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What is polycarbonate? It is a colorless solid polymer plastic, which is used in production in the form of granules. It is strong, lightweight, optically transparent, plastic, frost-resistant, a good dielectric, durable and environmentally friendly. Cellular (otherwise known as cellular) polycarbonate is produced by extrusion; it consists of hollow panels with different structures and thicknesses. These panels are connected to each other by special jumpers, also called stiffeners. Polycarbonate belongs to the class of synthetic polymers; it is a complex linear polyester of phenols and carbonic acid.

To work with polycarbonate, you will need ordinary cutting tools.

Despite all the strength, cellular polycarbonate is destroyed under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. Most manufacturers place UV protection in the “mass”. But there is also a protective UV layer, which is applied by coextrusion. This layer ensures the integrity of the sheet under the influence sunlight. The layer is applied either on both sides or only on one. Without this protective measure, the actual service life of cellular polycarbonate will not exceed a couple of years.

How to prepare cellular polycarbonate for work

Before using polycarbonate, you need to unpack it, remove the film and all paper wrappers, and treat the edges of the tiles with end tape intended for this purpose. Using perforated tape, protect the end facing down. And the end facing upward is treated with an end profile and sealing tape. You can also use wide adhesive tape instead of expensive tape, if in the future the upper end of the polycarbonate plate is not expected to come into contact with environment. If the upper end is covered with a monolith, then you can completely abandon the use of tape. If it has already been applied, you can safely remove the film. It is not recommended to cover the lower end with anything. Since it must be installed openly so that condensation can drain freely. They provide additional protection to the perforated tape using a U- or L-shaped profile. It must be mounted in such a way that the condensate can escape freely. In this case, it is recommended to use a U-shaped profile with holes with a diameter of 1.5 - 3 mm, which are located 40-60 cm from each other.

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How to remove film from the surface of a cellular polycarbonate sheet

It is recommended to remove the protective film coating from the polycarbonate sheet after all work on its installation, since the purpose of such a film is to protect the surface of the polycarbonate sheet during loading and unloading, during transportation and installation. If you do not remove the film and leave it, then over time, under the influence of solar heat, it will melt and “stick” to the polycarbonate surface of the sheet, removing it will be quite problematic. This situation is especially common when it is done in summer time and the protective film layer was not removed immediately.

What can you do if the film coating is welded to the polycarbonate? There are several options for resolving this issue. Which one to use, choose yourself, based on the current situation:

On outside the sheet has a special marking

• If polycarbonate sheets have been stored in the sun for a long time and the film has become baked to the surface, then it would be better to leave everything as is. Don't shoot anything. After one season, the film on the outside should come off on its own. And with inside it will take longer to self-destruct. Under no circumstances should you scrape or scratch the polycarbonate surface - you will only make the situation worse by damaging the material. And if you scrape from the UV-protective side, you will also damage the ultraviolet protection.

Violation of the integrity of the UV protective layer can negatively affect the light transmission of the sheet. And subsequently this will lead to the surface becoming cloudy and beginning to crack;

By the way, determine which side the UV is located on protective layer quite simple: packaging with cellular polycarbonate on the UV protection side always contains inscriptions or service pictograms. There is no need to heat the film coating with anything (for example, some try to heat the film with a hairdryer), it will stick even stronger;

• if the presence of film is confirmed by visual inspection, then you can use the following method: wet the surface with ordinary warm water with the addition of homemade dishwashing detergent. And slowly start removing the film layer.

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What else you need to know when working with polycarbonate

1. In hot sunny weather, cellular polycarbonate is capable of thermal expansion. For colored polycarbonate, the expansion rate will be 4-5 mm, for transparent - 2-3 mm. The temperature at which carbonate can be used without reducing its original qualities and properties is from -40 to +120°C. When installing the material, it is important to take these features into account. If installation is carried out in cool weather, then the slab must be installed further from the lock of the joining profile; if installed in hot weather, it must be installed very close.
2. A one-piece profile of 4-10 mm cannot fully ensure reliability. Such profiles cannot be attached to the sheathing. Their purpose is to join the edges of vertical structures with a minimum of loads.

