Durable against heavy impact and highly resistant to sun damage, polycarbonate is a superior but underutilized polymer in skylight lens applications.

The strong impact resistance of polycarbonate is due to its chemical structure. The ability of structures like carbonates and phenyl groups to dissipate energy is believed to be the main reason polycarbonate can endure heavy force without breaking. More commonly used acrylic lenses, on the other hand, are far more brittle and therefore much more likely to be damaged by wind-borne debris and fall accidents.

• Polycarbonate demonstrates a total impact energy of 50 ft.-lbs.,
  while acrylic gives a much lower impact energy, only 2 ft.-lbs.

• Exceptionally safe and stronger than other skylight polymers on the market, polycarbonate is the industry-recommended material for fall protection.

• A significant advance in polymer technology is a UV-absorbing “cap layer” that nearly eliminates sunlight damage to polycarbonate.