Plastics are a wide range of semi/fully synthetic compounds and are available in a number of different grades each with their own specific strength. There is no singular niche industry that utilises perforated plastic product as it can be used for a wide variety of applications, from ventilation screens to eye-covers for mascots.
There are seven types of plastic: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Polypropylene (PP), Polystyrene (PS) and Misc. Polypropylene is the most common grade we see in perforating however we have also worked with ABS and PVC.
Typical applications of Perforated Plastic:
- Moulds
- Ventilation
- Filtration
- Electrical applications
Physical Properties of Plastics
Plastics are light weight, corrosion resistant and have very good thermal and electrical properties. Plastics have a wide variety of properties depending on the plastic chosen and how it is manufactured. Some plastics have been specifically designed to withstand UV rays whilst others are manufactured to specifically withstand extreme temperatures.
Due to the nature of plastic, especially polypropylene, perforated plastic sheets often suffer from fleck and burr within the holes where the strands/fibres do not break cleanly during the perforating process. This isn’t necessarily a problem for many applications however, it does inhibit its filtration and architectural capabilities.
Common Grades
PPC/PPH are the most common grades used in perforating. PP (Polypropylene) generally comes in two grades: Copolymer (PPC) and (Homopolymer). Of the two, PPC is softer and more ductile but has a higher impact resistance and is more durable than PPH. PPH is a stiffer material with a better strength to weight ratio. These materials, being plastic, are available in an array of colours.