Reliable tightness of joints is created by profiles over 10 mm. This will avoid the need to use other fasteners.

The joining profiles are mounted with support on the arcs and secured with self-tapping screws.

By its nature, polycarbonate is not resistant to ultraviolet rays (UV), therefore, to ensure the durability of polycarbonate sheets, manufacturers cover them with a protective UV layer and introduce special additives into the polymer mass.

The second threat to polycarbonate sheets is ordinary dust that gets into the mass during production. The smallest specks of dust, perhaps even invisible to the human eye, can cause serious “burns” of the sheets and lead to a reduction in the service life of the material.

An analogy can be drawn with the melting of snow in the spring. Dirty snow melts faster, since grains of sand in the snow mass intensively absorb solar heat. It’s the same with polycarbonate: when heated in the sun, dust particles caught in the polymer mass during production literally burn through the polycarbonate from the inside. As a result, the sheet “opens up”, bursts, and gradually loses its aesthetic appearance, load-bearing capacity and tightness.
Since cellular polycarbonate sheets are mostly used for creating outdoor structures (for the construction of greenhouses, canopies and canopies, translucent roofs, etc.), it is very important to carefully select a supplier who can ensure the durability of the consumer properties of their products already at the production stage. Including cleanliness of production.

Cleanliness is the key to maintaining the necessary properties of polycarbonate sheets.

The production of cellular polycarbonate must always be as clean as a surgical room. This requirement is completely practical significance- the smallest particles of dirt that get into the polycarbonate mass during production not only spoil outer sheet, but also significantly reduce its durability. Specks of dust can be so small that they cannot be seen with the naked eye, and the damage resulting from the carelessness of the manufacturer can be serious.
The raw material for the production of honeycomb sheets is granulated polycarbonate. To ensure that no dust, dirt or moisture gets into it, granules are carefully packed in multi-layer bags when transported from raw material production to processing plants. On the processor’s premises, raw materials must be stored in special tanks.

Before the start of the production cycle, the granules are cleaned of dust and moisture in special centrifuges. Despite all these precautions, it is wise to organized production Very great attention pays attention to cleanliness in the workshops. The main sources of dust in production are dirty floors and dust on equipment. Therefore, wet cleaning is an integral part production process, which is performed repeatedly throughout the entire work shift.
But this is not enough - to ensure cleanliness, a competent manufacturer installs a special anti-dust floor already at the construction stage of the workshop, and much attention is paid to the functioning of the filters supply ventilation and many other activities related to clean production.

The responsibility to maintain cleanliness lies not only with the manufacturer, but also with the builders who install the polycarbonate sheets. If polycarbonate sheets are stored under open air, then under such storage conditions there is a danger that the polycarbonate sheet will be turned towards the sun with the side on which there is no ultraviolet protection (in the case of sheets with one-sided UV protection). Subsequently, this will inevitably lead to a decrease in its performance characteristics. On the other hand, there is a danger that in hot weather, under the influence of the sun, the protective film will stick tightly to the sheet, which in turn will make it difficult to remove the protective film from the surface of the slab.
But the main problem is storing polycarbonate sheets with unprotected ends. Open ends allow dust, dirt, and moisture to enter the honeycombs of the polycarbonate plate. These factors contribute to a decrease in the durability of polycarbonate and compromise its strength. So storing sheets on the street is extremely undesirable.

During the installation process (if it is carried out according to all the rules), the builders will close the ends of the polycarbonate panels, and translucent structures made from this wonderful material will delight the owners for many years.
Let's summarize: - the reliability of a structure coated with polycarbonate sheets largely depends on the conditions under which they were manufactured. A decrease in the performance characteristics of polycarbonate sheets, and hence the reliability of the entire structure, can occur due to the fault of the smallest dust particles, which no consumer usually thinks about.

