Material Selection for Thermoformed Products

VTI has design engineering and polymer chemistry expertise.

VTI produces parts from all thermoplastic materials; both thin film and heavy guage stock. Custom formulations can be acquired for special applications where standard grades will not meet "all" requirements. Plastic product design requires selection of the best qualified polymer. Selection usually requires satisfying mechanical, thermal, electrical, optical and weathering specifications of the finished part, using the most economical polymer.

There are too many polymer grades to list and describe herein. Each grade has slightly different characteristics and has been formulated for different applications. One method of material selection is by similarity. By comparing many successful polymer products, initial selection can be straight-forward. Some examples are shown below:

Applications and Material Candidates	MATERIALS A - Acetal B - Acrylic C - Acrylonitrile-styrene (ABS) D - Cellulose E - Fluorocarbon Blends F - Nylon G - Polimides H - Polycarbonate (PC) I - Polyester (PET) J - Polyethylene (HDPE) K - Polypropylene (PP) L - Polystyrene (HPS) M - Polyurethane (PU) N - Polyvinylchloride (PVC) O - ESD ABS P - ESD HIPS Q - ESD PVC R - ESD PET S - ESD HDPE ---- Flame Retardant Grades ---- Color Options ---- And 'Many' Others
Small Housings and Shapes: Retail packaging, shipping and handling trays, telephones, flashlights, helmets, luggage, lamps, office machines, hand tools, pumps, appliances, ... Materials: C B D F J H I K L
Large Housings and Hollow Shapes: Boat hulls, motorcycle shrouds, appliances, camper tops, materials handling trays, tanks, refrigerator liners, ... Materials: B H L I
Light Mechanical and Decorative: Knobs, handles, cases, clamps, casters, fittings, frames, moldings, auto parts, hand tools, ... Materials: C B D J K L N
Electronics: Protective devices, housings, displays, shipping and handling trays, packaging, ... Materials: O P Q R S
Medical: Sterilizable equipment. Materials: K H I J
Structural and Mechanical: Gears, cams, pistons, rollers, valves, pumps, fan blades, rotors, washing machine parts, ... Materials: A F H I G
Optical and Transparent Parts: Safety glasses, optical lenses, glazing, lab ware, instrument and gage faces, signs, food processing equipment, windshields, ... Materials: B H I L N
Wear Applications: Gears, bearings, wear strips, tracks, valves, belts, tires, wheels, ... Materials: A F I M J E