Below: a free vacuum forming material selection guide
To give you more free help with vacuum forming for your needs, this vacuum forming material selection guide lists the most common vacuum forming materials available & an overview of each one's basic properties in standard grade. Also listed is some advice on costs & uses for typical formings made from each material type.
| Material Types, Abbreviations & Density | Description, Details &
Typical Applications |
Comments / Options |
| Acrylic PMMA |
High quality, hard, med-high
strength but brittle, good clarity, high cost. |
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. |
| 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
