Polycarbonate Sheets

Our clear polycarbonate sheets are a great alternative to glass and other clear plastics when you need good transparency plus shatter resistance and high strength. We offer machine grade, glass filled, carbon filled, bullet-resistant (often referred to as “bulletproof glass”), and clear polycarbonate sheets. Select a product and size from our polycarbonate sheet options to view bulk volume pricing or for full dimensional information, click on a type of polycarbonate sheet below.

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Polycarbonate Sheet Sizing:

At Acme Plastics, we offer the following standard sizes for our clear polycarbonate sheets and panels:

  • 24" x 48"
  • 24" x 96"
  • 48" x 48"
  • 48" x 96"
  • 48" x 120"
  • 60" x 96"
  • 72" x 96"

If you require additional sizes, please explore our cut-to-size option.

For our bullet-resistant sheets (also commonly referred to as bullet proof glass), we have the following sizes:

  • 38" x 78"
  • 38" x 96"
  • 48" x 60"
  • 48" x 72"
  • 48" x 96"
  • 60" x 72"
  • 60" x 96"

For additional sizing information, click on the product type above.


Properties of Polycarbonate Sheets & Panels

Polycarbonate is a lightweight and durable plastic with excellent UV resistant properties. Its high impact resistance properties and strength make it an ideal material for windows, greenhouses, and hockey rinks. Its superior electric properties also make it a good choice for electronics.

Lightweight and durable, our clear polycarbonate sheets are a great alternative to glass and many other clear plastics when you need good transparency plus shatter resistance and high strength. Polycarbonate sheets are perfect for a high level of usage, are incredibly stable, and are great for protection against vandalism, the elements, and more.


Polycarbonate Sheet Brands

Acme offers a variety of polycarbonate panels to meet all of your needs, including products from Covestro Makrolon, Palram Palsun, Polygal Plastics Polygal, and import sheets. Contact us if you have specific brand requirements.


Pricing for Polycarbonate Panels

Pricing is highly dependent on the size, thickness and quantity of polycarbonate sheets ordered. Due to this, we encourage you to ask for a quote directly or review our individual products below. For an estimated value of specialty sizes, view our cut-to-size polycarbonate sheet page.


Adhesives for Polycarbonate Plastic Sheets

When binding polycarbonate sheets, you’ll want to apply an industrial adhesive that will not visibly alter your design. The best option for this would be a clear non yellowing adhesive. The most common adhesives used on polycarbonate sheets are cyanoacrylates adhesive, two-part epoxy resin adhesive, two-part resin based adhesive and UV curable adhesive.


Are Polycarbonate Sheets Flexible?

Polycarbonate sheets are inherently flexible and available in a variety of grades based on application. Most polycarbonate sheets are pliable and can be bent at room temperature without cracking. Due to this flexibility combined with its impact resistance (250x stronger than glass), polycarbonate panels are often used for bullet resistant glass, and similar protective gear, exterior architecture, and greenhouses.


Does Polycarbonate Shatter?

While polycarbonate can be dented, it is extremely shatter resistant. In fact, polycarbonate is 250 times stronger than glass and can undergo significant deformations without cracking or breaking. A sheet of polycarbonate can provide impact protection from storms, projectiles like golf balls, and can even be fashioned into bullet resistant glass. Despite its exceptional durability, polycarbonate is far more lightweight than glass.


Why Are Polycarbonate Sheets So Strong?

The polymers in polycarbonate have an exceptionally strong bond to the carbonate groups in polycarbonate's chemical chain. This forms a "crosslink" that is extremely difficult to break. polycarbonate is also very flexible, which allows it to absorb and distribute the impact of powerful projectiles without breaking or shattering. This makes polycarbonate ideal for patios, awnings, and greenhouses.


How Long Will Polycarbonate Last?

Polycarbonate sheets and panels will slowly change color and start to yellow if it is directly exposed to UV rays for a very long time. To prevent this, some polycarbonate sheets use a special coating that inhibits the transmission of UV light, providing additional protection to the polycarbonate sheet. Ultimately, the longevity of polycarbonate strongly depends on the use case – without prolonged exposure to high amounts of heat, pressure, or UV rays, polycarbonate can last for many years. Otherwise, UV rays from the sun will slowly degrade polycarbonate, eventually turning the polycarbonate yellow and brittle.


What is the Best Way to Clean Polycarbonate Sheets?

