Availability
What colors of KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet are available?
KYDEX® sheet is available in a wide variety of standard colors. It can also be manufactured in custom colors with low minimum order quantities and short lead times. KYDEX® sheet is available in 12 different woodgrain patterns. For detailed information about the available colors and wood grains see our KYDEX® sheet color reference.
What sheet sizes of KYDEX® Thermoplastics are available?
The standard sheet size is 48 in x 96 in for stocked items. Standard widths available are 36 in, 48 in, and 60 in. The material comes in thicknesses from 0.028 in to 0.500 in. KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet with a thickness of 0.050 in or less is available in roll stock. Roll lengths vary depending on sheet thickness.
What surface textures of KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet are available?
KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet is available with a smooth surface and with 7 different textured surfaces. For detailed information about the available surface textures view Technical Brief 105.
Fabrication
What tools should I use to cut and router KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet?
KYDEX® sheet can be fabricated using standard woodworking tools such as table saws, band saws, and routers. Technical Brief 153-A provides detailed information on the proper blades and machine settings for cutting and machining KYDEX® sheet.
What is the best way to assemble KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet to other materials?
KYDEX® sheet can be assembled to wood products, metals, and plastics using adhesives, double-sided tapes or mechanical fasteners.
Adhesives and Double-Sided Tapes
Plexus® methacrylate adhesives and Cyberbond™ Apollo cyanoacrylate adhesives can be used to bond KYDEX® sheet to many other materials. Certain contact cements and double-sided tapes can also be used to bond KYDEX® sheet.
Technical Brief 150-A, Technical Brief 150-B, Technical Brief 150-C, Technical Brief 150-D, and Technical Brief 150-E provide detailed information on the correct adhesives, solvent cements, and tapes to use with KYDEX® sheet.
Mechanical Fasteners
KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet can be assembled to other materials using mechanical fasteners. Some tips for successfully accomplishing this include:
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Avoid flat head screws, which can create stress concentrations. Round head, pan head, or cap head screws are preferred. Flat washers can be used to further reduce stress concentrations at screw locations.
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Avoid placing holes for mechanical fasteners close to the edges of parts. Locating fasteners further away from edges results in more durable joints.
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Use oversized or slotted holes to allow for thermal expansion of the material.
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When using rivets, control the tightness of the rivets in both diameter and length to minimize stress concentrations. Flat washers can be used to further reduce stress concentrations at rivet locations.
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Technical Brief 151-A includes additional suggestions for joining KYDEX® sheet using mechanical fasteners.
Can KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet be painted and screen printed?
KYDEX® sheet can easily be painted and screen printed as long as the recommended paints and inks are used. Technical Brief 152-A and Technical Brief 152-B provide information on the correct paints and inks to use with the material.
Can KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet be bent using a brake press?
KYDEX® sheet with a thickness of 0.125” or less can be bent using a brake press. However, care must be taken to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations when bending the material. Technical Brief 142-A outlines the correct procedures for bending KYDEX® sheet using a brake press.
What should I use to clean KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet?
A wide variety of materials can be used to safely clean KYDEX® sheet. However, certain aggressive cleaning agents may damage the material. Technical Brief 160-A and Technical Brief 160-B provide guidelines for cleaning KYDEX® sheet.
What are the chemical resistance characteristics of KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet?
KYDEX® sheet is resistant to many common industrial chemicals. Details about them are provided in Technical Brief 120-A.
Can KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet be laminated to MDF via membrane pressing?
KYDEX® sheet is easy to laminate to MDF via membrane pressing. Technical Brief 141-A and Technical Brief 141-B outline the procedures for membrane pressing KYDEX® sheet.
Can KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet be fabricated into boxes via miter-folding?
Because of its ductility and toughness, KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet laminated to MDF or particle board can be folded into boxes via miter-folding. Technical Brief 142-B provides guidelines on miter-folding KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet.
Can KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet be thermoformed?
KYDEX® sheet has outstanding thermoforming characteristics. It can be processed via vacuum forming, pressure forming, or plug-assist forming. Technical Brief 140-A, Technical Brief 140-B, Technical Brief 140-C, Technical Brief 140-D, Technical Brief 140-E, and Technical Brief 140-F, provide details about thermoforming KYDEX® sheet.
Performance
How does KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet compare to high pressure laminates?
