| DIY Plastic Sheets - ABS, Acrylic, Polycarbonate | |||
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DIY Plastic Sheet Types:
The following selection of plastics can be used in DIY projects:
ABS Sheet:
ABS sheet is known for its good impact strength, formability, stiffness, excellent aesthetic qualities and toughness.
It is a general purpose, low cost solid colour material. It is used in applications such as aircraft interior trim, automotive parts, luggage, and more.
ABS is a thermoplastic that is extremely versatile. It has good chemical and stress-cracking resistance. It is also tough and rigid with good creep resistance. The strength of ABS depends on the temperature. ABS is easily thermoformed and is ideal for high reproduction of mould detail.
ABS extruded sheet can be easily thermoformed using any conventional thermoplastic sheet forming equipment.
ABS Sheet Sizes Available:
- 1.5mm ABS Sheets (Click link for sizes, colours and thickness)
- 2mm ABS Sheets (Click link for sizes, colours and thickness)
- 2.5mm ABS Sheets (Click link for sizes, colours and thickness)
- 3mm ABS Sheets (Click link for sizes, colours and thickness)
- 4mm ABS Sheets (Click link for sizes, colours and thickness)
- 5mm ABS Sheets (Click link for sizes, colours and thickness)
- 6mm ABS Sheets (Click link for sizes, colours and thickness)
Acrylic Sheet:
Acrylic is generally regarded as having half the density of glass but has a good impact strength higher than that of standard type glass. However it has a softer surface and is more easily scratched than glass.
Should you require a clear material that is harder than Acrylic, then Polycarbonate is classed as a stronger material with more impact resistance.
Acrylic sheet can be thermoformed using several types of equipment such as vacuum, pressure, or stretching equipment, or a variety of heating methods including hot air ovens.
- Clear Acrylic Sheets (Click link for sizes, colours and thickness)
- Opal Acrylic Sheets (Click link for sizes, colours and thickness)
Aluminium Composite Sheet:
Aluminium Composite Sheet is a lightweight yet strong material, manufactured from plastic and aluminium. This sheet material is easy to handle and machine. Aluminium Composite Sheet is lighter than other metal and plastic sheets of the same size.
Aluminium Composite sheet comprises of 3 layers. The top and bottom layer are aluminium sheets, these sheets are pre-finished with a colour at the factory during the manufacturing process.
The centre layer is a polyethylene core. This polyethylene core makes up 85-90% of the structure of the sheet. The polyethylene core can be Grey, Black or Clear in appearance.
The two layers of aluminium sheet are bonded onto a polyethylene core during the sheets manufacturing process and it is virtually impossible to separate the aluminium sheets from the polyethylene core.
Aluminium Composite Sheet can be used for applications such as Flat panels, ceiling tiles, covers for machines, grills and screens, interior and exterior design such as cladding and wall panels or any application that requires a clean pre-finished lightweight material.
- Aluminium Composite Sheets (Click link for sizes, colours and thickness)
Polycarbonate Sheet:
Polycarbonate is a versatile, tough plastic used for a variety of applications, from replacement for glass windows to compact disks (CDs). The main advantage of polycarbonate over other types of plastic is unbeatable strength combined with light weight.
Polycarbonate is a clear, tough, near shatterproof polymer that is known for it’s impact resistance. A rigid plastic that is easy to handle and can be cut to size. It is less susceptible to breakage than glass, acrylic products.
- Clear Polycarbonate Sheets (Click link for sizes, colours and thickness)
Polypropylene Sheet:
Polypropylene is a tough plastic thats also remains usable at low temprtures.
With excellent chemical resistance and good fatigue resistance and very low moisture absorbancy. It is easily thermoformed and can be fabricated and welded and is very good for cladding applications and is able to withstand repeated steam cleaning.
- Polypropylene Sheets (Click link for sizes, colours and thickness)
PVC Wall Cladding:
PVC Wall Cladding has excellent fire and chemical resistance. It also benefits from excellent electrical and thermal insulation and is non toxic.
It is used in a number of applications such as wall cladding, air conditioning, ductwork, chemical processing facilities and in laboratory environments.
- PVC Wall Cladding (Click link for sizes, colours and thickness)
