Why aren’t slabs more resistant to scratching/cracking/breaking?

[jchcollins]

This stuff is fantastic for cleaning light scratches and sometimes worse out of slabs:



As to the question on the whole, I don't think it's so much that the graders don't use durable materials, it's just that people are careless as hell with their slabs. Easily one of my hobby pet peeves, when I buy something that looks good in the pic on eBay, but then a week later the slab arrives looking like someone used it as a cutting board in their kitchen. Invest in some Superior Fit sleeves, people.


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[55koufax]

And this statement is partially correct

PSA and SGC use Crystal Polystyrene, it's inexpensive and not very durable.
Beckett uses (or at least used to)Poly Carbonate, more expensive but its super durable in comparison.

The solution to the original poster's question on how to improve a slab's durability, etc., would be to utilize polycarbonate but with a scratch resistant coating. This is truly an expensive solution, but really the only solution in the manufacturing process to create the most durable clear slab.

[Fred]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Novus Plastic Polish No. 2 works well in my experience. PSA generally easier to clean up than SGC.

Originally Posted by jchcollins

This stuff is fantastic for cleaning light scratches and sometimes worse out of slabs:



As to the question on the whole, I don't think it's so much that the graders don't use durable materials, it's just that people are careless as hell with their slabs. Easily one of my hobby pet peeves, when I buy something that looks good in the pic on eBay, but then a week later the slab arrives looking like someone used it as a cutting board in their kitchen. Invest in some Superior Fit sleeves, people.

Are you guys talking about applying chemicals to a slab? Is that altering the slab? Isn't that a bad thing? That's a chemical being applied to the plastic that houses the card - NOOOOOO!!!!

Hey, I'm just kidding!!!