Polycarbonate Sheet, UV Protective 1-Side (UV1)

UV1 polycarbonate sheet carries a co-extruded ultraviolet protective layer on one face, shielding the panel from the sun-driven yellowing, chalking, and embrittlement that degrade unprotected polycarbonate within a few seasons outdoors. The UV layer is co-extruded into the sheet during manufacture rather than applied as a coating, so it cannot wear off, peel, or be polished away - it is part of the panel for its service life. Underneath, the sheet delivers polycarbonate's defining strength: roughly 250 times the impact resistance of glass and 30 times that of acrylic, at half the weight of glass, with approximately 86% light transmission.

The one-sided configuration is the standard and most economical specification for exterior glazing where only one face sees the sun and the other is enclosed or interior — skylights and roof glazing, greenhouse and canopy panels, window and storefront glazing, patio and pool enclosures, equipment housings, sign faces, and transit shelters. Installation detail matters more here than with most materials: the UV-protected face must be installed toward the sun, and panels are typically masked or marked at the factory to identify it. A panel installed backward will yellow and embrittle on the exposed side within a few years, which is the single most common and most expensive field error with UV1 sheet. Keep the identifying film on until the panel is oriented and set. For glazing exposed on both faces, specify UV2 instead.