Construction errors when using cellular polycarbonate

All construction errors can be divided into design errors and errors associated with improper use of materials.
Let us dwell in more detail on the errors associated with incorrect use of the sheet.

Mistake #1. The sheet is fixed to the sun with the side that does not contain surface UV protection. As a result, the leaf will turn yellow. The advice in this case is simple: do not remove the protective film with markings before installation. Otherwise, you can simply confuse the sides, because The presence or absence of UV protection cannot be determined by eye.

Mistake #2. No special thermal washers were used. Simple self-tapping screws can damage the sheet during thermal expansion, and dirt will accumulate in places of damage. Special washers are necessary to close the mounting hole from moisture and dirt and prevent them from entering the cells.

Mistake #3 . The ends of the cellular polycarbonate sheet are not closed (or incorrectly closed). If the ends are not closed, the sheet becomes dirty and loses its appearance and light transmitting properties. There is a second option: the ends are closed “tightly” and the condensation formed in the honeycombs as a result of temperature changes does not come out. It is optimal to cover the ends with a special perforated tape and then with a profile, which provide protection from dust, but does not prevent moisture from escaping.

Mistake #4. Incorrect use of sheet class. All sheets of cellular polycarbonate are divided into classes: sheets for greenhouses (4 and 6 mm) and sheets for construction (from 8 mm). For example, you can often find that in the construction of bus stops, a 4 mm thick sheet is used, and a lightweight one at that. Such a sheet may not withstand the snow load, and people may suffer as a result of such a construction error. The same applies to translucent roofing and small architectural forms.

Many users complain about polycarbonate becoming cloudy over time, even if they turn to professional installers, does the material sometimes turn yellow? Who is guilty?

Cellular polycarbonate turns yellow (cloudy) for several reasons: exposure external environment(in particular the sun); low quality raw materials; poor organization of production, lack of cleanliness in production; high percentage of recycled materials used, their low quality and purity; violation of the extrusion modes of cellular polycarbonate sheets.

Surface UV protection (applied by coextrusion) slows down the process of degradation of cellular polycarbonate under the influence of the sun. The presence of these components must be indicated in the labeling and passport for the cellular polycarbonate sheet.

Let us dwell in more detail on the reason for the clouding of cellular polycarbonate as a result of violation of the sheet extrusion modes during production. Extruding a cellular polycarbonate sheet is a complex process for which it is very important to maintain the same parameters, including a constant extrusion temperature. Here the leading role is played by the class of equipment installed in production. If the accuracy class of the equipment is low, then the fluctuation of its parameters will occur in waves. The sheet will be extruded in an expanded temperature range, and underformation of the polymer may occur. And the result: a cloudy sheet with a lot of internal tension. Equipment accuracy class is an indicator that demonstrates how the equipment can perform its task within a given range. Accordingly, on some equipment it is possible to produce spaceship, and on some there is only a clay pot

Thus, to avoid clouding of cellular polycarbonate, you need to choose a sheet made in Italian or German equipment with a high class of accuracy.

How to deal with moisture inside cells?

To ensure free exit of condensate from the cells during installation, they should be oriented in the direction of the slope. It is also necessary to use the correct perforated tape and profile, which will allow moisture to escape.

Lesnik 61 28-06-2010 12:56

I came across such garbage, covered a greenhouse with it the year before last, now a valuable fur-bearing animal has come to polycarbonate, it crumbles right in my hands, thanks to the recent hurricane, dismantling the dead covering was not necessary.
People here said that you only need to shoot painted film, but with reverse side No, no, this film is placed outside, supposedly protecting against UV radiation.
Anyone in the know, please provide an explanation on this issue, otherwise if you buy coverage every two years, then with that money it’s easier to buy food than to bother for six months.

Ann 28-06-2010 13:07

I put it on the wrong side. It is necessary to face out with the side on which there was a film with the inscriptions UV-protect and all that.

