Alconox and unstressed polycarbonate

Question:
Is Alconox Powdered Precision Cleaner compatible with unstressed polycarbonate?

Answer:
Alconox is compatible with unstressed polycarbonate. If there is stress in the polycarbonate, then any low surface tension solution such as Alconox will act as a stress cracking agent, especially with the addition of a little heat. Warm solutions of Alconox will cause stress cracking on stressed polycarbonate. The same warm solutions of Alconox will not attack unstressed polycarbonate.

Stress cracking is a surface attack causing fogging, crazing, or slight surface cracks. This stress cracking does not particularly affect the mechanical properties of the polycarbonate, but it does make the polycarbonate less transparent and it does make the surface of the polycarbonate rougher.

For downloadable Technical Bulletin, MSDS and trace analysis on Alconox, visit Alconox.com