Materials

Polycarbonate      GE trade name LEXAN, a tough thermoplastic, normally transparent, characterized by high impact strength and high softening temperatures.  Most common use in film thicknesses (under .040) is switch overlays, decorative trim, product branding and integrated lense applications.  In gauge thicknesses, this is the preferred material for lense applications and part constructions that require impact strength and durability.  Polycarbonate is easily printed and/or fabricated 

Polyester    Dupont trade name MYLAR,  a polymer film constructed of repeating units of an ester compound characterized by high strength, high temperature and chemical resistance.  Most commonly used for label construction when durability is a requirement.  Clear and Matte films often utilized as overlaminates to protect label surfaces and/or first surface printing.  Polyester has good printably characteristics and is fabricated easily in gauges below .010.  Can be laser cut which makes it a good candidate for prototype or pilot run projects

Vinyl     Polyvinyl chloride, a polymer of vinyl chloride especially used for electrical insulation, film, and pipe abbreviated as PVC.  Inexpensive substrate with good conformability for curved and compound surface application but lower temperature and chemical or abrasion resistance.  Extensively used in the graphic industry for labels, fleet marking, window graphics and signage. Industry common term for this is "vinyl graphics".   Very easily printed and/or fabricated. 

Polypropylene    A thermoplastic constructed of polymers of propylene used in the graphic industry as a lesser cost substitute for vinyl when conformability and durability are not required.  Used in sheet form as a filler or noncontributing member in a mechanical construction.  Easily printed and/or fabricated.

ABS    Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, a tough rigid thermoplastic used especially in the automotive and building industry.  Commonly machined or injection molded to create shape. Can be screen or pad printed to decorate or add information. Used in a modified form in the graphic industry to make engraving plastics.

Polystyrene    A rigid thermoplastic polymer of styrene with good physical and electrical insulating properties.  Used especially in molded products, foams and sheet materials.

Acrylic    A glassy thermoplastic made of polymerized methacrylic acid used for cast or molded parts and sheets.  Also used in coatings and adhesives.  Is printable and easily fabricated.  Cast acrylic sheets is laserable which makes it a desirable material for prototype development.  Is suitable for lense applications where impact strength and toughness are not an issue.

Aluminum   A bluish silver-white malleable ductile light trivalent non ferrous metallic element that has good electrical and thermal conductivity, high reflectivity, and corrosion resistance in certain alloys.  Aluminum is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust where it occurs in combination.  Having good formability and machinablity with moderate strength for a light weight material, it is an extremely popular selection for part construction.  In graphic applications it is the most popular metal used for data plates, nameplates, serial plates as well as the base material for METALPHOTO. 

Copper, Brass & Bronze   Often called the red metals, these non ferrous materials are composed primarily of copper.  An alloy is called copper when the minimum copper content is 99.3%.  Brass is a copper alloy in which Zinc is the main alloying element.  Bronze is a copper alloy with a main alloying element other than zinc or nickel.   These products are normally worked into shape (typically called wrought) or cast into shape.   Different alloys of these materials can be selected to attain excellent machinablity, forming, weldabilty and fabrication quality.  In the graphic applications, brass is primarily used in sheet form for Brass Nameplates that are both printed, etched, and engraved.  Copper is used for shielding applications often in conjunction with other materials.

Steel     Commercial iron that contains carbon in any amount up to 1.7% as an essential alloying constituent, is malleable in suitable conditions.  The mainstay material of manufactured parts when coating, plating or painting is adequate protection from corrosion.  Steel is used in graphic applications as structure for sign constructions and painted blanks as sign faces.  Many parts fabricated from steel are printed, marked or have graphics added after some treatment, such as those mentioned, is performed to incorporate product identification or marking directly on the part. 

Stainless Steel   An alloy of steel (iron) with at least 10% chromium and sometimes other elements (nickel or molybdenum) to make it extremely corrosion resistant.  Most alloys are hardened while being worked and can not be hardened by heat treatment.  Alloys of SS are used extensively in the medical and food processing and handling industries as they maintain their corrosion resistance as high as 1600 degrees fahrenheit.  Various alloys have added elements to give different them machinability, formability, and weldability.   Graphics can be direct printed on fabricated parts or flat sheets.  Etching  or engraving are other marking methods for product identification on stainless steel.

Contact us to discuss other materials or specialized constructions for your manufacturing needs.