HomePlastic sheet

Materials - Plastic sheet

History of Plastic The name Plastic is derived from the Greek word plastikos, which means able to be shaped. Plastics consist of long chain molecules called polymers. Plastics are available in many colors and clear. Plastics can be rubbery or rigid.

Benefits of plastic sheet

Plastic sheets replace metalic sheets for numerous applications due to the following characteristics.

• Plastic sheets are resistant to corrosion and chemicals.
• Plastic sheets have low electrical and thermal conductivity.  
• Plastic sheets have high strength-to-weight ratio, especially when they are reinforced.
• Plastic sheets are available in various colors and also as transparent.
• Plastic sheets are durable and break resistant.
• Plastic sheets are less expensive.

Applications of plastic sheet

Plastic sheets replace other conventional material such as metals, paper, wood, stone, glass and ceramics and are used widely. Some of the applications of plastic sheets are given below.

Aircraft: Plastic sheets due to their light weight, are used for aircraft parts such as windshields, window panels, instrument panels, seat backs and other interior panels.

Automotive: Automotive parts such as interior panels, seat panels, side shields, fender liners, head liners, instrument panels and cab interiors are made of plastic sheets.

Signs and Display: Plastics sheets are used for making outdoor signs, displays, identity cards, name tags and vending machine face plates as they can be machined easily.

Material handling: Material handling equipment such as pallets, trays for handling medical, dental and horticulture products make use of plastic sheets, as they are durable and resistant to chemicals. 

Construction: Some of the areas where plastic sheets are used for construction purpose are shutters, roof tiles, windows and roof vents etc.

Miscellaneous: Plastic sheets are also used for appliances, marine, electronic equipment, home interiors, fixtures and packaging.

Materials

Plastics are classified into two basic types based on their behavior when they are heated. They are Thermosetting plastics and thermoplastics. The thermosetting plastics can be heated and set only once whereas thermoplastics can be melted and re-formed. 

Thermosetting plastic sheet materials:

• Epoxy resin laminate
• Melamine and urea formaldehyde
• Phenol formaldehyde (Bakelite)
• Polyester PETG

Thermoplastic sheet materials:

• ABS
• Acetal
• Acrylic
• Cellulose Acetate
• Nylon
• Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
• High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
• Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMW)
• Polycarbonate
• Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
• Polyvinyleidene chloride
• Polytetrafluroethelene (PTFE) 
• High Impact styrene
• Polypropylene 

Sample parts

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