For the most thorough cleaning, use Novus #1 cleaner and a soft, microfiber cloth. For a simple, routine cleaning, polycarbonate panels should be cleaned using a mild soap, lukewarm water and a soft cloth. Avoid using ammonia-based cleaners such as Windex, 409, and Lysol, or abrasive cleaning products like scrubbing brushes or paper towels. This will damage the UV resistant coating that is present on most polycarbonate sheets. Keep in mind that using non-recommended cleaners often voids the manufacturer's warranty.


Does Polycarbonate Scratch Easily?

A standard polycarbonate sheet is susceptible to scratching. However, manufacturers have resolved this concern by creating special coatings that protect from most scratches and abrasions. The exact level of scratch protection depends on the chemical composition of the coating. Keep in mind that although polycarbonate can scratch, this will not significantly compromise its ability to resist high impacts and extreme temperatures, especially when compared to acrylic and glass.


Is Polycarbonate Hygroscopic?

Polycarbonate is a hygroscopic engineering polymer, so it can attract and absorb moisture from its surrounding environment at room temperature. However, this isn't an issue for most roofing, greenhouse, and pergola applications. Over its entire lifespan, a polycarbonate sheet will typically absorb only 0.2% of its weight in moisture. Other engineering polymers that are hygroscopic include nylon, ABS, acrylic, PET and more.


What Is the Difference Between Polypropylene and Polycarbonate?

The primary difference between polypropylene and polycarbonate is their strength. Polycarbonate has exceptional tensile and flexural strength, while polypropylene provides slightly above average tensile and flexural strength. Polypropylene is also significantly less expensive than polycarbonate.

Polypropylene is a low density, highly transparent, and flexible plastic that can be recycled. This makes it ideal for packaging and textile applications. A common use for polypropylene is for a living hinge, which is the very thin piece of plastic that connects bottles caps and lids. Polypropylene is used since it can be bent to extreme ranges, millions of times without breaking.

Polycarbonate has high impact strength, excellent transparency, good optical clarity and is lightweight. Common uses for polycarbonate include roofing, windows, safety equipment and machine guards.

On a molecular level, polypropylene and polycarbonate are rather similar. They're both synthetic polymer compounds composed of very large molecules that are created by bonding simpler chemical units, called monomers. The primary difference in their structure is caused by the monomers and processes used to create the polymer.


What Is Polycarbonate?

Polycarbonate is a virtually unbreakable thermoplastic patented in 1953 by Hermann Schnell at Bayer. Polycarbonate is impact-resistant at 250 times the impact resistance of glass, can be exposed to high temperatures, and is non-flammable. It is ideal for construction and engineering projects where safety and flammability are concerns.


What is Polycarbonate Used For?

Polycarbonate is a versatile plastic used in many applications. There are many types of polycarbonate sheets designed for application-specific use.

Multiwall polycarbonate is ideal for windows and siding because it's durable and can withstand high temperatures. It's the choice for greenhouses due to its light transmittance and heat retention properties.

Bulletproof glass or bullet-resistant polycarbonate is a staple of high-security efforts. It can protect storefronts from improvised projectiles and protect vehicles from bullets by dispersing projectiles' kinetic energy upon impact.


Uses of Polycarbonate Sheets

  • Greenhouse panels and nurseries
  • Barriers and fences
  • Sunlight protection
  • Impact and bullet resistant windows and panels
  • Safety shields
  • Protective eye goggles and glasses
  • Pergola covers
  • Room dividers
  • Replacement auto parts
  • Skylights and windows


Features & Benefits

Polycarbonate has a long list of benefits, making it ideal for a variety of purposes. Here are just a few of polycarbonate's amazing features:

  • High Optical Clarity - Polycarbonate is exceptionally clear, and can be mistaken for glass as a result.
  • Thermal Insulation - Polycarbonate traps heat up to 60 percent better than glass. For this reason, polycarbonate is often used in greenhouses, or in energy-efficient buildings.
  • Easy to Install - As a durable and lightweight plastic, polycarbonate is simple to install, especially with the help of a frame or a support structure.
  • Versatile - Polycarbonate can be molded into a wide variety of shapes, including sheets, panels, rods, tubes, and more.
  • Easy to Shape - Polycarbonate can be cut with standard woodworking tools like a circular saw or jigsaw.
  • Sustainable - As a thermoplastic, polycarbonate can easily be recycled by heating the plastic until it becomes a liquid, then molding it into a new shape.


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