Frequently Asked Questions: Materials
People often use generic terms to describe specific types of plastic film. For example, one of the most popular generic terms used to refer to film is “acetate”. However, acetate is a specific type of cellulosic based polymer that is one of the oldest types of material used for making plastic film. This is why it is so commonly used to refer to plastic film.
The meanings of these generic terms can vary from industry to industry. An example of this situation is use of the name “Mylar®“. Mylar® is the registered trademark owned by the E.I. Dupont Corporation for bi-axially oriented polyester film. There are dozens of different types and grades of Mylar® polyester film, but the term is often generically used to describe a range of different films. For example, people who work in architecture or engineering frequently use the term “mylar” when discussing matte drafting film, a translucent base polyester film with a matte coating that can be drawn on with pen & ink. People who work in the graphic arts, printing, or document archiving tend to use the term “mylar” to refer to clear polyester film.
There are many types of plastic materials, with a wide range of physical properties and attributes. To help you define what you might specifically be looking for, we’ve developed a handy Hierarchy of Plastics and their relative performance and cost.
Grafix Plastics stocks a wide variety of different kinds of plastic film products, in a variety of thicknesses and finishes. Additionally, we have access to the plastic film and sheets versions of many of the polymers above.
Our experts are ready to help make your job easy! For help selecting the right materials for your project or application, please contact us with your requirements today by starting an inquiry.
