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QUICK PLASTIC REFERENCE |
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ACRYLIC:
Also known as Plexiglas® or Acrylite®. |
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PETG:
Also known as Vivak® |
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POLYCARBONATE:
Also known as Lexan® |
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CLOSED CELL PVC:
Also known as Sintra® |
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POLYSTYRENE:
Machines, thermoforms and
fabricates well. |
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RIGID
VINYL: Is the choice to replace paper, and
it can be printed on, is water and chemical resistant and hard to tear. |
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POLYESTER:
Also known as Mylar®, it is a clear, durable,
tough, bi-axially oriented. |
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CELLULOSE ACETATE:
Acetate film has excellent clarity and can be die cut, laminated, embossed
and reverse screen printed. |
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CAB:
Cellulose Acetate Butyrate is U.V., chemical
and impact resistant, and it can be formed. |
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PVC:
the most popular of the vinyl. |
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CPVC:
An industrial form of PVC which tolerates
higher temperatures. |
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LDPE:
Low Density Polyethylene is FDA
approved and highly resistant to chemicals. |
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HDPE:
High Density Polyethylene is harder, more
rigid and has a much higher compressive strength than LDPE. |
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Polypropylene:
Chemical and corrosion resistance is
excellent. |
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UHMW-PE:
A dense, slippery material that is FDA approved. |
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NYLON:
an extremely strong material that replaces
stainless steel. |
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Acetal Delrin®
Acetron®: It is easier
to machine and shows greater stability and moisture resistance than nylon,
but is not as wear resistant. |
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ABS:
A strong material that is easily machined and thermoformed. |
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Phenolic:
Layers of various materials such as paper,
cotton or glass are impregnated with resin and cooked under intense heat and
pressure. |
TEFLON:
Has the very best heat and chemical
resistance.
Different grades exist. |
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Quick Reference
Details |
ACRYLIC:
Also
known as Plexiglas® or Acrylite®.
Light weight, clear as optical glass, excellent weather ability, high impact
resistance, good chemical resistance, excellent mach inability and
thermoform ability.
Higher scratch resistance but lower impact resistance than polycarbonate or
PETG.
Manufactured by extrusion or casting, in various colors and attributes such
as U.V. protected and added impact resistance.
Used in skylights, point of purchase displays glazing, signs and picture
frames.
Standard sheet sizes 4’ x 8’; 5’ x 8’; 6’ x 8’ others available. Thickness
.080 to 1 inch
RODS TUBES AND SHAPES are available.
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PETG:
Also known as Vivak® it has greater
impact resistance thermoform ability and mach inability than acrylic. Very
clear.
Used for packaging, machine guards, displays and medical equipment.
Less choice of color sizes and shapes than
acrylic.
Standard size 4’ x 8’ Thickness .020 to
.375
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POLYCARBONATE: Also known as
Lexan®, it is stronger than plate glass and virtually unbreakable. Excellent
clarity and weather ability. It is harder to machine or thermoform than
acrylic or petg. Manufactured in some
colors and with attributes such as U.V. protection and added impact
resistance
Standard sheet sizes 4’ x 8’; 5’ x 8’; 6’ x
8’ others available. Thickness .080 to 1 inch
LEXAN® also has a full range of films.
Used for Storefronts, barriers, windows.
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CLOSED CELL PVC: Also known as
Sintra® it is an excellent graphic substrate which is easily machined, has
an excellent chemical resistance and is fire rated.
Available in white, black, gray and primary
colors.
Standard size 4’ x 8’ Thickness 1mm to 6mm
Uses Exhibits, signs, screen printing,
photo mounting, and displays.
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POLYSTYRENE: Machines,
thermoforms and fabricates well. Excellent chemical resistance and
dielectric strength. Available in
white and black
Standard size 4’ x 8’ Thickness .020 to
.250
Uses Light diffusers, tank covers, sign
panels, buttons.
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RIGID VINYL: Is the choice to replace
paper, it can be printed on, is water and chemical resistant and hard to
tear. Available in clear or mat
finish and primary colors.
