Guide to Plastic Sheets Basics

Find the right plastic sheets for sale for the products you manufacture

By Michelle Cramer

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find versatile thermoplastic sheeting

Thermoplastic is a polymer that becomes soft and malleable when heated and hard again when cooled. Polyolefin sheets are among the most common thermoplastics used in the manufacturing industry. You will find polyolefin as the base for common household items such as grocery and garbage bags, canister lids, shrink wrap and wiring coating. A form of polyolefin, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), is one of the safest plastics for food packaging. Another common thermoplastic sheet is polycarbonate, which is known for its ability to resist impacts, resulting in its use for everything from compact discs to bulletproof windows.

I recommend: Visit Titan Chemicals for a list of various density polyolefin plastics and their common uses. Read more about polycarbonate on Wise Geek.

Use impact-resistant plastic sheets like ABS

Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene, or ABS, is another thermoplastic known for its durability and capacity to withstand high impacts and strong chemicals. It's relatively inexpensive. Different ratio combinations of acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene result in different grades and strengths of ABS plastic sheeting, making it usable in a wide range of industries, including construction, electronics and automotives.

I recommend: IDES offers complete details about ABS, including uses, features and characteristic properties. Visit AZoM for a list and descriptions of different grades of ABS.

Gain flexibility with vinyl plastic sheeting

Vinyl sheets come in a variety of color options, from transparent to any solid color you desire. While flexible, it is a strong, long-lasting material, resistant to humidity and moisture. Its flexibility and durability make it ideal for use in a variety of industries, including the production of medical supplies, the construction of homes (such as vinyl siding), signage, automotive parts and toys. It is also environmentally friendly, since more than half of the vinyl manufactured is made from common salt, a renewable resource, and vinyl is recyclable.

I recommend: What is Vinyl? provides a list of various applications and uses for the plastic. Visit Vinyl in Design for information on the manufacturing process.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Corrugated plastic sheets are much like corrugated cardboard but more durable and long lasting. Due to the fact that the application of screen printing to a corrugated plastic sheet is a breeze, ideal uses include packaging and signage.

Guide to Plastic Sheets

Sources for corrugated plastic sheets, polyolefin sheets, thermoplastic sheets, plexiglass or acrylic glass

By Patricia Cole, Independent Business Writer

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Decide what plastic product is best for you

It is confusing to know which product you need. The Society of the Plastics Industry has a website that explains the different classifications of plastic and their applications. Before seeking bids for products, learn the language and understand the manufacturing process.

I recommend: Study the definitions of plastics products at The Society of the Plastics Industry.

Find sources for corrugated plastic sheets for sale

Corrugated plastic sheets can be modified by color and can be made with flame resistant materials. There are several large manufacturers of this recyclable, environmentally friendly product.

I recommend: Coroplast, one of the leaders in corrugated plastic sheet sources, has an online catalog and distributes their products through a network of independent distributors. Champion Box Company, Inc. produces corrugated plastic sheets for art supplies.

Find ready-made or custom polyolefin products

Purchase polyolefin products either ready-made or to suit your specifications.

I recommend: For ready-made suppliers, Quadrant produces everything from semiconductors to truck liners. There are several manufacturers who can create a product according to your specifications. Contact Bassell Polyolefins, who can provide custom design for products.

Locate custom or ready-made thermoplastic sheet manufacturers

There are a number of thermoplastic sheet manufacturers in the elastomer field who either produce ready-made products or also create a product built to your specifications.

I recommend: Engineered Plastic carries formed and custom thermoplastic sheeting and other products. Thomas.net also carries engineered plastic sheet products and provides custom plastic sheeting.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Order products through distributors or online. Know your specifications and provide them to your source for quotes that are comparable from one manufacturer to the other.
• •  The environment is always a concern with mass-produced products. There are products where a one-time use is appropriate. But when choosing between products, try to choose one that can be recycled or is biodegradable.
• •  With larger manufactured products, take chemical resistance and fire retardancy into consideration. Ask distributors about their ratings according to US standards.

Guide to Using Plastic Sheets

A look at the functionality of plastic sheeting over a vast array of industries

By Michelle Cramer

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Manufacture safe food product containers with HDPE plastic sheeting

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) ranks as one of the top plastics for use with food packaging because it is the least likely to release chemicals into the food. The opacity of HDPE protects the food from exposure to light, heat and oxygen, which results in a longer period before expiration. If your company manufactures plastic food storage containers, you should use a thermoplastic sheet of HDPE to protect consumers and the environment.

