SIGN MANUFACTURING

Plastic sheet and film materials for indoor and outdoor signs

Plastics are used for many different signage applications. 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.

Plastic Material Characteristics and Services for Sign Manufacturers:

  • Wide range of colors, sizes, and opacities
  • UV stable grades
  • Easy to bond with adhesives and solvent cements
  • Impact modified grades
  • Easy to thermoform
  • Quick delivery for rapid turnaround of projects
  • Easy to print and paint

Plastic Materials for Signs

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Acrylic

Outstanding strong, stiff, clear plastic available in a variety of brilliant colors and finishes.

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Polycarbonate

Transparent, strong and stiff thermoplastic with outstanding impact resistance.

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Polycarbonate Film

Transparent, general purpose plastic film with excellent ink adhesion.

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Foam Boards

Rigid, yet lightweight, family of graphic art boards, easy to fabricate and cost effective.

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HDPE

Durable, versatile, low cost, abrasion and chemically resistant plastic material.

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Engravable Sheet

Plastic engraving sheet products that are versatile and easy-to-use.

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Expanded PVC

Lightweight, durable, moderately expanded closed cell sheet material.

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Aluminum Composite Material (ACM)

Low-cost ACM offers good dimensional stability and a metallic look, at half the weight of aluminum.

Plastic Applications for Signage

 

  • Thermoformed sign faces
  • Restaurant menu boards
  • Channel letters
  • Wayfinding and identification plaques
  • LED 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, 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.

Aluminum Composite Material (ACM) Panels

This low-cost material alternative to aluminum or wood is a popular choice for long-term interior and exterior signage. ACM panels are designed for applications that require good dimensional stability, low weight, and a sleek look. 

The composite is a three-layer sandwich panel of two aluminum sheets bonded to a polyethylene core. ACM is half the weight of comparable aluminum panels, rigid, durable, and available in fire-rated grades. The aesthetic, ease of fabrication, and suitability for printing and graphic mounting often qualify it as a material of choice in high-end signage applications.

Continue Your Research

Not sure which materials best fit your needs?

Our experienced sales and technical teams are available to assist you with material selection challenges.

FAQs

Can plastic materials be used for outdoor signs?

Will inks adhere well to plastic materials?

Can plastic sheet materials be digitally printed?

What are the best plastics for hiding LED hot spots?

What adhesives should be used to assemble plastic signs?

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Curbell Plastics, Inc. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. All other trademarks, service marks and logos used herein are property of their respective owners. All rights hereto are retained by Curbell Plastics and any third party owners of such rights. All statements, technical information and recommendations contained in this publication are for informational purposes only. Curbell Plastics, Inc. does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information contained herein and it is the customer's responsibility to conduct its own research and make its own determination regarding the suitability of specific products for any given application.

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