Typical polycarbonate
- High impact for lenses and machine guards
- UV stabilized grades for outdoor exposure
- Higher material cost than PMMA
Material comparison
Polycarbonate vs Acrylic: Toughness vs Optical Clarity
Acrylic can win on scratch resistance and optics. Polycarbonate wins on impact when the lens must survive handling or assembly.
Material comparison
Optics first, then ask about impact
Both can be molded clear. The service environment breaks the tie.
Display covers that never see impact may favor acrylic for scratch and clarity.
Handheld devices and industrial windows usually need polycarbonate impact reserve.
Resin choice
Typical versus Typical at a glance
Use this routing before you lock the BOM. NetProto molds both once the resin is specified on the quote.
Typical acrylic (PMMA)
- Excellent light transmission and surface hardness
- More brittle under impact or snap loads
- Lower cost for static display windows
Decision table
Where each resin usually wins
Qualitative tradeoffs for molded parts. Confirm shrink, fill, and tooling details on the material guide.
| Factor | polycarbonate | acrylic (PMMA) |
|---|---|---|
| Impact | High | Lower, cracks on sharp blows |
| Scratch | Softer surface | Harder, resists scuffing |
| UV | Stabilized grades available | Needs UV grade for outdoor |
| Chemicals | Avoid some solvents | Sensitive to alcohols and cleaners |
Before you quote
Send this context with your CAD
The instant quote uses your material choice for fill, gate, and steel assumptions.
Impact or drop test requirement
Outdoor UV and rain exposure
Coating or hard coat plan
Thickness and optical distortion budget
Material guides
Full property pages
These library pages carry datasheets, DFM notes, and quote checklists.
Polycarbonate
Open the Polycarbonate molding guide.
PolycarbonateAcrylic (PMMA)
Open the Acrylic (PMMA) molding guide.
Acrylic (PMMA)Continue exploring
Related comparisons
Open a sibling guide or jump to the full material library.
Compare hub
All comparison guides.
Compare hubMaterials library
Deep guides per resin family.
Materials libraryABS vs PC
Opaque housing versus clear window.
ABS vs PCNylon vs acetal
Engineering resin wear pair.
Nylon vs acetalFAQ
Common questions
Can either be molded in color?
Yes. Tinted PC and PMMA are common. Match the colorant system to the optical grade.
Next step
Quote both options with the same CAD
Upload once, switch resin in the quote flow, and compare piece price on the same tool. NetProto manufacturing is ISO 9001 certified.