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Below: vacuum forming material selection guide

To give you more free help with vacuum forming for your needs, this vacuum forming material selection guide lists most common vacuum forming materials available and info. on each one's basic properties in standard grade. Also listed is some info. on costs & uses for typical vacuum formings made from each material type
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Material Types, Abbreviations & Density Description, Details & Typical
Applications
Comments / Options
Acrylic

PMMA

High quality, hard, med-high strength but brittle, good clarity, high cost.

Baths, Domes, Light Diffusers, Roof Lights Sanitary Ware and Signs.

Various colours & clear grades 1½-6mm.

Can be hand worked or cellulose/enamel painted.
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene

ABS, 1.08 g/cm³
Hard, rigid, v.good impact strength &
weather resistance, medium cost.

Electrical Enclosures, Luggage, Sanitary & Vehicle Parts.
Easily obtainable in 1-6mm thicknesses, various textures, finishes, clear, limited colours fire retardant and UV stabilised grades.

Easy to cut, paint or print on.
Polycarbonate

PC
Hard, rigid, v.good impact strength & clarity, self extinguishing, high cost.

Aircraft trim, Light diffusers, Machine Guards, Riot Shields, Signs, Skylights and Visors.
Various patterns, textured colours, clear & UV stable grades, 1-6mm.

Easy to machine, screen print, drill, tap & ultrasonically weld.
Polyethyleneterephthalate Glycol

PETG, 1.27 g/cm³
FDA approved, good-high impact strength, optically very good, can be sterilised & resilient to wide range of acid oils and alcohols, but not with highly alkaline solutions, high cost.

Dairy & Medical Parts, Point of Sale.
Easily obtainable in 0.8-6mm thicknesses, clear only.

Easy to cut, machine or paint
Polyethylene - High Density

HDPE, 0.96 g/cm³
Flexible, v.good imp.strength low cost

Caravan Parts, Enclosures, Housings & Vehicle Parts.
Easily obtainable in 1-5mm thicknesses, black/white only

Needs specialist inks, can't paint.
Polypropylene

PP, 0.91 g/cm³
Flexible, v.good imp.strength low cost

Chemical Tanks, Enclosures, Food Containers, Luggage, Medical Applications and Toys.

Easy to obtain in 0.75-6mm thicknesses, black/natural only.
Filled & additive grades available.

Cannot be spray painted.

Polystyrene - High Impact

HIPS, 1.06 g/cm³
Wide range of options, high impact strength, low cost.

Displays, disposable items, models, packaging, presentation & toys.
Easy to obtain in 0.25-6mm thicknesses, various colours, textures, flocked, conductive & UV stabilised grades.
Polyvinyl Chloride

PVC, 1.37 g/cm³
Med-high strength, good transparency in thinner gauges, good fire retardant & chemical properties-highly resistant to solvents, low cost.

Car Trims, Machine Guards & Packaging
Easy to obtain 0.25-0.75mm thicknesses, clear, black/white.

Thicker grades with good rigidity & impact strength available - most suited for outdoor industrial use
Needs specialist inks, can't paint.

For more help with vacuum forming - view our vacuum forming material specifications or process guide / info.