PROPERTIES UNITS PMMA POLYSTYRENE NAS SAN POLY
CARBONATE
COC
Refractive Index (Nd)

-

1.491

1.59

1.56

1.57

1.584

1.525

Abbe Value (Vd)

-

61.4

31.1

35.0

37.8

34.5

56.0

dn/dt

X 10^-5/deg C

-12.5

-12

-14

-14

-14.3

-10

Luminous Transmittance

%Transmittance @ 3mm

92

88

90

88

90

92

Birefringence Potential

Qualitative

Low

High

High

High

High

Low

Relative Haze

%

2

3

3

3

3

2

Coefficient of Linear Expansion

cm/cm X 10^-5/deg C

6.0

6.0

6.8

6.8

6.9

6.0

Deflection of Temperature (3.6 deg F/min @ 66 psi)

deg C

101

110

100

100

146

147

Water Absorption (immersed
24 hr. @ 23 deg C)

%

0.3

0.2

0.15

0.3

0.15

0.01

Hardness (Scratch Resistance)

Rockwell M

90

90

80

75

50

75

Izod Impact Resistance

ASTM D256

0.35

0.35

0.5

0.45

2.0

0.32

PMMA = Acrylic, Polymethyl Methacrylate
NAS = Styrene Methyl-methacrylate Copolymer
SAN = Styrene Acrylonitrile
COC = Cyclic Olefin Copolymer

Values stated are typical. Contact the manufacturer for actual values for a specific material.

* Bulter, David J. (2000) "Plastic optics challenge glass," Photonics Spectra May, 2000, p.168-174.