Why is polycarbonate used for safety glasses and compact discs?

Polycarbonate (PC) is an engineering plastic uniquely suited for safety glasses and compact discs due to its specific physical and optical properties.12

For safety applications, such as safety glasses, shields, and helmets, polycarbonate is favored because it possesses an impact strength considerably higher than most other plastics, making it shatterproof. Its high tensile strength, stiffness, and dimensional stability ensure it can withstand significant physical stress without failing.12

For compact discs, polycarbonate is the preferred material because it is highly transparent, transmitting approximately 90 percent of visible light. Additionally, the polymer exhibits excellent flowing properties when molten, which allows it to be efficiently processed through injection-molding to create the precise, durable discs required for data storage.12