I recommend: Visit Omega Nutrition for more information on the benefits of using HDPE for plastic food containers. Purchase sheets of HDPE from Tap Plastics.

Use plastic sheets of acrylic in home construction

Acrylic is a useful, lighter and less-expensive alternative to glass. Some examples of the use of acrylics in homes include shower doors, skylights and windows. Using it for windows provides better insulation and less chance for breakage, because it is much more impact-resistant than glass. Construction companies should consider purchasing acrylic sheets, such as Plexiglas, to cut to scale for their needs as a glass alternative.

I recommend: Ridout Plastics, a Plexiglas supplier, provides a lot of styles to choose from, such as clear, colored, mirrored or frosted Plexiglas sheets. For more information on acrylics, including types and benefits, visit Wise Geek.

Produce signs and packaging with corrugated plastic sheets

Businesses that provide signs to their customers should consider using corrugated plastic sheets. They come in a variety of colors and are ideal for screen printing. Additionally, much like cardboard, corrugated plastic works wonderfully as packaging. Consider using it for product packaging or to provide custom packaging for customer needs. Again, its versatility for screen printing allows for beautiful graphic logos on all your packages.

I recommend: Coroplast offers details about the specific applications for their corrugated plastic sheeting or simply by the sheet. According to Champion Box Company, corrugated plastic is also great for backgrounds, photographic light reflection and even greenhouse panels.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Thermoplastic sheeting is among the most widely used form of plastic available. These polymer plastics, such as polycarbonate, ABS and polyethylene plastic sheeting, have a lot of versatility. Its usage ranges from grocery and garbage bags to vacuum cleaner hoses and automotive battery cases.

Guide to Plastic Sheets Key Terms

Learn about popular types of plastic sheets before you buy

By Dianne Borgeson

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Thermoplastics

Thermoplastics are polymers that, when heated, melt to a liquid state and then harden to a glass-like state when frozen or cooled. Since they mold so easily, they have an infinite number of applications; thermoplastic products include acrylic glass, Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) and polyolefin. Thermoplastics are used to make everything from garbage bags and food storage items to irrigation drip systems.

I recommend: wiseGEEK offers a detailed definition of thermoplastics. For a detailed list of all thermoplastic types, view eFunda's website.

Acrylic

A type of thermoplastic, acrylic is a clear, weather- and shatter-resistant noncrystaline plastic. Acrylic plastic sheeting is used in a variety of products, including shower doors, airplane windshields, skylights and more.

I recommend: View the definition of acrylics, along with its various uses at eNotes.com.

High-density polyethylene (HDPE)

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is an opaque thermoplastic used to protect a variety of products from exposure to light, heat and oxygen. Since HDPE is chemically non-reactive and durable, it has many applications; you can find it in liners under landfills to help prevent contamination from soil and groundwater, chemical and fuel storage systems, and as wood composite plastic that's found in flooring, furniture, fencing and landscaping materials. More common items stored in this type of plastic include food products like milk and juice, and household items like oil, shampoo, motor oil and antifreeze.

I recommend: MedicineNet offers a brief definition of HDPE along with various products which use this plastic sheeting.

Polycarbonate

One of the most natural among all thermoplastics, polycarbonate is clear and translucent, heat-resistant up to 145 degrees, and is not affected by acid and water substances. It's mainly used in engineering applications like insulating electrical parts, safety helmets, light globes and computer parts, and for use in components for medical and pharmaceutical apparatus as well.

I recommend: Polymer Technology and Services provides an in-depth description on polycarbonates, along with a list of more application uses.

Corrugated plastic

Corrugated plastic is similar to corrugated cardboard but more durable and long-lasting. Corrugated plastic sheets are found in applications including graphic arts, signs and packaging, as well as for photographic lighting reflectors, greenhouse panels, light diffusers and as shades for delicate plants and aquatics.

I recommend: Champion Box Company offers a brief definition of corrugated plastic and its application uses.

Vinyl

Vinyl is a flexible, strong, long-lasting plastic material that is resistant to humidity and moisture. Because of its flexible and durable nature, it's ideal for applications in multiple industries, including the production of medical supplies, home construction (vinyl siding and floors), automotive parts, signage and more. Since it's mostly composed from common salt, a renewable resource, it's also environmentally friendly and therefore appealing to many 'green-conscious' businesses.

I recommend: Review Geno Jezek's site for a detailed description of vinyl and its many application uses.