KYDEX® sheet is tougher and more durable than high pressure laminates. KYDEX® Thermoplastics have integral color throughout the thickness of the sheet, so they don’t exhibit the “black line” associated with the edges of high pressure laminates. Because the color is throughout the material, KYDEX® sheet also tends to last longer when used as the surface of a display cabinet or a retail store fixture.
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) tests decorative laminates for performance. Technical Brief 107 provides NEMA’s test results for KYDEX® XD, KYDEX® XD03, and KYDEX® XDWG.
How does KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet compare to other plastics such as ABS and HIPS?
KYDEX® sheet is stronger, stiffer, more impact resistant, and more chemically resistant than either ABS or HIPS. KYDEX® sheet also has superior flammability characteristics compared with ABS or HIPS.
Get new white paper on how KYDEX® sheet creates durable, attractive retail fixtures.
How does KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet compare with fiberglass?
KYDEX® sheet is tougher and more durable than fiberglass. It also has superior aesthetic characteristics when compared with fiberglass. KYDEX® sheet offers the additional benefits of being thermoformable which is a much less labor intensive process than hand layup used for fabricating fiberglass, and being recyclable, which fiberglass is not.
Is KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet resistant to graffiti?
The graffiti resistance of KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet is discussed on page 2 of Technical Brief 160-A. Each of the standard surface textures of KYDEX® sheet is rated as follows:
- “Yes” indicates that the cleaner removed the graffiti during the test.
- “Very Faded” indicates that the cleaner mostly removed the graffiti.
- “No” means that the cleaner did not remove the graffiti.
It is important to note that this testing was performed on KYDEX® sheet without a protective cap layer. KYDEX® sheet is also available in capped grades that have enhanced graffiti resistance.
Can KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet be used outdoors?
Certain grades of KYDEX® sheet including KYDEX® 510 are engineered for outdoor use. Most grades are intended for indoor use and should not be used in outdoor environments.
Can KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet be used for food applications?
Certain grades of KYDEX® sheet comply with elements of NSF Standard 51 for Food Equipment Materials. Technical Brief 110-F provides a list of KYDEX® Thermoplastics that meet either food or splash zone requirements according to NSF Standard 51. KYDEX® Thermoplastics are not FDA compliant for direct food contact.
What are the flammability characteristics of KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet?
KYDEX® sheet is available in grades that meet flammability standards for building interiors, electrical and electronic devices, aircraft, and mass transit vehicles. Technical Brief 110-A, Technical Brief 111-A, Technical Brief 111-B, Technical Brief 111-C, Technical Brief 111-D, and Technical Brief 111-E, provide details regarding the grades of KYDEX® sheet that meet each of these standards.
Does KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet have antifungal and antimicrobial properties?
Yes. KYDEX® Thermoplastics have antifungal and antimicrobial properties. Technical Brief 120-C provides details about this.
What KYDEX® Thermoplastics meet the requirements for medical equipment housings?
KYDEX® 430 passes the ball pressure test per IEC 60695-10-2 and the UL standard V-0 and 5V in all colors and thicknesses. KYDEX® 430 is available in a color pallet specifically designed for medical equipment enclosures.
KYDEX® 110 and KYDEX® T are also suitable for medical equipment housings. Both pass the UL standard V-0 and 5V and are available in a wide variety of colors.
Is KYDEX® sheet resistant to harsh disinfectant cleaners?
KYDEX® sheet is resistant to a broad range of disinfectant cleaners. View technical brief Chemical Resistance of KYDEX® Thermoplastic Sheet and Disinfectants and Chemical Reagents Testing technical bulletin for additional information.
Are KYDEX® Thermoplastics REACH compliant?
KYDEX® sheet products are all considered articles and are exempt from REACH regulations since they do not contain any SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern).
General
Where is KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet manufactured?
KYDEX® Thermoplastics are manufactured at a state-of-the-art facility in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.
Can KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet be recycled?
Yes. KYDEX® Thermoplastics can be reprocessed and recycled. For detailed information see Technical Brief 110-A.
Does KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet comply with RoHS?
Yes. All KYDEX® sheet products comply with RoHS. They do not contain lead, cadmium, polybrominated biphenyls, mercury, hexavalent chromium, or polybrominated diphenyl ethers. Technical Brief 110-B provides details about the RoHS compliance of KYDEX® Thermoplastics.