Optical Grade PC is selected when a transparent molded part requires more controlled optical performance than standard resin alone can provide. Material selection depends on the component design, molding conditions, and service environment, with factors such as flow behavior, refractive index, birefringence, UV exposure, and heat resistance considered together. Nianjing provides sourcing support for different optical polycarbonate grades according to the required properties, application, quantity, and producer specification.
Standard polycarbonate provides good transparency and impact resistance, but molding stress and molecular orientation can affect optical performance. Optical Grade PC is developed with tighter control of optical properties for applications where light transmission, haze, and birefringence need to be considered together.
Compared with PMMA, PC generally offers higher impact and heat resistance, while PMMA remains suitable for many transparent and optical applications. The appropriate material depends on the optical, mechanical, thermal, and environmental requirements of the finished part.
| Property | Optical PC | Standard PC | PMMA |
| Light transmission | High-transmission grades available | High | High |
| Haze | Low-haze grades available | Grade dependent | Generally low |
| Birefringence | Controlled in optical grades | More affected by molding stress | Generally low |
| Impact resistance | High | High | Lower than PC |
| Heat resistance | High | High | Lower than PC |
| UV resistance | UV-resistant grades available | Grade dependent | Generally good |
| Refractive index | Standard and high-RI grades available | Standard PC range | Generally lower than PC |
Actual performance varies by grade, thickness, processing conditions, and test method.
The optical performance of polycarbonate depends strongly on the selected grade and the finished part. The following values are general references across selected optical PC grades rather than universal specifications.
| Property | Reference Range | Test Method |
| Light Transmittance | About 89–91% | ASTM D1003 / ISO 13468 |
| Haze | Below about 0.5–1.0% | ASTM D1003 |
| Refractive Index | About 1.585–1.590 | ASTM D542 |
| High Refractive Index | Up to about 1.64 for selected grades | ASTM D542 |
| Notched Izod Impact | Grade dependent; selected grades may reach 60–85 kJ/m² | ISO 180 |
| HDT | Grade dependent; selected grades ≥132°C | ISO 75 |
| Melt Flow Rate | Grade dependent | ISO 1133 |
For procurement and part qualification, the current manufacturer TDS should be used as the specification reference.
Different optical applications require different balances of flow, optical clarity, thermal performance, and environmental resistance.
| Application Requirement | Main Factors | Suitable Material Direction |
| Thin light guides | High flow, low haze, optical uniformity | High-flow optical PC |
| Display and backlight parts | Transmission, haze, birefringence | Optical or low-birefringence grades |
| Automotive optical components | UV resistance, heat resistance, impact | Weatherable optical PC |
| Camera and imaging parts | Refractive index, optical stability, dimensional control | High-RI or precision optical PC |
| Outdoor covers | UV resistance and optical retention | UV-resistant optical PC |
| Precision optical parts | Low birefringence and molding stability | Low-birefringence grades |
These are material-selection references. Final grade selection should be based on the producer's TDS and the requirements of the finished component.
Nianjing can source optical PC grades from international and domestic producers according to the required optical properties, application, quantity, and destination.
| Producer | Product / Grade Series | Typical Application Direction |
| SABIC | LEXAN™ OQ | Optical components, light guides, transparent parts |
| Teijin | Panlite® AD | Optical applications and low-birefringence requirements |
| Formosa Idemitsu | TARFLON® LC | Optical injection molding and selected high-flow applications |
| Formosa | TAIRILITE® MD | Optical and transparent components |
| Wanhua Chemical | Optical PC grades | Optical, UV-resistant, and selected high-RI applications |
Specific grades and availability depend on current producer specifications and supply conditions. Buyers can provide a target grade, TDS, required optical properties, or application details for sourcing review.
