Which plastic material is the MOST impact resistant?

Polycarbonate is recognized as the most impact-resistant plastic material among the options listed. This is primarily due to its unique molecular structure, which is designed to withstand significant physical stress without breaking or cracking. Polycarbonate can absorb energy from impacts that would shatter or damage other materials, making it an ideal choice for applications requiring high durability, such as safety glasses, riot shields, and certain types of lighting fixtures.

In contrast, while acrylic has good clarity and is more shatter-resistant than glass, it is not as strong as polycarbonate when faced with heavy impacts. Butyrate is also a durable option but falls short of polycarbonate's toughness. Polystyrene, while a common and cost-effective plastic, is not particularly known for its impact resistance and can break more easily under stress compared to the others.

Thus, polycarbonate's superior impact resistance makes it the preferred choice in situations where resilience and safety are critical.