Lesnik 61 28-06-2010 13:38

TAURUS 28-06-2010 13:51

Ann 28-06-2010 14:03

One side is covered in pictures, the other is blank film.

Well, you definitely need to put it with the right side out.

and without protective coating

It seems like it's only for internal partitions and work?

Yep 28-06-2010 14:50

quote: Originally posted by TAURUS:

There is cellular polycarbonate with protection from ultraviolet rays and without a protective coating, which affects the service life of the plastic.

Yes, and with protection it is more expensive.

koti4 28-06-2010 19:32

what brand is it? WAS)

koti4 28-06-2010 19:33

it was necessary to jam the ends

ZiminVlVl 28-06-2010 23:37

yes, you just bought bullshit, any polycarbonate is designed for the sun, and for a greenhouse you need it without a protective coating, but the fact that you have it is polyethylene, which really crumbles from the sun within a year

Lesnik 61 29-06-2010 05:15

quote: yes you just bought bullshit

I myself am inclined to this idea; on both sides of that polycarbonate there was a transparent film without inscriptions. And I asked the question in order to get confused with the installation of new sheets.

-Bryansk- 29-06-2010 08:45

Indeed, we bought crap. Just - defective goods got caught (slipped), or you took it deliberately, being fooled by a freebie.
Normal, usable polycarbonate will last for decades in severe heat and cold.

Lesnik 61 29-06-2010 09:02

quote: Indeed, we bought crap. Simply - a low-quality product was caught (slipped)

This is the first thing that didn’t hit the shelves of our stores, I don’t rule out that it was some kind of wrong one, because the three first-purchased sheets crumbled, and those purchased a little later were normal.

Yep 29-06-2010 09:13

UV protection, Films... Which side to lay it on, caroling around it with a tambourine and organizing other shamanic orgies in the form of plugging the ends - this is heresy and nonsense.

This is what many people who are far from construction think, and they are mistaken:

"Signs of poor quality material:

lack of data on mass, bearing capacity, UV protection. UV protection is visible to the naked eye - the side facing the sun has a slight bluish glow on the cut. If this effect is not observed, the presence of coextrusion UV protection is doubtful; deviations in linear dimensions and sheet thickness;

increased waviness of sheets, longitudinal or transverse grooves visible to the naked eye on the surface of the sheet. They indicate deviations in the extrusion process that may affect the load-bearing capacity of the sheets;

foreign inclusions, black spots, bubbles, roughness. These signs indicate that the material used a large number of recycled materials, which reduces the strength and durability of sheets;

yellowish or bluish tint to transparent panels. This sign indicates that this material belongs to economy class (with UV protection in the thickness of the sheet, which is worse than co-extrusion external protection, or with reduced weight) You need to check with the seller for specifics. of this material and the scope of its application.

You should approach the selection of components no less responsibly. Seals must be made of EPDM (not rubber or PVC), washers must be made of metal or PVC (not polyethylene). Profiles must have sufficient width, wall thickness and strength, polycarbonate ones must also have UV protection. Self-tapping screws must be made of high-quality steel, have an anti-corrosion coating and sufficient thickness.

Reducing the number of components (increasing pitch connecting profile and other fasteners) will also negatively affect the performance characteristics of the coating. Data on the load-bearing capacity of panels reported by the manufacturer are valid only if the recommended support and fastening schemes for polycarbonate are followed."
http://www.krovlirussia.ru/index.php?page=cls&hid=737&pid=43

Yep 29-06-2010 09:32

quote: Originally posted by -Bryansk-:

There was no trace of UV protection

Yes, EVERYTHING was there, they just forgot to tell you.
On Russian market cellular polycarbonate appeared in 1995 and was first introduced by the LEXAN brand produced by GENERAL ELECTRIC.
therefore in 1998 it was not yet Chinese and Russian. Therefore, it then came with UV protection, as it should be.
and three years later the Chinese had already mastered its production, and some of them began to save on additives and sell cheap bullshit.

alpar 29-06-2010 09:33

Yep 29-06-2010 09:35

Can polycarbonate withstand a stone throw?

holds up if not too thin. and a thick brick can withstand

alpar 29-06-2010 09:39

Well, they hardly put thick ones on greenhouses.

