Choosing between plexiglass (acrylic) and polycarbonate depends entirely on the intended application. Polycarbonate is virtually unbreakable, offering up to 250 times the impact resistance of glass, making it far superior for high-impact, high-safety, or heavy wind environments. Conversely, acrylic offers better initial scratch resistance, is less prone to yellowing over decades without specialized coatings, and maintains sharper optical clarity under basic cleaning conditions.