Optical parts require more controlled processing than general transparent molded components. Drying, melt temperature, filling behavior, packing, cooling, and material residence time can all affect haze, residual stress, and birefringence.
| Processing Factor | General Reference |
| Drying Temperature | Commonly around 120°C |
| Drying Time | Often 4–6 hours |
| Moisture Before Molding | Commonly below 0.02% |
| Dryer | Dehumidifying dryer recommended |
| Melt Temperature | Often around 280–320°C, grade dependent |
| Mold Temperature | Commonly 80–120°C |
| Injection Speed | Adjusted according to geometry and optical requirements |
| Holding Pressure | Set according to part design and shrinkage |
| Residence Time | Controlled to reduce material degradation |
These values are starting references only. The processing guide for the selected grade should take priority.
Residual moisture can cause silver streaks, bubbles, hydrolytic degradation, and changes in optical or mechanical properties. Drying conditions should be matched to the selected resin grade and drying equipment.
Molecular orientation and residual stress can affect birefringence in molded optical components. Gate location, flow length, wall thickness, injection speed, packing conditions, and mold temperature should therefore be considered together during mold and process development.
Optical components are sensitive to black specks, haze, burn marks, and other surface defects. Clean material handling, suitable venting, proper purging, and an appropriate mold surface finish can help maintain the required appearance.
For outdoor and automotive applications, optical PC should be selected according to UV exposure, temperature, service environment, and the required retention of optical properties.
Standard PC and weatherable optical grades should not be treated as equivalent for long-term outdoor use. Selected UV-resistant grades from Formosa Idemitsu and Wanhua can be considered where weathering performance is required, subject to verification of the relevant grade data.
When sourcing optical polycarbonate, buyers should evaluate the material against the actual component requirements rather than relying on optical properties alone.
Light transmission: Check transmission and haze at the required part thickness.
Birefringence: Important for lenses, light guides, imaging parts, and precision optical components.
Flow: High-flow grades can be useful for thin-wall or fine-structure molding.
Refractive index: High-RI grades may support thinner optical elements or specific optical designs.
Heat resistance: Consider HDT and the actual operating temperature.
UV resistance: Important for outdoor and automotive applications.
Mechanical performance: Check impact resistance, stiffness, and dimensional stability.
Nianjing is a plastic raw material supplier and trading company based in Yuyao, Zhejiang, China. The company handles sourcing of optical polycarbonate and other engineering plastics from domestic and international producers according to customer specifications.
For Optical Grade PC sourcing, useful information includes:
| Procurement Information | Examples |
| Producer | SABIC, Teijin, Formosa Idemitsu, Formosa, Wanhua |
| Grade | Target grade or equivalent |
| Optical Requirements | Transmittance, haze, birefringence, refractive index |
| Mechanical Requirements | Impact, stiffness, dimensional stability |
| Processing | Injection molding, thin-wall molding, flow requirements |
| Application | Lens, light guide, display, automotive, outdoor |
| Quantity | Trial or production requirement |
| Documentation | TDS, COA, compliance documents where available |
TDS and COA can be requested where available. Documentation should be checked against the actual producer, grade, and batch before production use.
It is mainly used for transparent or precision molded components where optical clarity, haze, birefringence, flow, or refractive index needs to be controlled. Applications can include light guides, display components, lenses, imaging parts, and selected automotive optical components.
Neither material is universally better. PC generally provides higher impact and heat resistance, while PMMA can offer useful optical performance and processing characteristics. The choice depends on the application.
Low birefringence means reduced differences in the refractive behavior of the material caused by molecular orientation or residual stress. It is particularly important for optical parts where image quality or light distribution can be affected.
High-refractive-index PC can be considered for optical designs where a higher refractive index is required or where the optical element may benefit from reduced thickness.
Yes. Polycarbonate is moisture-sensitive, and inadequate drying can affect surface appearance, optical performance, and mechanical properties during molding.
Yes. Buyers can provide the producer, grade number, required optical properties, application, quantity, and destination. Nianjing can then review the sourcing requirements and available supply options.
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