# Polycarbonate

A clear, near-unbreakable engineering plastic made from bisphenol A, used in electronics, car lighting, glazing and medical devices; China's build-out has flattened margins.

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polycarbonate/

Pseudo-commodities · Engineering plastics · No. 54

- Single chemical
- Feedstock: Oil, gas or coal
- about 5.2 Mt of demand including blends (2024)
- 3.4 t CO₂e per t
- HS 390740
 Pseudo-commodities · Engineering plastics · Foundation · Matter

Clear enough to replace glass and tough enough for safety helmets, polycarbonate went from record margins to a Chinese glut.

Chart: Illustration: Polycarbonate

##### Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

Bisphenol A is linked either with phosgene in a solvent, or with diphenyl carbonate in a melt route that avoids phosgene. It transmits about 88-90% of light at 3 mm.

##### Three things to know

1. Global demand including blends passed 5 Mt for the first time in 2024, at 5.2 Mt, against about 7.7 Mt of capacity.
2. China went from 5 to 17 plants and doubled its exports from about 250 kt to 500 kt a year.
3. India imports all its polycarbonate, more than 300 kt a year, until Deepak's 165 kt Dahej plant arrives.

##### The journey

1. 1 **Phenol, acetone**From benzene and propylene via cumene
2. 2 **Bisphenol A**0.84 t phenol, 0.26 t acetone
3. 3 **Carbonate source**Phosgene or diphenyl carbonate
4. 4 **Polymerisation**About 0.9 t BPA per tonne
5. 5 **Compounds, sheet**Blends, glazing, lenses and housings
 Covered in [Biorefineries and platform chemicalsChemicals](https://www.materialinsights.org/learn/chemicals/biorefineries-platform-chemicals/)

##### Go deeper pick a tab to open it in full

## Other sections

- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polycarbonate/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polycarbonate/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polycarbonate/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polycarbonate/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polycarbonate/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polycarbonate/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polycarbonate/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polycarbonate/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polycarbonate/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polycarbonate/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polycarbonate/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polycarbonate/links/index.md)