What kind of plastic are PCGS slabs made from?

mgoodm3

Just a little research project for me. also is it the same as NGC?

PerryHall

NGC and PCGS do not use the same plastic. When NGC came out with the new label (large hologram) they changed the plastic to a less brittle but softer plastic. Unfortunately, it scuffs up very easily and gets ugly real fast with only a little careless handling, usually on the part of the dealer.

291fifth

I doubt that they would reveal the actual composition. Remember the counterfeit PCGS slabs from 1989?

WWW

Unfortunately, it scuffs up very easily and gets ugly real fast with only a little careless handling, usually on the part of the dealer.

I have noticed that too. I wish they had not done that.
The PCGS slabs seem a little bit more scratch resistant.
The old-style ANACS slabs were the hardest to scratch, IMO.

PerryHall

I think NGC's intent was to use a less brittle plastic that wouldn't chip when dropped which required the use of a softer plastic. Unfortunately, its more difficult to polish the scatches out of this softer plastic.

BAJJERFAN

I would guess that it is some form of the old standby Lexan.

BlindedByEgo

<< <i>I would guess that it is some form of the old standby Lexan. >>



I agree - polycarbonate base, the least reactive plastic available at a reasonable price.

xphobe

I was going to guess PMMA. Cheaper than polycarbonate, and easy to fuse the shell together using superglue or trichloromethane.