrylates or UV-cure acrylics — avoid ketone solvents that stress-crack.
What surface finishes work on PCTA?
Takes flame or vapour polishing, hard-coat and anti-fog coatings, pad printing and in-mold decoration; degrease with isopropanol only, never with acetone or MEK.
Can PCTA be formed, bent or molded?
Dry 4–6 h at 65–70 °C to <0.04 % moisture; melt 240–270 °C, mold 10–40 °C, wide thermoforming window with low forming force and minimal sag.
What is the maximum service temperature of PCTA?
PCTA is rated for continuous use to about 65°C (149 °F), and briefly to 85°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does PCTA cost?
PCTA is a premium-cost polymer ($$$), 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
- Eastar / Spectar copolyester sheet and molding grade data sheets — Eastman Chemical (2023)
- CAMPUS plastics database — amorphous copolyester (PCTA/PETG) entries — CAMPUS Consortium (2023)
- Handbook of Thermoplastics / Modern Plastics Handbook — polyester copolymers — CRC Press / McGraw-Hill (2016)
- ASTM D638 / D256 / D648 / D1003 test methods — ASTM International (2022)
- /PETG-PCTA (2026)
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.