Materials and their properties

Materials selection is a vital part of a successful manufacturing project.

The ACRON Plastics team have a cumulative of around four decades of industry experience with different types of materials, their properties, and based on their experience, how they have seen materials perform in various applications. Our experienced product development team will work with you to recommend and provide expert advice on the right material for your application.

Commonly Used Materials

The plastics that we often use are called "Thermoplastics”. These resins are designed to allow them to be extruded in sheet form and then formed into a new shape if needed. Most of the plastics we commonly use can be purchased in various gauges or thicknesses. Our equipment is designed to efficiently vacuum form a wide variety of thermoplastics using a wide range of components. Below is a brief overview of these commonly used materials.

ABS/ASA, ECP, HDPE, KYDEX, PP - these materials are generally chosen for improved performance and cost reduction and come in a colour or its natural colour.
Polycarbonate and Acrylic/Perspex – These transparent thermoplastic are durable, transparent materials that can go in now tints and colours as well. They are often used in sheet form as a lightweight or shatter-resistant alternative to glass.
PVC - PVC is a versatile material that offers many possible applications and is commonly used in construction because it is easy to work with and is rigid.
PETG and HIPS - is a durable and robust filament for industrial applications generally used for packaging materials and widely used in the point of sale industry

Please click on the materials below to learn more about their properties:

ABS/ASA

ACRON Plastics offers a variety of thermoplastic materials, all of which are designed to make substantial, durable parts.

ABS is the most common material used for its excellent toughness and rigidity, dimensional stability, abrasion resistance; chemical resistance and can perform well under various temperatures. It is a highly functional plastic with excellent weather ability.

Similar to ABS materials, ASA is also a production-grade thermoplastic known for its strong material properties. ASA can be considered a UV resistant version of ABS with its excellent weather ability and heat resistance.

Both ABS and ASA can be vacuum formed, trimmed and fabricated with ease.

Common Applications

The ABS/ASA component feature ease of forming, excellent toughness and rigidity excellent for a wide range of interior and exterior applications where strict dimensions and durability is required. It is particularly suitable for deep draw vacuum forming for products likely to receive abuse in the form of knocks, scuffing and scratching.

Transport

Parts for all types of vehicles (ABS internal & ASA external)

Agricultural and Industrial

Housings for air-conditioning units, fans, grain chutes, electrical boxes & cases, etc.

Acrylic

Acrylic is a popular plastic available in opaque and optically transparent forms, used in numerous applications. It is a transparent thermoplastic homopolymer known more commonly by the trade name “plexiglass.” The material is similar to polycarbonate which is suitable for use as an impact-resistant alternative to glass (particularly when the high impact strength of PC is not required).

Common Applications

Acrylic is an incredibly useful plastic for applications requiring transparency where high impact resistance is not an issue. Acrylic is very scratch resistant compared to other clear plastics. It is a lighter alternative to glass and an economical substitute for polycarbonate in applications where strength is not a crucial factor. It is available in a wide variety of colours, and it can also be can also be frosted or opal.

It is generally used for a variety of applications that typically take advantage of its natural transparency and the impact resistance of specific variants. Typical uses include lenses, acrylic nails, paint, security barriers, medical devices, LCD screens, furniture, automotive trim, light fixtures, decorator items signage and point of purchase display. Because of its clarity, it is also often used for windows, tanks, and enclosures around exhibits.

HIPS

High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) is a versatile, economical and impact-resistant plastic that is easy to machine and fabricate. HIPS is often specified for low strength structural applications when impact resistance, machinability, and low cost are required.

Used widely for toys, packaging, signs, kicking plates, display and point of sale, it is readily available in a wide variety of colours.

Performance Characteristics:

High impact strength
Good machinability
Easy to glue, paint, and print
Outstanding thermoforming characteristics

Common Applications

HIPS is often used for countertop point of purchase displays and indoor signs where ease of fabrication is essential. Because of its cheap cost, HIPS is used in applications of low strength requirements. For temporary displays and promotions, HIPS provides a beautiful but cost-effective solution.