Standard size 21” x 51” Thickness .010 to
.060.
Uses graphic arts, credit cards, toys,
packaging, Business cards.
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POLYESTER: Also known as Mylar®
it is a clear, durable, tough, bi-axially oriented. Available in clear or
silver Standard size 40 inch wide
rolls of various lengths.
Thickness .0015 to .010.
Uses Graphics, Carrier films, solar
control, layout bases, membranes, electrical switches.
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CELLULOSE ACETATE: Acetate film
has excellent clarity and can be die cut, laminated, embossed and reverse
screen printed.
Standard Size 22” x 51” Thickness .015 to .060
Uses wrap for cables, insulation, paper protection, envelope windows,
animation cells, visual aids.
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CAB:
Cellulose Acetate Butyrate is U.V.,
chemical and impact resistant, it can be formed.
Standard size 50” x 76” Thickness .060 to .250
Uses machine guards, snowmobile windshields,
signs and trailer windows.
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PVC:
the most popular of the vinyl. It
is corrosion resistant. It can be glued or welded.
Standard size 4’ x 8’. Thickness .060 to 1 inch. Available in clear, white
and gray.
Rod and Bar available
Used for tanks, making parts and linings.
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CPVC:
An industrial form of PVC which
tolerates higher temperatures. Grey only, available in sheet and rod.
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LDPE:
Low Density Polyethylene is FDA
approved and highly resistant to chemicals. It is very flexible and can be
thermoformed at low temperatures.
Standard size 4’ x 8’ Thickness .020 to 2 inches.
Comes in rod too.
Appears milky white.
Uses include food containers, lab equipment, orthotics, chemical resistant
storage units.
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HDPE:
High Density Polyethylene is
harder, more rigid and has a much higher compressive strength than LDPE
Sizes as LDPE
Appears whiter than LDPE
Pebbled finish board especially for cutting food.
Uses include prosthetics, shields for radiation, sanitary applications,
flanges, food handling, and corrosive situations.
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Polypropylene: Chemical and
corrosion resistance is excellent. It can be thermoformed. FDA approved.
Made as a homopolymer or Copolymer the latter is more pliable, less
resistant but better in cold.
Comes as is or Stress relived
Natural color is milk white, it is available in white.
Uses tanks, orthopedic devices, vacuum forming, lab tables light tables.
Size is 4 x 8 sheet various thickness.
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UHMW-PE:
A dense, slippery material that is
FDA approved. It can be machined and is great in high wear situations.
It comes with different fillers that change it properties such as
non-static, oil filled and abrasion resistant.
Usually white in color.
Uses scrappers, bearings, guides, sprockets.
Size 4 x 8 sheets; bars and rods.
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NYLON:
an extremely strong material that
replaces stainless steel. It comes in various grades made to satisfy
particular needs. Not easily machined.
Used as rollers, wear strips, bushings, bearings.
Regular nylon is beige in color, other special use nylons may have different
colors.
Sizes. Sheets rods, tubes in many thickness.
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Acetal Delrin® Acetron®:
It is easier to machine than nylon and shows
greater stability and moisture resistance than nylon, but is not as wear
resistant. FDA approved.
Available with different fillers that enhance attributes
Color White or black depends on fillers & grade
Sizes full range of sheet and rod.
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ABS:
A strong material that is easily
machined and thermoformed. Uses housings, parts, prototypes,
Color white, black and one side hair cell finish.
Size 4 x 8 sheet from .020 to 1 inch thick.
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Phenolic:
Layers of various materials
such as paper, cotton or glass are impregnated with resin and cooked under
intense heat and pressure. The result is a dense, hard material that has
high heat and moisture resistance.
Very hard to machine.
Use depends on the grade (filler) but includes, circuit boards, supports for
steam pipes, router table tops.
Sizes sheet 3 x 4; 4 x 8 and rod
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TEFLON:
Has the very best heat and chemical
resistance.
Different grades exist.
Available in sheet, rod and tube.
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