Plastic Materials for Signs
Plastics are used for many different signage applications including:
- Thermoformed sign faces
- Channel letters
- Restaurant menu boards
- Wayfinding and indentificaiton plaques
Sign-grade plastic sheet materials such as OPTIX® SG acrylic and TUFFAK® SL polycarbonate are industry standards. Advanced LED light diffusing plastics including TUFFAK® LD polycarbonate and OPTIX® LD acrylic are engineered to diffuse LED lights for brilliant back-lighted signs without visible hot spots. Fluted polypropylene sheet materials are economical alternatives for low cost election and real estate signs.
Thermoformable Sign Materials
Impact modified acrylics and sign grade polycarbonates have outstanding thermoforming characteristics, which make them ideal choices for thermoformed sign faces. These materials are available with UV stabilizers to extend their service life when used outdoors. Many sign grade plastic sheet materials are available as reel stock, which allows fabricators to save cost by buying the exact size that is needed for a particular project.
Channel Letter Materials
Acrylic and polycarbonate sheet are often used for the front faces of channel letter signs. These plastics are easy to fabricate into letters using ordinary woodworking tools such as CNC saws and routers.
Acrylic sheet offers the advantages of superior UV stability and outstanding light transmission. Polycarbonate is more durable than acrylic, which reduces the chance of breakage as a sign is being installed. Because of its high impact strength, polycarbonate sheet is also preferred for channel letter signs when the potential for vandalism is a concern.
Plastic Materials for Menu Boards
Restaurant menu boards may be back-lighted or they may be lighted from the front. Back-lighted menu board graphics are often printed on Makrofol® polycarbonate film. Makrofol® film is available with smooth or textured surfaces and clear or white color depending on the desired appearance. Makrofol® DE 1-4 in white or clear is the grade that is most often used for menu boards.
Makrofol® LM polycarbonate films are engineered to diffuse LED hot spots for applications where menu boards are to be back-lighted with LED lamps. Various grades of Makrofol® LM are available so that designers can select the film that best balances light transmission and diffusion for a particular application.
Front-lighted menu boards are often printed on paper, which is then mounted to a rigid graphic arts board such as Fome-Cor® or Gatorfoam®.
Plastic Multi-Color Engravable Materials
UV stabilized, multi-colored engravable HDPE sheets like ColorCore® and Polycarve® are fantastic material alternatives for traditional wood-carved signs. Businesses, schools, private subdivisions, marinas, and government divisions such as parks and recreation departments want low maintenance and aesthetically pleasing signs that can withstand the elements and serve the desired purpose for years to come. Multi-color engravable HDPE has excellent weatherability properties, machines well, and comes in a variety of colors and thicknesses. For smaller scale engravable plaques, signage, and identification tags, engravable acrylic sheet offers a wide selection of colors and combinations for both indoor and outdoor applications.
Plastic Foam Materials
Plastic foam sheet materials are lightweight, stiff, and have excellent printing characteristics, which make them ideal choices for many sign applications.
Expanded PVC foams such as Sintra® and Celtec® can either be printed to make flat faced signs or they can be cut into letters, which are then mounted on a substrate. Expanded PVC foam is available in a wide variety of colors and thicknesses.
Rigid graphic arts boards such as Fome-Cor® and Gatorfoam® can be directly printed or they can be used as substrates for mounting printed graphics.
Need materials for sign manufacturing? Contact us today.
Curbell supplies a wide range of plastic sheet and film materials as well as assembly adhesives for the sign market. We also have in-house technical support to help with design and fabrication challenges.
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