Point-of-purchase displays
Printed graphics
Thermoformed machine housings and parts
Models and prototypes
Shelves
Kiosks
Fixtures

HDPe

HDPE is a very durable material which can withstand great friction which makes it suitable for industrial and chemical applications. Like many other plastics, HDPE often replaces heavier materials. It’s lightweight yet super-strong when exposed to low temperatures when many other materials get brittle. It is ideally used as a packaging and manufacturing product because it is useful in containing liquids and has excellent resistance to odours, stains and chemicals.

HDPE can be vacuum formed, fabricated, machined and welded. HDPE come in only black or natural with the black having good UV resistance.

Our society and many companies are pursuing sustainability goals, such as reducing the amount of material used in packaging and products. “Lightweight and strong” can translate into “less impact on the environment.” HDPE is recyclable which makes it an excellent choice for highly disposable products.

Common Applications

Polyethylene (Polythene) is one of the world’s most popular plastics. It is an enormously versatile polymer which is suited to a wide range of applications from the heavy-duty damp proof membrane for new buildings to light, flexible bags and films.

Because of its ability to resist liquid and chemicals, HDPE is excellent for plastic bottles, tubs and bins, chemical containers such as household cleaning products and motor oil, and pipe systems.

HDPE is also used for toys because it is UV resistant which helps toys resistant to the ray’s damaging and discolouring effects.

However, unlike ASA, HDPE can’t be as easily glued, so it often requires welding or fasteners to attach it to other materials.

PET-G

PETG, thermoplastic polyester provides excellent toughness, chemical resistance and is easy to thermoform. With its low forming temperature, PETG can be readily vacuumed and pressure-formed as well as heat bent and fabricates well-using processes like die cutting, drilling, routing, and bending. Although it is a high impact, co-polyester material, it does not hold up well in outdoor applications. Because of its soft surface, it is also vulnerable to scratching in high contact environments. Some product lines are FDA or NSF compliant, suitable for use in medical and food applications.

Common Applications

Readily formable, PET-G is both durable and cost-effective as compared to either acrylic or polycarbonate. Its unique characteristics make it preferable for impact-resistant glazing and high strength display units. Suitable for digital printing, PET-G lends itself to product materials, displays, and signage but not ideal for outdoor use. Fully recyclable like acrylic, and FDA compliant, PET-G is subject to multiple uses, for food, soft drink, and liquid beverage containers, as well as for medical applications.

POLYCARBONATE

Polycarbonate, also known under its trade names as Lexan, Makrolon and Makroclear is a dimensionally stable, transparent thermoplastic with a structure that allows for outstanding impact resistance. It is a very durable plastic which makes it excellent for applications requiring high impact strength and repeated use. Typically used as glass replacement, polycarbonate, on the other hand, can be easily worked, moulded, and thermoformed, so it is suitable for mass production.

Common Applications

Polycarbonate is just about everywhere; it is used in eyeglasses, medical devices, auto parts, lighting fixtures, DVDs and Blu-Rays, to name a few.

Polycarbonate has similar applications to acrylic but it has higher strength so it is typically used as a glass replacement. Although polycarbonate is slightly less transparent than acrylic, it is more dimensionally stable and far stronger. It is lightweight and robust enough to be used as shielding such as bullet resistance glass (level 3 bullet resistances) and safety glasses or to minimise the effects of vandalism and theft such as vandal proof glazing.

PVC

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is one of the most widely used of all plastics because it is cheap, very durable and long-lasting material, easy to work with and very rigid. It can be used in a variety of applications due to its versatility as it can be as rigid as industrial pipes or as pliable as plastic wrap. It can be as thin and flexible as a wall covering or completely clear or matched to any colour desired. PVC has excellent chemical resistance, mechanical strength, dimensional stability and inherently flame resistant.

Common Applications

PVC is used in the production of hundreds of products that consumers encounter in everyday life and many more that are encountered less frequently but are nevertheless significant.

About three-quarters of all vinyl produced are used into building and construction applications because it is ideal for cladding, windows, roofing, fencing, decking, wall coverings, flooring, electric wiring and cables, and pipes.

PVC is also used for packaging, healthcare and household products such as raincoats, boots and shower curtains.

MATERIALS

​​Materials and their properties

Commonly Used Materials

ABS/ASA

Common Applications

Acrylic

Common Applications

HIPS

Common Applications

HDPe

Common Applications

PET-G

Common Applications

POLYCARBONATE

Common Applications

PVC

Common Applications

Materials and their properties