Does polycarbonate block all harmful UV?

Question

have UV lights that I would like to put in a tube and block it's harmful UV rays. I plan to use a polycarbonate tube, but I'm getting conflicting answers on wikipedia if it 100% blocks harmful UV.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/polyca...
Above link it says polycarb resists UV fairly. (right and colum in yellow)
On the same page bellow the graph it says: 0% transmission at almost exactly 400 nm, blocking all UV light transmission."

Then here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/uv_lig...

It says under "Eye" paragraph. "Some plastic lens materials, such as polycarbonate, inherently block most UV."

What's the straight story on this?

Answer 1

100% protection - that is why they use them on glasses.



http://www.allaboutvision.com/lenses/polycarb.htm

Answer 2

Polycarbonate Uv

Answer 3

The straight story is that there is absolutely no need to block "harmful" UV emissions from a UV tube. Just don't use the tube because ALL UV is harmful.



Without a spectrometer and a sample of the actual material OR at least a manufacturer's data sheet addressing optical properties of the material in the near UV nobody can answer your question reliably, anyway.



Straight enough?

Answer 4

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RE:

Does polycarbonate block all harmful UV?

have UV lights that I would like to put in a tube and block it's harmful UV rays. I plan to use a polycarbonate tube, but I'm getting conflicting answers on wikipedia if it 100% blocks harmful UV.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/polyca...

Above link it says polycarb resists UV fairly....

Answer 5

Hmmm...I know of MANY welders with flash burn to the retina that will refute that statement. (About it blocking 100% of UV.)



The best way to describe it is to say that polycarbonate has an "SPF" rating. There are - however - *certain* brands of safety glasses that actually block UV light transmission. This, however, includes a chemical wash or additive - that is NOT cheap - to the lenses either in the mix, or applied as a coating afterwards.

Answer 6

It may work to some extent but there are specific light housings (which are probably made from polycarbonate but treated) that you need to buy to block UV light completely. Like if you wanted to put them in a beer cooler without skunking all of the beer, or protecting photosensitive documents/art that's what you would use



These are what I'm talking about...

http://www.pegasusassociates.com/products/TubeGuards/UVTubeGuards.html

Answer 7

Absolutely, I am a licenced optician for 25 years and polycarbonate is for sure an inherent filter of harmful UV light. That is why most high quality sunglasses are made of polycarbonate, not to mention they are extremely impact resistant

Answer 8

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It may depend on how thick the polycarbonate is. It will certainly depend on the wavelength that the lamp emits. But what is the point of setting up a UV lamp if you don't want the UV?

Answer 9

welding lenses are the only poly that totally blocks UV and infrared.....