Polycarbonate Enclosures
Polycarbonate enclosures are known for their strength, impact resistance, and clarity. Polycarbonate is a thermoplastic material, which is both cheap and easy to mold into whatever shape you like. The finished product has a kind of built-in reverberation that gives it amazing durability, and which copes easily with the rough and tumble of many environments. Physical damage is far less likely, especially damage that impairs enclosure contents.
Polycarbonate electrical enclosures have many great features. One of these is their ability to hold up under outdoor environments because of the material's ultraviolet (UV) radiation resistance. When exposed to the sun, many plastics break down, leading to what's commonly called "yellowing." However, polycarbonate doesn't do this. It also offers good insulation for whatever it's holding. These enclosures are also resistant to a lot of chemicals, which makes them useful in a wide array of settings.
Polycarbonate enclosures are a frequent choice because they are lightweight. As such, they are easy to install and handle, with overall low costs. They are also tough, even if they appear to be thin. This makes them handy for using them as enclosures for electronic equipment. And when you use the clear version of the polycarbonate, it's pretty easy to see what's inside without having to open up the enclosure.
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FAQs
Are polycarbonate enclosures designed for control panels?
Yes, polycarbonate enclosures are designed for control panels as well as other devices.
Non-Metallic Enclosure Types
Characteristics of non-metallic enclosures:
NEMA 4x rating for outdoor use providing chemical resistance and protection from dust, debris, water and rain.
High insulation value, which provides insulation from cold and hot temperatures, but does not dissipate heat from inside the enclosure.
Non-conductive, meaning components cannot be grounded to the enclosure, but it still provides the same security and tamper resistance levels as metallic enclosures when properly locked.
Types of non-metallic enclosures:
Fiberglass
A thermoset polyester material reinforced with glass fibers. It is the most widely used non-metallic material in the industry. It has high impact strength and rigidity (dimensional stability), a superior working temperature range (-31˚F to 300˚F), excellent electrical properties, moisture and chemical resistance, as well as being cost effective.
Polycarbonate
High-performance thermoplastic resin processed by injection molding or sheet extrusion. It is impact resistant, rigid (dimensional stability), has an extended temperature range (-31˚F to 180˚F), excellent electrical properties, fire retention, UV stability and corrosion resistance in some acidic surroundings. It is not suitable for environments with strong alkalis and organic solvents.
ABS or ABS blends
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene is a common thermoplastic polymer processed by injection molding. It has high impact resistance, but less impact resistance in cold weather compared to polycarbonate, excellent electrical properties, superior chemical and moisture resistance, but a narrower temperature range than fiberglass (-40˚F to 248˚F).
Polyester
High-performance unfilled thermal plastic processed by injection molding. It has high impact resistance, but less impact resistance in cold weather than polycarbonate, excellent electrical properties, superior chemical and corrosion resistance, but a narrower temperature range than fiberglass (-40˚F to 248˚F).