Transparent components are primarily used for display areas, light-transmitting sections, and many products also employ them for decorative effects. For prototype transparent parts, PMMA (acrylic) and PC are generally the two material choices. If the part has no structural requirements, PMMA is typically selected. For structural components with snap-fit features, PC is usually preferred. Acrylic, being harder, can be polished to a transparent finish. In contrast, PC parts cannot be polished to clarity; they require fuming with trichloromethane to become transparent. However, the transparency of PC still cannot match that of PMMA.