Lesnik 61 29-06-2010 09:48

quote: Well, they hardly put thick ones on greenhouses.

Usually 4 mm.

quote: holds up if not too thin. and a thick brick can withstand

In the recent past, he worked as a director. We took out the pool, the upholstery, the glass was broken every day, I replaced it with polycarbonate, the problem went away. We saw idiots throwing stones at the windows, everything was intact, because... there was no effect, we switched to other objects.

Yep 29-06-2010 09:55

quote: Originally posted by Forester 61:

replaced it with polycarbonate, the problem went away

roughly the same bullshit.
for example, changing double-glazed windows in aluminum doors It’s not very easy, so I used to install polycarbonate instead of double-glazed windows in store doors for customers.

Bryansk 29-06-2010 10:12

quote: Originally posted by Yep:

Yes, EVERYTHING was there, they just forgot to tell you.

or the Chinese, and some of them began to skimp on additives and sell cheap bullshit.

But this is really and easily.

That is, in general, it all comes down to the fact that if you buy a good and high-quality one, then whichever side you screw it on, hammer the ends in, don’t hammer it in, it will still last a long time. And a worthless one will fall apart quickly, despite the correct sides, films and other kosher screws.

Yep 29-06-2010 10:23

quote: Originally posted by Bryansk:

then which side don’t screw it on

As a result of an installation error (installation on the wrong side), even the highest quality polycarbonate crumbles.

I don’t take it off for the winter and I don’t even cover the roof with anything; the snow lies right on the film. Polycarbonate goes through the woods.

Integrator 02-07-2010 18:28

quote: Originally posted by alpar:

And in my greenhouses I have ordinary reinforced polyethylene film. The side frames are put away in the shed for the winter, and the film on the roof has not been removed for four years. One problem is the crows. They love to peck insects on the roof through the film. But after shooting one or two, they don’t arrive for a long time.

Well, I don’t argue... ordinary film in frames brought indoors for the winter can also last for several years, if severe frosts will not be. Or in a warm room. As for the roof - indeed, a reinforced one can withstand snow and lasts for several seasons - if a guard with a gun is attached to it

Polycarbonate is a hard, colorless polymer plastic that is used in the form of granules. Due to its heat-insulating properties and impact resistance, this material has found wide application in construction. If you decide to use it, you should first find out whether you need to remove it protective film from polycarbonate.

This material has already become quite widespread and popular not only in construction market, but also in other areas of human activity. But, before we begin to describe the advantages of the material, it is worth noting that, unfortunately, it is not without its disadvantages. And although there are many more of the former, the latter are also worth considering when choosing a material.

Advantages

1. Durability and high fire resistance. This material practically does not burn, and its resistance to mechanical stress is 20 times higher than that of glass;
2. It should also be noted thermal insulation properties material, which are provided due to its structure;
3. Polycarbonate is manufactured in sheets, which are available in a wide range color scheme and are protected with a film that must be removed before use. Buyers can purchase material from standard yellow color, to exclusive colors such as metallic and bronze. If you do not find among the wide assortment color shades suitable, then in this case a colored film will come to the rescue, which can be glued to the glass. True, over time it may peel off or lose its color. It’s better to stick with polycarbonate, because its production uses special dyes that do not change their color over time;
4. Polycarbonate can be compared with metal, since in terms of strength it is not much inferior to it. But, at the same time, compared to metal, this raw material is much lighter, does not corrode and easily takes the required shape.

