Easy to Thermoform

Thermoforming plastic sheet materials for formed parts

Thermoforming uses heat and forming pressure, vacuum, or tooling to shape plastic sheet into formed parts, covers, housings, trays, guards, displays, and other components. Many amorphous plastics, including ABS, polycarbonate, PETG, acrylic, and KYDEX® thermoplastic sheet, generally soften over a wider temperature range and are often easier to thermoform than semi-crystalline plastics.

Some plastics like HDPE and polypropylene (PP) have narrower processing windows and lower melt strength, which make them more difficult, but not impossible, to thermoform. Some plastics may also require drying before thermoforming. Use this page as a starting point to compare thermoforming plastic sheet materials, then review the plastic properties table, ask a plastics expert for help with your application, or get a quote when you are ready to discuss material availability, sizing, or fabrication needs.

Curbell Plastics can help you:

• Compare plastic sheet materials for thermoforming, vacuum forming, and formed-part applications.
• Evaluate material properties such as melt strength, impact resistance, clarity, temperature range, stiffness, and formability.
• Identify material options to consider for your application, part geometry, documentation needs, and fabrication process.