Specific Weight of Polycarbonate: Weight per Square Meter
Polycarbonate is a modern thermoplastic material widely used in construction, industry and manufacturing. Construction uses both solid and multiwall polycarbonate. Solid sheet can replace ordinary silicate glass thanks to high impact strength, while multiwall sheets are valued for low weight and insulating air chambers.
Fire performance depends on the sheet grade and certificates, so for canopies, roofing and public buildings the fire-safety class of the specific material should be checked.
Multiwall Polycarbonate Weight Table
The values below refer to lightweight multiwall sheets. They are not suitable for calculating solid polycarbonate of the same thickness.
| Material | Approximate sheet mass (g/m²) | Weight per 1 m² (kg) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 mm multiwall polycarbonate | 650 | 0.7 |
| 6 mm multiwall polycarbonate | 1300 | 1.2 |
| 8 mm multiwall polycarbonate | 1500 | 1.4 |
| 10 mm multiwall polycarbonate | 1700 | 1.6 |
Specific Weight Calculation
Specific weight is the ratio of weight to occupied volume.
γ = ρ × gwhere γ is specific weight, ρ is density and g is gravitational acceleration (9.81 m/s²).
In practice, sheet calculations more often use mass per 1 m² or material density in kg/m³.
Polycarbonate Density
Solid polycarbonate density is usually close to 1200 kg/m³, or 1.2 g/cm³. Therefore solid sheet weight can be estimated by thickness: each millimeter gives about 1.2 kg/m². For example, 4 mm solid sheet weighs about 4.8 kg/m² and 10 mm about 12 kg/m².
Multiwall polycarbonate is lighter because part of the volume is occupied by air chambers. Actual mass depends on sheet structure, number of walls, rib thickness and manufacturer.
How to Use These Values
The table values are suitable for preliminary calculations of mass, delivery and material comparison. For critical calculations, check the material data sheet and manufacturer documentation.
Keep in mind that density and weight can change due to temperature, composition, UV layer, sheet structure, material grade and measurement method.
Conclusion
The weight of one square meter of polycarbonate depends not only on thickness, but also on sheet type. Multiwall polycarbonate is much lighter than solid polycarbonate, so these two materials should not be mixed in calculations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does 1 m² of polycarbonate weigh?
For multiwall sheets, weight depends on structure and thickness; the table gives guide values of about 0.7-1.6 kg/m². Solid sheet is much heavier: at about 1200 kg/m³, 10 mm weighs roughly 12 kg/m².
Why is the table not suitable for solid polycarbonate?
Values of 0.7-1.6 kg/m² are typical for lightweight multiwall sheets. Solid polycarbonate has no air chambers, so its mass is calculated from density and thickness.
How do you calculate solid sheet weight?
Multiply thickness in millimeters by about 1.2 kg/m². For example, 4 mm is about 4.8 kg/m² and 6 mm about 7.2 kg/m².