ProtoPod – New episodes every Wednesday! Innovation meets conversation – ProtoPod behind the scenes of tech & design! Where innovation meets conversation – ProtoPod takes you behind the scenes of tech and design. New episodes every Wednesday!

Protocase Ships WorldwideShips Worldwide

ProtoSpace Mfg

Translucent Plastics

We stock translucent plastics.
Acrylic and polycarbonates are lightweight, high-impact materials with excellent transparency and superior weatherability.
Both acrylic and polycarbonate offer properties similar to glass such as clarity, brilliance and translucence, but are lighter and have better impact resistance.
These plastics are often used to showcase an enclosure’s inner electronics and display lighting.

Get Instant Quote

Built to Your Specific Requirements

Finish: Unfinished
Fasteners: Typically, we do not install any fasteners into acrylic or polycarbonate. Instead, we commonly install self-clinching nuts or studs into the mating metal parts to screw into.

Proto Tech Tip

Watch More Tech Tip Videos

Comparing Acrylic and Polycarbonate

	Impact-Modified Acrylic	Polycarbonate
Impact Resistance	5-10x stronger than standard acrylic; handles moderate impact	Up to 250x stronger than glass; extreme impact resistance
Clarity	Excellent optical clarity; does not yellow	Good clarity; may yellow without UV treatment
Scratch Resistance	More scratch-resistant than polycarbonate	Prone to scratches
UR and Weather Resistance	Naturally UV resistance (ideal for outdoor use)	Would require UV treatment for outdoor use, to prevent yellowing
Durability and Strength	Strong, less durable than polycarbonate	Extremely durable and very flexible under stress
Weight	Lighter than polycarbonate	Slightly heavier than acrylic but still lightweight
Cost	Costlier option compared to polycarbonate	More cost-effective than high-impact acrylic