1. Polycarbonates (PC) are a group of thermoplastic polymers containing carbonate groups in their chemical structures.

2. Polycarbonates used in engineering are strong, tough materials, and some grades are optically transparent. They are easily worked, moulded, and thermoformed. Because of these properties, polycarbonates find many applications.

3. Polycarbonates do not have a unique resin identification code (RIC) and are identified as "Other", 7 on the RIC list. Products made from polycarbonate can contain the precursor monomer bisphenol A (BPA).

4. Polycarbonate is a durable material. Although it has high impact-resistance, it has low scratch-resistance.

5. Therefore, a hard coating is applied to polycarbonate eyewear lenses and polycarbonate exterior automotive components.

6. The characteristics of polycarbonate compare to those of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA, acrylic), but polycarbonate is stronger and will hold up longer to extreme temperature. Thermally processed material is usually totally amorphous, and as a result is highly transparent to visible light, with better light transmission than many kinds of glass.