Polycarbonate Display Cases and Retail Fixtures: Material Selection Guide
Why Polycarbonate for Display Cases?
Polycarbonate display cases and retail fixtures use PC where acrylic would crack, glass would shatter, or weight and shipping cost matter. PC’s defining advantage is impact resistance — roughly 250× the impact strength of glass and 28× that of acrylic (ASTM D256) — which means thinner panels, lighter cases and far fewer breakages in transit and in-store handling.
Polycarbonate vs Acrylic vs Glass for Displays
| Property | Polycarbonate | Acrylic | Glass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impact (Izod, J/m) | ≈850 | ≈30 | ≈3 |
| Light transmission | 88–92% | 92–93% | 90% |
| Scratch resistance | Low (hard coat available) | Moderate | High |
| Weight (per unit strength) | Lightest | Light | Heaviest |
| UV yellowing | UV-stabilised grades resist | Yellows outdoors | None |
| Forming | Cold bend, thermoform, CNC | CNC, laser | Cut only |
Applications and Material Choice
- Counter display cases — 3–6 mm clear PC or hard-coated PC (scratch resistance where customers touch)
- Floor-standing retail fixtures — 6–10 mm PC for structural panels; multiwall for lightweight large panels
- Museum / product showcases — anti-glare or textured PC for reduced reflections (see our textured sheet range)
- Outdoor signage cases — UV-stabilised PC with hard coat for 5–10 year outdoor life
- Security displays — PC or PC/laminate for vandal-resistant showcases
Design Checklist for PC Display Cases
- Choose clarity — clear (88–92%), frosted (privacy), or textured (anti-glare)
- Decide hard coat — yes for touch surfaces, no for internal non-contact panels
- Plan fabrication — CNC cut, drilled, bent or thermoformed; PC cold-bends to ≥150× thickness radius
- Allow thermal movement — PC expands ~0.065 mm/m/°C; leave 3–5 mm clearance in frames
- Specify UV side — outdoor cases need UV-protected side facing the sun
FAQ: Polycarbonate Display Cases
Is polycarbonate or acrylic better for display cases?
For impact resistance and durability, polycarbonate wins (≈850 vs ≈30 J/m Izod). For pure optical clarity and scratch resistance, acrylic edges ahead (92–93% transmission, harder surface). Many cases combine both: PC for structure, acrylic for view panels — or use hard-coated PC for both.
Does polycarbonate yellow in a display case?
Only if exposed to strong UV without protection. Use UV-stabilised PC (co-extruded UV layer) for cases near windows or outdoors. Indoors, standard clear PC is stable for decades.
Can display cases be made from one sheet?
Yes — cold bending or thermoforming forms a single PC sheet into a curved or boxed case without seams. Minimum cold-bend radius is ~150× thickness; thermoforming allows tighter shapes.
How do I stop polycarbonate displays from scratching?
Specify hard-coated PC (2H–3H pencil hardness, ASTM D3363) on touch surfaces. For transit, use protective film — Bakway supplies sheets with peel-off masking.
Fabrication Options for PC Display Components
Polycarbonate displays are rarely used as plain sheets — they are cut, formed and finished into fixtures. Bakway supports the full fabrication range:
- CNC routing — shelves, brackets, dividers and precision-cut panels with clean edges
- Cold bending — curved display fronts and wraparound cases (radius ≥ 150× thickness)
- Thermoforming — deep-drawn display trays, trays and product cradles
- Drilling and countersinking — fixture-ready holes with edge finishing
- Printing and branding — screen or digital printing on the reverse face for graphics that stay protected
Cost Factors That Change Your Budget
| Factor | Impact on cost | How to control it |
|---|---|---|
| Hard coat | +15–25% vs bare | Specify only on touch surfaces |
| Custom colours | +10–20% (min quantity) | Use standard tinted stock where possible |
| Thermoforming | +30–60% vs flat | Design with draft angles to simplify tooling |
| Protective film | +2–5% | Keep film on through transit — worth it |
| Quantity | Volume discounts | Consolidate sizes into fewer SKUs |
Sustainability Considerations
Polycarbonate is recyclable (resin code 7), and display fixtures have a long service life that offsets their upfront energy cost. When specifying, ask whether offcuts from CNC work can be reclaimed — Bakway recycles production offcuts, reducing waste for volume display programs.
Get Display Case Material Quote
Send your case design (size, panels, clarity, hard-coat need, quantity). Bakway supplies PC sheet and fabricates cut-to-size, drilled, bent and thermoformed display components with protective film on request.