Flaws

Not without its shortcomings. These include:

1. Capriciousness of the material during processing and fear of scratches. And although the resulting damage is most often not very noticeable and does not create any particular interference during work, this is not a very pleasant quality;
2. The material is afraid of ultraviolet rays, which can lead to its destruction. To prevent this, during the production of raw materials, a special protective film is extruded, which fits tightly to the sheet. The important thing here is to know how to identify the sides of polycarbonate before using it;
3. Another property of the material is its ability to shrink and expand. This should be taken into account when using polycarbonate and when installing structures, provide for a “thermal gap”.

Life time

Service life depends on many factors. Most often, manufacturers provide a ten-year guarantee, which applies to primary material made from high-quality raw materials. But when correct operation this period can be significantly increased. This material is not cheap, but you can choose more cheap option, when polycarbonate is obtained by mixing primary raw materials and secondary ones obtained as a result of processing deteriorated sheets, as shown in the photo. Cheap varieties do not guarantee you a long service life, so when choosing, you need to decide what comes first for you - price or quality, especially if you are going to build a greenhouse.

Sheet bending

During installation, bending of sheets of any type of polycarbonate should be avoided. The only thing that can be allowed in case of emergency is to bend strictly along the line of channels, that is, along the long side of the sheet.

Removing the protective film

All sheets are protected special film, which protects the material from scratches during loading and unloading, transportation and installation. It is recommended to remove it immediately after installation to prevent it from sticking tightly to the material, which in the future will make the process of removing it quite problematic.

Parties

It is important to determine the faces of the polycarbonate in advance. This is not difficult to do, since it is on them that the protective film is located, as can be seen in the photo. There are several options for fastening the material:

• a transparent film is applied on both sides - the material is completely protected from exposure to ultraviolet rays;
• The film is applied only on one side, and markings are applied on the other. It’s easy to determine which side to lay the polycarbonate on - such a sheet should be directed towards the sun’s rays with the marked side, as can be seen in the photo;
• The markings are applied on both sides - the material is perfectly protected from ultraviolet radiation on both sides.

Let's sum it up

To appreciate all the advantages of polycarbonate, it must be purchased and used for construction work. By listening to our advice, you can be sure that the material will last a long time and will be worth every penny spent on it.

For guard plastic panels There is a special coating against damage during loading and unloading, transportation and assembly. At the end installation work It is recommended to remove it. Otherwise, under the influence of solar heat, the film heats up to the point of melting and “sticks” to the surface of the sheet. After this it is quite difficult to remove it.

This often happens after installation in summer period. If the protective layer is not removed in time, it can cause a lot of trouble. For example, in winter snow will accumulate on this one - it slides off well only from clean polycarbonate sheets.

What to do if the coating is “stuck”

The film can bond very firmly to polycarbonate. In this case, it is better not to do anything. Some try to heat the film (for example, using a regular hair dryer). But this leads to the fact that it only sticks more strongly to the polycarbonate.

All you can do is wait. One season after installation, the film will come off on its own from the outside. But it will take time to make it easy to remove from the inside. It is not recommended to scrape or scratch the surface of polycarbonate - otherwise it will easily damage the material.

Caution: UV protection

There may be another layer on the panels. It protects against ultraviolet rays and is also easy to damage. Then the surface of the sheets will become cloudy and cracks will appear on it.

How to understand where the UV protective layer is located? You need to inspect the packaging with cellular polycarbonate. Where the plates are equipped with UV protection, there are always inscriptions and service pictograms. It is with this marked side that the polycarbonate faces the sun during installation. By the way, the UV layer is invisible, and you can accidentally remove it along with transport film impossible (only if she “sticks”).

We shoot on time and carefully

There is also a coating on the inside of the sheets. It is usually completely transparent. It also needs to be removed - then the polycarbonate will transmit light better. If left, this inner protective layer will deteriorate over time, affecting the appearance of the structure.

What can I do to carefully remove the film? Wet the sheets with regular warm water to which homemade detergent, for example, for dishes. This will allow you to carefully and without any problems separate the protective film from the polycarbonate.