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Oxidation & Yellowing
Constant exposure to UV radiation is the primary cause of headlight degradation. Over time, these rays break down the protective polycarbonate coating, resulting in a distinct yellow tint and a hazy, opaque surface that severely restricts light output. This can occur in a uniform fashion, or usually begins to degrade from the top first.
PITTING & SCRATCHES
Road debris like sand, small rocks, and salt act like a sandblaster against your car at high speeds. This physical impact creates tiny craters and micro-scratches—known as pitting—that scatter light and drastically reduce nighttime visibility. Left untreated, these pits trap grime and accelerate further degradation.
Clear Coat Peeling
Headlight lenses are manufactured with a protective clear coat to resist UV radiation. Over time, prolonged sun exposure and environmental pollutants cause this factory layer to become brittle and lose its bond with the polycarbonate lens. This results in a distinctive white, flaky appearance as the coating physically separates and peels away, leaving the soft plastic beneath vulnerable to rapid oxidation and deep yellowing.
WEBBING
Clear coat webbing, often called crazing, is a distinct network of fine, spiderweb-like cracks that forms when a headlight’s protective UV coating becomes brittle and breaks down. Triggered by years of intense sunlight, extreme temperature changes, or exposure to harsh cleaning solvents, this damage penetrates into the coating rather than sitting on the surface like ordinary yellowing.
STRESS FRACTURING
Stress fracturing, or internal crazing, occurs when the polycarbonate lens itself experiences structural failure due to thermal expansion and contraction. Unlike surface oxidation, these deep, needle-like cracks propagate through the thickness of the plastic. This is often caused by high-intensity bulbs generating excessive heat within the housing or poor quality lens casting. Another reason can be solvent vapour treatments gone wrong, the solvent melting the headlight plastic and then when it reforms and hardens, it hardens with cracks in it. This type of damage may require a replacement lens if it is too deep.
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