How do you choose between polycarbonate and glass reinforced plastic enclosures?
Short answer
Choose polycarbonate (PC) for outdoor installations and glass reinforced plastic (GRP) for demanding indoor ones. PC offers a high level of UV protection, so it suits enclosures exposed to direct sunlight, and it withstands high or fluctuating temperatures and prolonged contact with water, though it can be damaged by abrasion. GRP also tolerates extreme temperatures but is more susceptible to UV and offers less comprehensive water resistance, which makes it best suited to indoor use. It is particularly resistant to harsh industrial environments involving vibration, corrosive agents and other chemicals, and gives high rigidity at minimal thickness for protection against mechanical impact.
The choice largely comes down to where the enclosure will be installed. Polycarbonate (PC) is ideal when electrical housings are exposed to direct sunlight, or generally when they are installed outdoors, as the material offers a high level of UV protection. The polymer is also able to withstand high or fluctuating temperatures and prolonged contact with water, as is often the case in open-air applications. It can, however, be damaged by abrasion and show noticeable signs of it.
Glass reinforced plastic (GRP), or fibreglass, can also tolerate extreme temperatures but is more susceptible to UV and offers less comprehensive water resistance, so it is best suited to indoor installations. Its properties make GRP particularly resistant to harsh industrial environments, where vibrations, corrosive agents and other chemicals are common. The composite material also provides a high level of rigidity at minimal thickness, maximising protection from mechanical impacts while maintaining a lightweight, aesthetic design.
Both materials are generally identified as robust and durable. While that is true, it is rarely specified under which conditions they offer optimum resistance and performance, which makes specifying an enclosure for a demanding application a particularly challenging task. The guiding principles above will help you determine which material is best for a heavy duty set-up.
We offer a broad product range featuring a wide variety of materials, and our extensive material expertise means we can help you identify what would work best for your specific application, so you can optimise investment, service life and reliability. Technical information on our PC, GRP and other enclosures is available at https://www.spelsberg.com/service/technical-information/industrial-enclosures/ and more on our service offering and experience at https://www.spelsberg.com/customizing/complete-array-of-expertise/
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